Calgary Black History Month Event Celebrates Latter-day Saint Pioneers of African Descent

The Regional Calgary African Members Group of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed family, friends and neighbours to a Black History Month celebration on February 17, 2025.

Approximately 200 people attended a celebration highlighting pioneers of African descent who helped establish the Church in Africa, North America and the Caribbean. The gathering included stories of faith and history, followed by music and dinner.

Inspiring Speakers

Joseph Amartey gave the keynote address. He was introduced as “an honest seeker of truth” who spent many years exploring different religious denominations in Ghana before finding and joining the Church. He went on to volunteer as a full-time missionary in Kumasi and Cape Coast, Ghana, for two years. Later, he worked in mission and regional offices and helped with the creation of the area office in Accra, Ghana. Over the past 44 years, Amartey has served as a branch president, high councillorhigh priest group leader and bishop. He currently serves as a Primary teacher. He reminded everyone that “God doesn’t see colour — black or white — but what He sees are His sons and daughters.”

Amartey read from Ephesians 2:19–20: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Amartey reminded attendees that “sometimes you might feel you are a stranger or a foreigner because you are in a foreign land, but you should know that you are part of the Lord’s kingdom. With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, it is the driving force and power that can pull one through every known and unknown obstacle, present or future. This is what builds up, sustains, lifts and keeps us grounded.”

The Black History Month program also featured Bright Opesanmi, a 17-year-old speaker who shared the history of Latter-day Saints in West Africa. In her message, Opesanmi highlighted two early converts from Ghana and Nigeria.

The program was rounded out with music from a children’s choir that sang “I Am a Child of God“ during the opening presentation and an adult choir that sang “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”

After the formal presentations, participants enjoyed a shared meal featuring traditional dishes from various regions of Africa (jollof rice, chicken, plantains, bean stew, pepper soup, bofrot/puff puff and more) and the Caribbean (rice and peas, beef patties, stew chicken, curry chicken and more). The dishes showcased diverse ways of preparing and seasoning traditional staple foods.

Gretchen Ojelade, committee co-chair for the Regional Calgary African Members Group, noted that when we learn more about Black history, “we come to appreciate the sacrifices that Black members have made to building the Church throughout the world.” She added, “[Those sacrifices] help us develop a sense of belonging, help us to know that we do have a place in the Lord’s kingdom and ensure that we are not lost or forgotten. This mutual understanding creates trust and fosters a loving environment where we can heal from past wounds and move forward in faith by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Regional Calgary African Members Group

In early 2024, Joseph and Gretchen Ojelade were approached by their then–stake president, Kevin Thompson, who asked them to create a support group to provide fellowship and social opportunities for the many Latter-day Saints of African descent in their stake. The Calgary Alberta Bow River Stake had seen an unprecedented rate of African members joining the Church, and the Ojelades set out to meet those members and get a sense of how to form a committee to address their needs. By September 2024, they received unanimous support from all seven stakes in Calgary to formally designate the African Members Group a regional responsibility, now known as the Regional Calgary African Members Group.

Of that group, a committee of 19 members meets monthly to plan, organize and discuss ways to minister to individuals and families. Collectively, the members of the African committee speak 22 different languages and come from East, West and Central Africa as well as the Caribbean.

We are witnessing remarkable Church growth in Alberta as members of African descent immigrate to Alberta or join the Church through baptism, bringing strength and diversity to our local membership,” Joseph Ojelade said. “We are truly witnessing the gathering of Israel before our eyes!”

Mr. Dengiyefa Igoniderigha, a businessman and member of the Royal Oak Victory Church, attended the Black History event with his family. He remarked on the uniqueness of the activity. “I love your church. Your organization is unique and has a good history. The growth in Black Africa is amazing, and I know it will improve their lives.”

Elder David C. Stewart, Area Seventy for the Calgary region, noted, “The diversity of the Church’s membership worldwide and in Calgary is an important reminder that the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends every culture, race, nationality and language. During Black History Month, we celebrate the contribution of Black Latter-day Saint members throughout the world. We are strengthened by learning about Black pioneers and each other. We can be unified in the knowledge that we are all children of Heavenly Father.”

Read the story in French