Nipissing instructor writes first Afro-Canadian dictionary

Realizing that there are very few resources dedicated to the history of Black communities in Canada, particularly in French, Dr. Amadou Ba, Instructor of History at Nipissing University, was inspired to write an Afro-Canadian dictionary, the first of its kind.

Dictionnaire afro-canadien is the result of several years of research on the history of Black people in Canada, from the early colonial period in the early seventeenth century to the present day.

“Although history remains central, it also includes cultural, social, political, and intellectual dimensions related to the Afro-Canadian experience,” explained Dr. Ba.

Dr. Ba’s decision to create this work was finalized in February 2024 when Ontario’s former Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced that the history of Black people in Canada would be integrated into the province’s school curriculum.

This announcement highlighted a major challenge: most teachers have never received any formal education on the history of Black people in Canada. This led to Dr. Ba feeling there was an urgent need to produce an educational tool that could support both educators and students in teaching and learning about this essential part of Canadian history.

“The preparation of this dictionary required extensive research based on a wide variety of sources,” he shared. “I consulted historical archives, examined artifacts, analyzed newspaper articles from past decades and centuries as well as contemporary publications, and reviewed numerous historical and literary works related to the subject.”

Dr. Ba’s research also included testimonies from Afro-Canadians, as well as films, documentaries, and other cultural productions.

The project presented numerous challenges as the extensive research involved required a considerable investment of time, resources, and careful organization. Also, this project received no external funding and was carried out entirely on Dr. Ba’s initiative and commitment.

“I felt it was important to contribute personally to the creation of pedagogical tools that would help people better understand the history of Black communities in Canada – a history that spans more than four centuries and is just as integral to the country’s past as that of Canadians of European origin”.

The target audience for this dictionary is intentionally broad. Although it is first and foremost an educational tool designed to support teachers and students, it is also for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the history and contributions of Black communities in Canada.

“Whether they are young readers, university students, researchers, or members of the general public seeking to expand their knowledge, the work aims to be accessible and useful to a wide audience.”  

The dictionary is currently only available in French; however, Dr. Ba is committed to having it translated to English to broaden its accessibility and impact.

Dictionaire afro-canadien is available for purchase at Amazon.ca.