18TH ANNUAL
Africa Day Gala
About the Event
The Africa Day Gala is annual celebration of culture, heritage, and excellence. Bringing together community members, leaders, and partners, the gala is an evening of cultural performances, recognition, and connection while celebrating the contributions of Africans and people of African descent.
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, more than 400 guests gathered at the Alberta Ballroom in the Edmonton EXPO Centre for the Africa Day Gala—an evening celebrating culture, community, and Africa Centre's 20th anniversary.
Under the theme "20 Years of Empowerment", the gala brought together community leaders, partners, and supporters for an inspiring program featuring distinguished speakers, captivating performances, African-inspired cuisine, and the celebration of our soccer champions.
As we reflected on two decades of impact, we also looked ahead with a renewed commitment to advancing leadership, visibility, and opportunity across Alberta's African, Caribbean, and Black communities.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsor, the City of Edmonton, for its support in helping make this event a success.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Looking for more ways to get involved? Sponsorship opportunities are available!
The 18th annual Africa Day Gala is a premier event celebrating the achievements, culture and resilience of the African-descent community. With an audience of community leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and change makers, this is your opportunity to align your brand with a meaningful cause while gaining valuable exposure.
Why sponsor?
- Brand visibility – Gain exposure among a diverse and engaged audience
- Community impact – Support an event that honours legacy, uplifts future generations and fosters belonging
- High-profile networking – Connect with influential leaders, business owners and professionals
- Support Black-owned businesses – Champion local entrepreneurs, artists and cultural contributors
Click the link below to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!
For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, contact
Nkechi Chinedu, Fund Development Manager, at fundraising@africacentre.ca
MS. GAYNEL DIANA CURRY
Keynote Speaker
Gaynel Curry is Chair of the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. In this capacity she works to advance the human rights, lives and livelihoods of communities of African descent worldwide, especially women and girls, including through the promotion of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Second International Decade for People of African Descent. She is also the lead negotiator for the Permanent Forum in the elaboration of the Declaration on the Promotion, Protection and Full Respect of the Human Rights of People of African Descent, working closely with the Inter-Governmental Working Group on People of African Descent.
Ms. Curry has an extensive background in diplomacy and human rights having worked with the UN for 24 years, serving in various leadership and other capacities in Geneva, New York, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Timor-Leste.
Most recently, she served as Human Rights Advisor in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva where she led work on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, regularly engaging the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review process. Additionally, she supported the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and Special Rapporteurs on Trafficking in Persons and on Violence Against Women, among others.
As a senior Gender Advisor in New York, Ms Curry co-led the initial construction and development of the UN’s conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) architecture. In this context she led the rollout of the Women Protection Advisors in South Sudan to monitor, report on, prevent, and respond to CRSV.
Ms. Curry is currently the Head of the Law Department and Assistant Professor of Law at the University of The Bahamas. In this capacity she provides strategic leadership within the Law Faculty, building partnerships forcollaboration with tertiary level institutions, particularly the Commonwealth Caribbean Council of Legal Education as well as with governments, law firms, and businesses to establish initiatives in support of the next generation of Caribbean lawyers.
Ms. Curry also lectures and undertakes research in public international law, human rights law, and environmental law at the University of The Bahamas. She has also guest-lectured at Harvard Law School, Georgetown Law, Duke University, Fordham University, McGill University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Dayton University and the University of Pretoria, among other academic institutions. Ms. Curry serves on several Executive Boards at home and abroad and is the Advisor to The Bahamas National Reparations Committee.
Ms. Curry served as the founding Director of The Bahamas Department of Gender and Family Affairs and held other senior level positions with the Government of The Bahamas, including in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms Curry holds a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom; a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from the American University in Washington, DC; a Degree in Law (LLB) from the University of London; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Social Sciences from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica; and an Advanced Diploma in Public Policy from the College/ University of The Bahamas. With her blend of experience, passion, and academic rigor, Gaynel Curry remains a driving force in the pursuit of equality, human rights and justice for all.
Our Partners & Funders
