Frantz Voltaire
Chairman
Frantz Voltaire is the director of CIDIHCA, le Centre International de Documentation et d'Information Haïtienne, Caribéenne et Afro-canadienne (the International Centre of Haitian, Caribbean and Afro-Canadian Documentation and Information) a non-profit organization founded in Montreal in 1983. A retired professor and expert in Haitian history and the Africanness of the Americas and Caribbean, he taught sociology, political science, and social sciences in different universities (Quebec-Canada, Haiti, Chile and Mexico, among others). He has produced or collaborated on several works and documentaries about Haiti including ‘Protoprens se pam’ (1999) about the bicentenary of the town of Port-au-Prince and ‘Les Chemins de la mémoire’.
The CIDIHCA is one of those rare Francophone, Afro-Canadian reference organizations working in the field of research, arts and culture in Quebec’s metropolis.
Africanist and eminent educator, Frantz Voltaire is also an historian, political scientist, author and filmmaker who enjoys close relationships with many Afro-Canadian organizations. For example, he was a member in 1984 of the first board of directors of the well-renowned Festival Vues d’Afrique which was first conceived in his own offices. He was also chairman of the board of directors of the Nyata-Nyata dance troupe… and there have been plenty more besides.
When combined with his intellectual rigour and commitment, everything he brings to the table makes him the right man at the right time. His contribution to the leadership and governance of the Afromusée will be considerable.
Jean-François Leclerc
Secretary
A consultant in museology and history, Jean-François Leclerc holds a Master’s degree in History and Museology. From 1996 to 2018, he ran the Centre d'histoire de Montréal (Montreal Historical Centre), the city’s institutional museum that he repositioned as the MEM, Centre des mémoires montréalaises (Memories of Montreal Centre). Jean-François Leclerc is a museologist recognised not only in Quebec but, also, abroad for his vision of the museum’s social role. He has introduced many innovative projects driven by the concept of ‘museology for the people’, namely, projects that are rooted in the value and importance of oral history and in the participation of the city’s population, including its immigrant communities.
Jean-François hopes that his long and successful commitment to the contemporary museum as a mobile, open, intercultural and community institution, will enrich the impact of the Afromusée.
Nikita Chigoho
Secrétaire-adjointe
Two of Nikita Chigoho’s passions are entrepreneurship and Africa. She completed her studies in statistics in April 2020 and recently launched a beauty business based on natural products from Africa. Her keen interest in afro descendant communities led to her volunteering her time and skills to numerous organizations within the Montreal’s black community, such as the DESTA Black Youth Network (from 2017 and 2019) and the Réseau des Entrepreneurs et Professionnels Africains (REPAF)(Network of African Entrepreneurs and Professionals).
Nikita Chigoho is always looking for learning opportunities and new knowledge that will give her more tools with which to better serve her community. In order to effectively fulfil her mandate as part of the Afromuseum’s board of directors, Nikita undertook training at the Montreal Volunteer Bureau so as to be able to efficiently and productively participate at board meetings.
OUR TEAM
The Afromuseum is the brainchild of Guy Mushagalusa Chigoho who, since 2014, has been running l’Espace Mushagalusa, an art gallery and cultural centre dedicated to the promotion of African art collections and culture. This venue for the arts lies in the heart of downtown Montreal just a short walk away from centres of culture and learning.
Africa and its heritage have been present in Canada and Quebec for a long time. What has been missing is something that bears witness not only to its presence but, also, to its history, its vibrant, living culture and the remarkable people it has produced. The wait is now over: the Afromusée will bring it all together and share the wealth with everyone.
To this end, the Afromusée will be a living museum that is accessible, mobile and with a lot going on. A welcoming space, it will feature cultural and intercultural activities with research and reference opportunities. It will provide an online platform that researches, informs and shares discoveries while giving a voice to young afro descendants, as well as to all witnesses of Africanity in all its forms.