Black History Month, the annual programme of events highlighting the contributions of African and Caribbean communities is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the UK. We’ve compiled a range of events, activities and performances for you to get involved in.
Food & Drink
Delicacies by Cee
Monday 2 October 2017. Greenford, London. Tickets £16.22-£26.60
Are you a fan of West African food? Listen up! Delicacies is a pop up restaurant that this year is not only honouring Black History Month but celebrating Nigeria’s 57th Independent Day too. So why not kick off the month as you mean to go on, with a delicious banquet of great food?
Find out more here
Theatre & Shows
Handa’s Surprise.
Saturday 7 October 2017. Canada Water, London. Tickets £24
Everyone remembers the children’s book Handa’s Surprise right? The one where we travel with Handa as she puts seven yummy fruits into her basket? Well why not watch a live performance with the family?
Find out more here
Freeman
Wednesday 18 October 2017. Culture Space, Canada Water, London. Tickets £9-£12
Watch the story of William Freeman, a black man whose path explored the relationships between the criminal justice system, people of colour and mental health.
Click here for more info
Screenings
If you didn’t get a chance to catch the following movies, they are back for the month:
Black Muslim in Britain
Sunday 1 October 2017. Birkbeck College, London. Tickets £8-£12
This project originally aired last October and showed seven short videos that explored the stories and narrative of being both black and Muslim in Britain.
Find out more here
I Am Not Your Negro
Thursday 5 October 2017. Streatham Library, London. Free
A writer, speaker and activist. Through this award-winning documentary, explore the life and fight of James Baldwin.
Find out here for more info.
Hidden Figures
Friday 6 October 2017. The Francis Crick Institute, London. Free
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe, the movie explores the little-known story of three black women who serve as the brains behind one of NASA’s greatest operations.
Find out here for more info
Loving
Tuesday 17 October 2017. HMV Curzon, London. Tickets £13
Ever heard about the story of Mildred and Richard Loving, the couple that were arrested in 1958 for being in an interracial marriage due to Mildred being black and Richard being white? Well if you haven’t, it’s a story that broke boundaries and ended the legal restricting on interracial marriages in the US.
Find out more here.
Comedy
Black History Month Comedy Special
Tuesday 10 October 2017. Hammersmith, London. Free
Head on over to the award-winning Grove Bar and Restaurant for a night of stand-up where comedian, Aurie Styla, will be headlining the night as Trev Tokabi hosts the events.
Find out more here
Black History Month Comedy Night 2017
20 October 2017. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London. Tickets £18.50
Celebrating 15 years of comedy at this venue, don’t miss this night of laughs, full of performances from Eddie Nestor (host), Robbie Gee, A Dot, Curtis Walker, Glenda Jaxson, Shabba and many more.
Find out more here
Business
The Science of Black Business Success
Sunday 1 October. Dalston, London. Tickets £5
A night to mingle and learn how to boost your business as well as become a success. The co-author of Black Scientists & Inventors in the UK: Millenniums of Inventions and Innovations will share his thoughts during the event.
Click here for more info
Ladies That Slay
Saturday 7 October 2017. Shoreditch, London. Tickets £9
Bloggers That Slay are inviting members of the public to their event, Ladies That Slay, a talk and discussion that will celebrate the achievement of women in a variety of industries.
Find out more here
UK Black Business Show
Saturday 14 October 2017. Westminster, London. Tickets £15-£35
Created to inspire and offer networking opportunities to black business owners, the UK Black Business Show is a must for business people who want to get access to a range of workshops, panels, seminars and exhibitions to gain an insight on entrepreneurship.
Find out more here
Women In Travel
Thursday 26 October 2017. Georgian House Hotel, London.
This event is aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs of BAME background. As well dressing challenges it will highlight the contribution that current female entrepreneurs have made to society. A highlight will be a Q&A session with Travel industry gurus Eulanda Shead Osagiede (Hey! Dip Your Toes In), Vivienna Dovi (Melanin Travel), Laura Bartlett (House of Coco) and Dipali Kastia (Digital Dialog).
Contact womenintravelcic@gmail.com to register for a place.
Music & Art
Black Sound
Friday 7 April to Sunday 4 November 2017. Black Cultural Archives, London. Free
From vines to photographs, Black Sound is an exhibition that showcases the music heritage of Black people across the UK.
Find out more here
‘Jamaican Intuitives’ Art Exhibition
15 October 2017. Highgate Gallery, London. Free
Artist and curator Charlotte C Mortensson is blessing the gallery with work from five Jamaican artists as part of the ‘Jamaica 55’ celebration of independence in the UK.
Find out more here
Vinyl Memories: Talking Classic BBM (British Black Music) Albums
Tuesday 24 October 2017. Vauxhall, London. Free
If you want to just vibe, reminisce and take it back a decade or two, head down to the Tate South Lambeth Library to listen to some records and discuss some tracks.
Click here for more info
Events
Africa Writes
Friday 6 October to Saturday 7 October 2017. The Cube Cinema and Hamilton House, Bristol. Tickets £5
Celebrating African literature, the Royal African Society are hosting the biggest African literature and book festival in the UK. Along with book launches and workshops there will be film screenings and performances.
Find out more here
Superwoman Conference
Thursday 12 October. London Metropolitan University. Tickets £5.80
Celebrating the strength and the achievements of women of colour in the UK, the Superwoman Conference has a lot going on. To a panel of inspirational speakers and performances, be sure to catch a night of inspiration
Click here for more info
Black Supersheroes Exhibition
Wednesday 25 October 2017. Hoxton, London. Free
For all you comic lovers out there, Sweet Design Studios is taking the time to celebrate black women as superheroes. So why not check it out? It’s family friendly.
Find out more here.
The Amazing History of Black People in London Before 1948
Sunday 29 October 2017. Tottenham, London. Free
Focusing on the untold history of London, this presentation is set to highlight and discuss the contributions made by people of African and Caribbean descent to London way before 1948.
Find out more here
The Brixton Midnight Run
Saturday 7 October, 6pm – Midnight. Black Cultural Archives, 1 Windrush Square, London. Tickets £10
The Midnight Run is a walking, arts-filled, night-time cultural journey through urban spaces. It gathers strangers and local artists together to explore, play and create, whilst the city sleeps. Commemorating 30 Years of Black History Month, Join Kelly Foster (certified London tour guide and Brixton Historian) in exploring, excavating and discussing aspects of the area, from the Windrush Generation, to Michael Jordan’s visit in 1985, to the riots.
Find out more here
