A downtown Halifax mural has caught the eye of dozens of people. Located outside of Mary’s African Cuisine on Barrington Street, the mural commemorates the history and traditions of African Nova Scotians. “The piece is called Tides of Tradition…It’s all about the journey of the Africans and Jamaican Maroons to this province,” says digital designer and illustrator Carmahn McCalla. “It includes cultural practices like basket weaving, quilting and also hair braiding which is very important in our culture.“ McCalla began working on the project in May as part of a program by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission. “They run a program called ‘Gritty to Pretty’ and it was through that program that I was funded to do this project. It was a pre-selected place in partnership with Mary’s African Cuisine,” she says. “It was my first painted, hand-painted mural. It was a really big opportunity for me, and I’m really glad how it came out.” The mural has caught the gaze of even the busiest commuters. “Every time I walk by here, I notice it right away. The colours are just so vibrant and beautiful,” says Mylene Farion. “It makes me want to learn more about the history of Halifax, and it’s just gorgeous on this corner to have this beautiful piece of art.” McCalla says she’s grateful to have received other positive feedback about her work. “That makes me feel so happy. People would say things like, ‘Thank you for bringing beautiful art to our city,’” she says. “Even having my name on a building downtown is so wild to even think about. I really feel proud of myself for accomplishing this.” Mostly, McCalla wants people to understand and recognize the long-standing history. “(The mural) is about the Jamaican Maroons and how they helped to build Citadel Hill and also our connection to Africa as a people. I want to celebrate the whole diaspora because it’s really important to me to see ourselves reflected in something as huge as this,” she says. “I want them to see how rich our culture is in Nova Scotia, across all kinds of different ways. I want other black people to see that our history matters. We’re not just a blip in the timeline, we had a presence here for 400 years.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
