News & Events

Black Food Sovereignty (BFS) is a movement focused on empowering Black communities to reclaim control over their food systems, addressing historical and systemic barriers to land, resources, and markets. Elder Anan Xola Lololi, a key leader in this movement and co-founder of Afri-Can FoodBasket, has been instrumental in advocating for Black food justice and economic empowerment. BFS emphasizes the importance of self-determination, ensuring access to healthy, culturally relevant food while tackling issues of food insecurity that disproportionately affect Black communities. By challenging white-dominated food systems and promoting equitable access to resources, BFS aims to build resilient, self-sufficient communities and preserve cultural heritage, creating a foundation for long-term empowerment and sustainability.

At the heart of the Black Food Sovereignty (BFS) movement, Black women like Leticia Ama Deawuo are driving change with resilience and determination. Former Executive Director of Black Creek Community Farm, Ama’s journey into food justice is deeply personal, driven by her own experiences with food insecurity. Black women in the movement face systemic biases, economic disparities, and food apartheid, often sacrificing their own well-being to ensure their families are fed. Ama calls for a comprehensive approach to tackle these issues, emphasizing that true food sovereignty in Canada requires not just access to food but also living wages, affordable housing, and healthcare, because every person deserves the dignity of being nourished in all aspects of life.

Reparative Agriculture, as discussed by Cashawn Myers, executive director and co-founder of HABESHA Inc., addresses the legacy of colonialism and systemic oppression by transforming agriculture into a tool for empowerment and healing. Myers, whose early farm experiences in rural Georgia shaped his connection to the land, now uses his role at HABESHA Inc. to promote sustainable agricultural practices and holistic health.

Reparative Agriculture combines modern techniques like organic and regenerative farming with a Pan-African perspective, aiming to heal historical injustices and reclaim African cultural practices. Guided by principles like education, restoration, and preservation, it supports Black communities in building food systems that are sustainable, culturally rooted, and grounded in self-determination.

In the quest for Black Food Sovereignty (BFS), culturally relevant foods play a crucial role in preserving heritage and building community resilience. Bashir Munye, a culinary expert and advocate for BFS, highlights how foods deeply rooted in ancestral traditions, offer more than just nourishment, they provide identity and belonging. Munye’s experiences reveal the impact of Eurocentric food norms and the trauma associated with African foodways. Munye’s work in innovative farming techniques and community support illustrates how growing culturally relevant foods in Canada can improve health, foster economic resilience, and support sustainable practices. Munye’s efforts highlight that reclaiming culturally relevant foods is not just about sustenance, it’s about identity and belonging, paving the way for a more equitable and vibrant future.

Winston Husbands, an advocate for food security since the 1990s, played a crucial in shaping Toronto’s Black Food Sovereignty Plan. This plan was designed to address food insecurity within Black communities by overcoming systemic barriers to accessing nutritious and culturally relevant food. Husbands emphasized the collaborative nature of the development process, which involved a range of stakeholders, including community leaders, policymakers, and organizations. Now complete, the plan sets a powerful precedent as the first of its kind in Canada, demonstrating how a targeted approach to food sovereignty can effectively tackle systemic issues and foster equitable food systems.