On Saturday, February 21, more than 100 students, families and community members filled the King’s gymnasium to witness a new tradition organized by King’s Athletics department: African Heritage Night. The event brought together sports, culture and celebration. From the moment the women tipped off until the final buzzer of the men’s game, the gym felt transformed by music, competition and a shared sense of purpose.
The event was a result of weeks of planning by the athletics department. “This was a full UKC effort,” says Athletics Director Matthew Bartley. “Head Coach Luc Stevenson and his coaching staff generated the initial spark, and the department worked to amplify that momentum.” According to Bartley, the night was shaped by important performances: Eriana Willis, a local singer-songwriter, performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the drumming group Kwestomar performed a halftime percussion and interpretive dance.
Community members also played an important role in the success of the night, including Archy Beals, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant with the provincial Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, who tossed the ceremonial tip-off.
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Vince Williams, who helped guide the event’s direction, says the goal was to create something meaningful. “The original vision was to create a space where African culture and heritage could be celebrated in a way that felt authentic, visible and integrated into the fabric of King’s athletics. It was important that the night felt intentional rather than symbolic.”
The women’s game opened the evening with high energy. The first quarter was a tight exchange of tough baskets, but Crandall began to pull in the second thanks to a series of three pointers. King’s fought until the end, closing the gap in the final minutes, but ultimately fell short. Even in the loss, the energy was still present—a sign that the night was deeper than numbers on a scoreboard.
Before the men’s game, Eriana Willis sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a cultural hymn for Black communities across North America that felt perfectly suited for the occasion. Her voice drew everyone to stillness.
The men’s team warmed up in shirts featuring the African Nova Scotian flag, a gesture that resonated deeply with players. “It felt great,” says starting guard Kevahn Taylor. “I feel like the flag has so much history and I’m glad we were able to represent it.”
In the first minutes of the game, the Blue Devils jumped to an early lead. Crandall pushed back in the second half, narrowing the score to 52–45, but King’s held control, ultimately winning 87–75 with a standout 34-point performance by Taylor. “I just knew we needed a win to help with our playoff standings; my family flew out here for the weekend and I was playing for them and the Lord,” he says of his mindset heading into the game.
“Representation matters… having elements of culture, music and community woven into the event was meant to affirm identity in a space where athletes don’t always get to bring their full selves.”
Halftime featured a powerful drumming performance by Kwestomar, who moved across the court with rhythmic intensity, repeating the phrase “Nova Scotia, Africa is here.” The crowd clapped along during the welcome song, turning the gym into a shared cultural space. Vince Williams says this was intentional: “Representation matters… having elements of culture, music and community woven into the event was meant to affirm identity in a space where athletes don’t always get to bring their full selves.”
For President Lahey, the night marked an important shift. “Our celebration of African Heritage Month must be tangible and meaningful,” he says. “I think the event shows that our work to make King’s inclusive and welcoming… is starting to become the work of the whole King’s community.”
As the gymnasium emptied out, it was evident that a new tradition was born. Bartley hopes this is only the beginning. “This event has inspired additional ideas,” he says. “The department will continue to serve as an amplifier of voices.”
Photos by Serra Hamilton
Inset photo right: Singer Eriana Willis
Inset photo left: Blue Devils Tevin Brothers and Georgio El Haddad wearing warmup shirts
Inset photo right: Kwestomar drummers perform at halftime
