A new podcast is giving a voice to people associated with the Africville community.
Noble africaville foreverthe podcast seeks to uncover stories of the black community, including its birth, how it once prospered, and its eventual destruction.
The podcast host is Alfred Burgesson, CEO and founder of the Tribe Network in Halifax. He said in an interview Monday with Global news morning that the history of Africville is important to understanding black history in Halifax.
“At the moment we are where people are talking about Black Lives Matter and supporting Black communities, it has become an issue today, but events like Africville are why we are shouting Black Lives Matter today,” he said.
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Burgesson hopes the podcast can also help reach a broader audience.
“Some people will be hearing the story for the first time, the podcast has a global channel, so I’m sure there will be people all over the world hearing the story for the first time,” Burgesson said.
Joining Burgesson as host of the podcast is Edward Carvery III, grandson of Africville resident Eddie Carvery. Carvery is following in his grandfather’s footsteps as a strong advocate for restitution for former Africville residents.
The Africville Story
Africville was a black community on the north side of Halifax.
It was once a thriving, self-sufficient community with about 400 families at its population peak in 1917, but for years the city of Halifax refused to provide residents with access to clean water, garbage disposal or sewer services, even though Africville residents paid taxes.
In the 1960s, the city demolished houses in the community, forcing approximately 400 residents to relocate with little compensation for their homes and land.
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The first episode of Africville Forever introduces Carvery III’s grandfather, who is still a resident of Africville.
“I was almost born on the front lines of the Africville protests, ever since I was born, raised, lived and learned in the land that was once Africville,” Carvery III said of his grandfather.
“So for me, it was great to have a conversation with him that the rest of the world could hear, and I got to ask him the questions that I think give a great insight into what he was like at the time.”
Eddie Carvery is a former Africville resident who protested the eviction of his community by returning to the demolished Africville and living in a trailer.
Alexa MacLean/Global News
Carvery III said that he is truly fighting for what his ancestors wanted.
“What they wanted was proper recognition, public consultation, personal compensation for those who had to go through that incident and moment in history, and also, they want to get the land back, we need that sense of belonging,” he said.
Carvery III added that he not only wants justice for the residents of Africville, but also wants to celebrate some of the success that Africville has had.
“We are not trying to confine Africville to a certain part or moment in history. This is something forever,” said Carvery III.
“Even if the community comes back, we are not going to stop loving and wanting to celebrate our community. The ups and downs, the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations. We love everything and we are proud of who we are as a people.”
New episodes of Africville Forever are released every monday. You can stream the podcast on any podcast streaming platform.
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