African Australian Multicultural Celebration 2026 Brings Community, Research and Leadership Together in Parramatta
African Australians, government representatives, researchers, community leaders and artists came together at Parramatta Town Hall for AAAC’s second annual celebration of contribution, culture and participation.
Parramatta, Sydney — 19 September 2026
The African Australian Advocacy Centre (AAAC) hosted its second African Australian Multicultural Celebration at Parramatta Town Hall on Saturday, 19 September 2026, bringing together African Australian communities, government representatives, researchers, diplomatic and religious leaders, multicultural organisations, artists and young people.
The event was publicly presented under the theme African Impact, with a focus on the contribution, leadership and achievements of people of African descent in Australia. The celebration sold out before the event, reflecting strong interest from community members and partners. LinkedIn
The event was supported by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs through the Multicultural Grassroots Initiatives Grants Program. That support helped AAAC bring culture, research, community experience and institutional engagement into the same evening.
Government, community and human-rights voices
The program included contributions from federal and state representatives, human-rights leaders and multicultural-sector representatives.
Among those identified in AAAC’s event record were Attorney-General Michelle Rowland MP, NSW Premier Chris Minns MP through a recorded message, NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane MP, Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP, Member for Granville and Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts Julia Finn MP, Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman, former Chair of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent Dr Barbara G. Reynolds, and Multicultural NSW’s Sandra Elhelw.
In his welcome address, AAAC Founder and Executive Director Noël Yandamutso Zihabamwe spoke about recognising African Australian achievements while continuing to address barriers affecting equity, representation and participation.
African Impact in Australia
Research was an important part of the evening.
The celebration hosted the Sydney presentation of African Impact in Australia, part of the research project’s national report-launch series.
Associate Professor David Mickler of Curtin University presented the research, which examines the social, cultural, economic, academic and civic participation of African Australians as well as barriers affecting meaningful participation.
The research team identified in AAAC’s event record includes Professor Chika Anyanwu, Associate Professor Sarah Prout Quicke, Associate Professor David Mickler, Ruvi Goredema and Nothando Ngwenya.
The project itself confirms that Sydney was one of its national launch locations, with AAAC serving as the Sydney community partner. African Impact in Australia
This part of the program created an opportunity to connect academic research with community experience and discussion about representation, education, employment, leadership and public policy.
Culture at the centre of the evening
Music and dance carried another part of the story.
African Australian performer Lucky Lartey and his dance group brought African dance and movement to the stage, while musician Gervais Koffi and his band performed music drawing from African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin influences.
The evening was led by Master of Ceremonies Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis, with AAAC’s Matshepo Molala delivering the organisation’s closing remarks.
A place to meet across sectors
The evening brought community members into the same space as researchers, policymakers, faith leaders, artists, professionals and civil-society organisations.
For AAAC, that is part of the value of the celebration.
The event creates a public space where African Australian achievements can be recognised while conversations about participation, racial equity, economic opportunity and community leadership can take place across institutional boundaries.
Building an annual celebration
AAAC is now seeking a more sustainable foundation for the event.
The 2026 celebration required investment across venue hire, cultural performances, catering, audiovisual production, coordination and community participation. AAAC’s event report records that government grant funding made an important contribution but did not cover the full cost of delivering the event.
AAAC’s longer-term aim is to establish the African Australian Multicultural Celebration as an annual occasion connecting culture, research, community leadership, institutional engagement and recognition of African Australian contribution.
That ambition will require stronger partnerships and longer-term support if the event is to grow sustainably.
Thank you to our community and partners
AAAC acknowledges the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, Curtin University, speakers, researchers, government representatives, community and religious leaders, artists, volunteers and everyone who contributed to the 2026 celebration.
The second African Australian Multicultural Celebration provided another opportunity to record and recognise African Australian contribution in public life while creating relationships that can continue beyond a single evening.
— African Australian Advocacy Centre
