Curious about Africa? Looking for a fun way to unwind after final exams? Confident enough in your knowledge to put it on the line for prizes?
Then the Sankofa Challenge is where you need to be on April 30, 2026!
No preparation needed. No advance reading (especially not after all that studying you did for finals!). Just show up with your team, bring what you already know (or think you know), and get ready for a good time.
When: April 30th, 2026 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Where: Thomson House - 3650 Rue McTavish, Montréal
Registration deadline extended: April 27, 2026
Not competing? Come anyway. The Sankofa Challenge is just as fun to watch as it is to play. Cheer on your friends, learn something new about the continent, and soak in the energy before the full Umoja Summit kicks off.
Everyone is welcome!
The Sankofa Challenge is the opening event of the McGill Africa Umoja Summit 2026. It is a lively, high-energy trivia competition where ten teams battle it out across three rounds of general questions about African history, culture, innovation, and knowledge.
It’s fun. It’s educational. And you’ll probably learn something new about the continent.
This year’s theme is Sankofa Rising: Reclaiming African Knowledge to Shape Global Futures.
In Akan tradition, the Sankofa symbol, a bird looking backward with an egg held forward, teaches that we must look to the past to build the future. Every round of this contest carries that spirit.
How to Join
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Form a team of 2–4 members
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Pick a team name rooted in an African concept, word, or philosophy
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Register through the Umoja Summit registration form (one submission per team)
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Open to everyone: any program, discipline, or background
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Spots are limited to 10 teams. First come, first served!
Only one team member needs to submit the registration form on behalf of the team.
The Three Rounds
Round 1: Reclaim — (Team Trivia)
All 10 teams compete. Each team is assigned 5 questions (50 total) drawn from four categories: History, Innovation, Traditional Knowledge, Music, and Language & Culture. Teams pick a number to determine which question they get, and have 30 seconds to answer.
If a team answers incorrectly, the question is opened up as a bonus to the other teams. The bottom 3 teams are eliminated at the end of this round.
Round 2: Apply — (Buzzer Round)
The remaining 7 teams face 10 rapid-fire buzzer questions. Questions are read aloud and any team can buzz in to answer. Speed and accuracy both matter and wrong answers cost you points.
The bottom 2 teams are eliminated at the end of this round.
Finals: Imagine — (Riddles)
The top 5 teams compete for the title. 5 riddles are posed, each with progressive clues. Any team can buzz in at any point, but points are deducted for each additional clue given before the correct answer.
The fewer clues you need, the more points you earn
Prizes to be won!
- 1st place - $200
- 2nd place - $150
- 3rd place - $100