The year 2024 is drawing to a close, but on a sweet and memorable note. The Montreal Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre (CCAM) paid tribute to Amina Gerba at the third edition of its Soirée Héritage.
Originally from Cameroon, Ms. Gerba was appointed Independent Senator for Quebec in July 2021 in the Senate of Canada. She currently sits on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and co-chairs the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association. Prior to her appointment, she was Chairman of the Board of Entreprendre Ici, an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs from cultural communities.
Ms. Gerba is also a recognized businesswoman and international marketing expert. For over 25 years, she has acted as a bridge between Canada and Africa. She is the founder of "Kariderm" and "Kariliss", two emblematic brands that testify to her visionary spirit in the manufacture of cosmetics based on natural and organic ingredients from fair trade in Africa. Through her brands, she promotes natural and certified organic raw materials from the African continent.
Ms. Gerba has received numerous honors, including the Chevalière de l'Ordre national du Québec in 2014, the highest distinction awarded by the Quebec government.
I shall now try to convey as faithfully as possible the atmosphere of that evening of November 7.
The sumptuous surroundings of the Carlton-Ritz Hotel welcomed the CCAM that evening, and from the moment they entered the establishment, the show was resplendent.
As the guests begin to arrive, I let my gaze wander among the faces. Minutes pass, and as the room fills up, the pace of laughter intensifies. Like a parade, the guests, perfumed and carefully dressed, pose for photos. As the room fills up, the atmosphere becomes vibrant, with bursts of voices, camera flashes and a growing hubbub. To best describe the scene before me, I searched for words, but quite simply, what I saw before my eyes was what is known as "Black Excellence". The community is at its peak: all these people, mostly Afro-descendants, accomplished professionals, are united in shared joy. They hug, they smile, and the enthusiasm is palpable. It's a representation of the future, a dream of grandeur incarnate.
But my surprises don't stop there. When the door to the stage room opens, the beauty of the place is revealed: chandeliers, candelabras, candles. However, the light I'm really waiting for hasn't yet arrived - it'll come later, from Ms. Amina Gerba.
The choir begins to sing, and it is their vibrant harmonies that truly mark the beginning of the evening. Then, one by one, some of the honoree's close friends and family rise to eulogize her. As Mr. Jean-Louis Roy, the evening's honorary president, paints four or five portraits of Ms. Gerba, the full extent of her abilities is revealed. He describes every aspect of her personality that has paved her path, "from small business in Cameroon to the great entrepreneur she is today".
These words resonate with those spoken later in the evening by Mr. Allen Alexandre, Executive Director of CCAM, who reminds us that "progress is never a linear path" and that "a distant dream becomes an attainable reality". Mr. Alexandre goes even further, stating that Amina Gerba was the obvious choice to receive this evening's award, even declaring that he saw in her his own reflection. This is what culture is all about: finding ourselves and recognizing ourselves in the experience of our fellow human beings. And it is this culture that we must pass on to future generations. Ms Gerba, he says, "represents the potential of a new generation of black women".
Her predecessor, Frantz Saintellemy, who was honored the previous year, adds to this vision by emphasizing that Mrs. Amina Gerba "lives for her community". Therein lies the principle of legacy: by living for us, she lives through us, and will continue to do so from generation to generation.
Finally, Mrs. Amina Gerba takes the floor, and her speech, imbued with emotion and sincerity, testifies to her deep gratitude. In particular, she shares that what she calls her "ecosystem", a solid network of contacts and lasting friendships, has enabled her to continue on her path. In her opinion, faith, hard work and perseverance are the keys to success, because "success is built with consistency", despite the setbacks encountered along the way.
The recognition of her community that evening took on a special meaning. Surrounded by "accomplished members of the Afro-descendant diaspora", she concludes with a saying she cherishes: "UBUNTU", which translates as "I am, because we are".
Tina Mostel.
For CCAM
