For 12-year-old Adelio Ryan Ayeyi Adu-Yeboah, being a Ghanaian boy growing up in Canada is not a reason to distance himself from his roots.

Instead, he is using storytelling to celebrate his identity and remind others of the diversity and richness of Africa.

Adelio was among young members of the African community who took part in the Storytelling and Oral Tradition sessions at the 2026 African Festival Canada in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The three-day festival, organised by BIG-DREAMS Productions, brought together African, Caribbean and Latino communities through music, dance, food, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange.

A student of Lewisville Middle School and a passionate public speaker, Adelio presented two stories titled Africa Cannot Fit in One Word and I Carry Ghana in My Name.

Through the stories, he celebrated Africa's diverse cultures, naming traditions and a strong sense of family.

His presentation also reflected his personal experience as a Ghanaian growing up in Canada, where he continues to maintain a connection with his heritage.

The festival's storytelling sessions also featured 14-year-old Anita Uwase, a student at Riverview High School who moved from Uganda to Moncton with her family.

Anita shared her experiences as a young Ugandan newcomer to Canada and spoke about the cultural differences that have shaped her life.

Their stories formed part of an initiative by the festival organisers to give young people an opportunity to express their cultural journeys and help preserve oral traditions within multicultural communities.

The organisers said the sessions were intended to highlight how young Africans are navigating identity, culture and belonging while growing up in Canada.

The festival itself attracted approximately 3,650 participants over three days, according to BIG-DREAMS Productions.

Beyond storytelling, the event featured live music, cultural dance, food, arts and crafts, business activities and exhibitions involving entrepreneurs and community organisations.

Young artists from New Brunswick and Montreal also performed, alongside cultural groups from the Caribbean and Latin American communities.

The festival's Creative Director and Executive Producer, Djan Amoako, said the event was about creating connections across communities.

“Through African Festival Canada, we continue to build cultural bridges, celebrate diversity, and create opportunities that bring people together through creativity, entrepreneurship, and the arts,” he said.

For Adelio, however, the festival provided something more personal: a platform to express where he comes from while growing up in a different cultural environment.

His story, I Carry Ghana in My Name, placed that identity at the centre of his message, reflecting the experience of a new generation of Africans growing up in the diaspora.

The organisers say African Festival Canada will continue to create opportunities for cultural expression, youth engagement, entrepreneurship and economic development in future editions.