Sankofa Square opens on Sankofa Day 2025

Toronto is turning a new page as Sankofa Square opens on Sankofa Day 2025. This free, city-wide celebration on August 23 brings together art, ceremony, music, and community in a space designed to honour the past and shape a more connected future.

More Than a Celebration, It’s a Turning Point

Toronto will celebrate a major cultural milestone on August 23, 2025, with the official opening of Sankofa Square.
This free, 13-hour event honors UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
The theme is “Looking Back, Building Forward,” reflecting remembrance and future healing.
The day includes ancestral ceremonies, a Black-led community run, art, live performances, and film showcases.
Highlights include the iDREAM Awards and the Everyone vs. Racism graffiti project by Speedy Transport.

Event Info

Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Location: Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square), Toronto, ON
Admission: Free
Website: https://sankofasquare.ca

Key Programming Highlights

Sankofa Day — *Photo via Sankofa Square*

Opening Ancestral Ceremonies led by Indigenous and African community leaders
iDREAM Awards honoring equity leaders across arts, business, and culture, five awardees will receive a $1M media campaign.
Everyone vs. Racism graffiti activation by Speedy Transport, featuring a live-painted 53-ft truck
Afrodiasporic DJ sets from Afrique Like Me and a headlining closing set by Moonshine ft. Pierre Kwenders
Live performances by artists including Natasha Fisher
Public art installations by visionary designer Nicole Nomsa Moyo
Sports and wellness activations with Canada Basketball, Ultra Black, Hill Run Club, and Hoop Queens
Caribbean Film Festival screenings and global media showcases

Community at its Core

Toronto event — *Photo via Sankofa Square*

Sankofa Day would not be possible without the contributions of key partners like the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario, who are leading the African Ancestral Acknowledgement Ceremony.

“For the first time in such a prominent and public way in Canada, our collective history is being acknowledged,” said Emmanuel Duodu, President of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario.
“This celebration is a vital opportunity to honour the ancestors, share our stories, and inspire future generations.”

A Space Built for Belonging

“Sankofa Square is a bold, inclusive cultural landmark created for everyone,” said Julian Sleath, General Manager of Sankofa Square.
“It’s an intersection of remembrance, resilience, and renewal—an invitation to honour the past, engage the present, and help build a future we all belong to.”

As Toronto writes a new chapter in its public storytelling, Sankofa Square stands as both a tribute and a promise, of truth, unity, and celebration that continues long after the music fades.

As Sankofa Square opens on Sankofa Day 2025, Toronto steps into a new era, one rooted in reflection, equity, and belonging. From ancestral ceremonies to live performances and public art, the day is more than a celebration; it’s the start of something lasting.Get the most out of Toronto’s diverse culture by checking out Mississauga Hong Kong Festival 2025.

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