On May 12, 2026, during a ceremony at City Hall Plaza attended by Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, and other dignitaries, the City of San Jose officially proclaimed May 25 as Africa Day and the month of May as African Heritage Month.
The proclamation honors the diversity and resilience of African communities in San Jose and around the world. It also recognizes African immigrant and diaspora communities as an essential part of the city, contributing to education, healthcare, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth.
Speakers at the ceremony included Azah Anye, President of the African Student Organization at San Jose State University; Habtamu Kebede, Executive Director of Ethiopian Community Services; Georges Angah Miessi, Honorary Consul of Ivory Coast; and Sean Allen, President of the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP.
This proclamation marks an important step forward in advancing the visibility, inclusion, and representation of the African diaspora in California.
We extend our sincere thanks to Folake Philips, Founder and Executive Director of AWO and Lead of the Afriicionado Collective, whose vision and leadership made this initiative possible. We are also grateful to Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, District 6, for sponsoring this effort, and to Mayor Matt Mahan and the San Jose City Council for their support and service to our communities.
We also thank all community members who attended the ceremony.
At Mbai Bassa Community, we are proud to have supported this event and contributed to its success.
Together, we go further.
