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African Women Acting
Arts • Culture • Community

A pan-African nonprofit advancing women’s issues and empowering artists through culture.

Educating, training and mentoring Black women while creating meaningful production and presentation opportunities.

Championing African arts, women’s voices, leadership and equity across Ontario and beyond.

Building cross-cultural collaboration through music, film, spoken word, visual arts, entrepreneurship and performance.

African Women Acting (AWA) is a pan-African nonprofit advancing women’s issues and empowering artists through vibrant cultural initiatives. We create pathways for training, mentorship, production, presentation, volunteering and cross-cultural collaboration.

Who We Are

African Women Acting (AWA)

AWA is a pan-African nonprofit advancing women’s issues and empowering artists through vibrant cultural initiatives. We educate, train, mentor, and create meaningful production and presentation opportunities for Black women, including volunteer pathways and participation in the Niagara Afro Festival. While rooted in Black women, we welcome diverse communities to foster cross-cultural collaborations across music, film, spoken word, visual arts, entrepreneurship, and performance. Our work deepens public understanding and appreciation of traditional and contemporary African arts, culminating in flagship events like the Niagara Afro Festival and Reconnect Festival in Nigeria. We are committed to progress, inclusivity, community engagement, and a lasting, positive impact on artists, communities, and the cultural sector. Founded to uplift Black women and youth, AWA celebrates Africa’s rich artistic heritage and inspires cultural exchange across the continent and beyond. We are fundraising to establish and grow the Baobab Arts & Culture Centre in Niagara Falls Canada and welcome your support to amplify our impact.

Our Mission

AWA showcases, nurtures, and champions African arts and artists while advancing women’s voices, leadership, and equity. Led predominantly by African women, we foster artistic excellence and cultural development in our local community. Grounded in the strength of mothers, sisters, and nurturers, we create spaces where creativity flourishes and diverse stories are heard. As we grow, we welcome artists from varied cultural backgrounds, uniting to uplift the arts for empowerment, unity, and lasting impact.

Our Vision

AWA empowers, promotes, and preserves African cultural arts in Ontario while advancing women’s voices, leadership, and equity. We support female African artists and the diaspora, address social issues through creative expression, and champion inclusivity by partnering with artists of all genders, backgrounds, and beliefs to broaden our impact.

Building the Baobab Arts & Culture CentreAWA is fundraising to establish and grow the Baobab Arts & Culture Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Support the Centre

Quick Actions

Flagship Canada Event
Niagara Afro Festival Presents

Reconnect Royal Experience Canada

A four-day cultural, creative and economic convergence connecting Niagara Falls and Toronto through African royalty, contemporary arts, strategic networking, exhibitions, live performances, royal awards, gala experiences and Niagara heritage visits.

November 20–23, 2026
Niagara Falls & Toronto
The Exchange · ADA Slaight Hall
Patronage by the Alaafin of Oyo
Explore Full Event
Reconnect Festival 2026 — Sonia Aimy Dec 16–20, 2026
Nigeria meets the global African diaspora

Reconnect Festival 2026

Five unforgettable days across Lagos, Badagry and Oyo State—uniting culture, creativity and commerce through music, art, fashion, food, heritage journeys, workshops and global partnerships.

Live MusicCultureFashionHeritageEnterpriseDiaspora

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Latest Highlights

Explore upcoming events and recent news from African Women Acting (AWA).

Upcoming Events

Niagara Afro Festival – Presents Reconnect Royal Experience Canada
Niagara Afro Festival – Presents Reconnect Royal Experience Canada
Nov 20, 2026 • 5:00pm Niagara Falls & Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Latest News

AWA NIAGARA FESTIVAL 2023
AWA NIAGARA FESTIVAL 2023
Feb 6, 2026
AWA NIAGARA FESTIVAL August 26 + 27, 2023 Features Afrobeat Music, Dance and More In Queenston, Niagara-On-The-Lake
The African-Canadian Fusion: A Cross-Cultural Celebration
The African-Canadian Fusion: A Cross-Cultural Celebration
Feb 6, 2026
The Art of Connection and Exchange: Cultural Diversity and Harmony featuring Jbwai, J Nichole Noel, Sonia Aimy and Susan Heaten
African Women Acting AWA Present Off TIFF All-Star African Night: Celebrating Emancipation and Legacy.
African Women Acting AWA Present Off TIFF All-Star African Night: Celebrating Emancipation and Legacy.
Aug 28, 2025
Off TIFF All-Star African Day: Celebrating Emancipation and Legacy is a prestigious event dedicated to honoring the profound contributions of...
Celebrate Culture & Community: AWA Concert Series at the ICFF
Celebrate Culture & Community: AWA Concert Series at the ICFF
May 28, 2025
Summer is here, and we’re thrilled to invite you to the AWA Concert Series at the Italian Contemporary Film Festival...
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