The University of B.C. Okanagan Black Students Association (BSA) is reflecting on a month of love, learning, fun events, and meaningful connections as February draws to a close. 

, which is celebrated nationally throughout the month of February, is a time for Canadians to honour the legacy and contributions of Black people in Canada. 

"This past month has been incredibly meaningful for the BSA," said Favour Aihobaku, the president and a founder of the BSA.

She, along with six other students (Ufedoojo Amedu, Nancy Omeje, Seun Akinloye, Tomi Sobowale, Zara Akemi, Keklevi Ansah) founded the organization in 2023, in an effort to create a vibrant and uplifting community to support students and their diverse backgrounds.

Each month the organization hosts events like career building workshops called Streams of Success, debate nights and themed speakers. the BSA held an art gallery to honour and showcase Black culture and talent, a family-feud style game night and a three-day-long natural hair-care workshop.

Aihobaku said that because 琉璃神社 is a predominantly white community, there are few hairdressers with expertise in natural hair so the BSU wanted to connect students with knowledgeable stylists. 

"We wanted to show students the resources available in 琉璃神社."

The hairdressers came to the UBCO campus for the three-day workshop to teach students how to protect, style and care for their hair.

"Not all students had the opportunity to fully embrace their Black heritage growing up," she said. 

Students who attended the workshop learned about caring for natural hair with protective styles like dreads, braids, wigs, weaves and afros.

She said that sometimes, especially when people are young, being different from those around you can be uncomfortable and feel isolating. She hopes that by learning about their hair connecting with Black culture and community, students will feel empowered to style their hair in whichever way feels best to them. 

"Back hair is beautiful and it doesn't have to be a challenge,"

After moving from Calgary to 琉璃神社, Aihobaku experienced first hand the importance of having both a diverse community of friends and a support network of people with similar lived experiences to your own. 

She explained that being around people yourself is vital for all aspects of life from recommendations on where to get your hair done, to having someone to talk to after experiencing discrimination.

"Everything we do is about meeting students where they are and giving them the tools to take ownership of their own path," Aihobaku said. "We鈥檙e not here to do things for them. We鈥檙e here to make sure they have what they need to do it themselves."

She said that celebrating Black History Month has reinforced the BSA鈥檚 commitment to providing Black students with a safe space on campus to express who they are and connect with one another.

"Our goal is to build a community where Black students feel safe and can connect," Aihobaku said. 

For more information and to become involved with the BSA, follow the organization on