Sankofa Square
On December 14, 2023, the City of Toronto announced that Toronto City Council adopted a motion to change the name of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square. The name Sankofa is the result of two years of careful work by the City of Toronto convened Recognition Review Community Advisory Committee (CAC), whose conversations were informed by consultations with the public. The 20-member CAC was made up of Black and Indigenous leaders, along with other diverse residents and business owners living and working along Dundas Street.
About Sankofa
Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) is a Twi word from the Akan Tribe of Ghana that loosely translates to, “go back and get it.”
Its literal translation comes from the Akan proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri,” meaning, “It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind).” Sankofa is a phrase that encourages learning from the past to inform the future.
While Sankofa originates from the Ghanaian Akan language, it broadly resonates across African and Black communities globally as an expression of cultural and political affirmation.
There are two different symbols that both represent Sankofa:
The Mythical Sankofa Bird
The more popular image is the bird with its backward gaze signifying reflection, while its forward-facing feet represent progress. The egg in its beak symbolizes growth and future generations—an inheritance shaped by lessons from our past.
The Stylized Heart
The Sankofa heart is more like the conventional symbol for the heart with inward spirals at the top and outward spiral at the bottom.
Each of these symbols represent a society’s journey of progressing toward a positive future by being guided by its past.
Sankofa is a timeless concept that transcends borders, cultures, and generations.
What’s Next
The Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Management and staff are excited about this opportunity to reflect on Toronto’s past in order to shape the Square’s future. As we continue to learn more about and embrace the spirit of Sankofa, we are mapping out next steps and timing for the official renaming of the Square, working with community stakeholders and City of Toronto teams.
In the meantime, the Square will continue to operate under the name of Yonge-Dundas Square until change over details and a date are confirmed.
To stay informed of what’s next for the Square, please subscribe to our newsletter or email us at info@ydsquare.ca.
Sankofa icon examples: Sankofa bird from Symbolikon and Sankofa heart from CleanPNG.