What’s happening in London during Black History Month this October?

Since 2019, the number of Black History Month (October) events has doubled on events marketplace Eventbrite, which hosts everything from film screenings and walking tours to gospel concerts and craft classes to help people celebrate.

London comes first in the top 10 cities for hosting the most Black History Month events in the UK from 2019 to 2024, followed by Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol and Plymouth.

Many Black History Month events focus on education and empowerment with a focus on history, culture and achievement, and there is also a strong emphasis on celebrating black culture through food, art, music, art and literature.

In London, walking tours such as The Slave Trade Money Trail Tour will explore how the city had ‘streets paved with gold’ thanks to the slave trade. Following the hidden story of one of Britain’s first slave traders, it is led by activist, historian and researcher Darrel Blake.

Or Londoners can try the Culture Mile BID Black History Walking Tour which explores the rich black history of the culture mile looking back at Black British revolutionaries of the 19th century, Windrush World War Two heroes, African emperors and Caribbean resistance.

There are several art exhibitions and cultural celebrations to enjoy such as The African Fashion and Textiles Experience at OSMO in Battersea or the African print rag wreath workshop in Leyton. The riverside Firepit Art Gallery in Greenwich is also hosting a Stories Round the Fire exhibition: An Immersive Cultural Experience.

The Let’s dance West Africa and the Caribbean dance class allows participants to try traditional drumming and learn a short choreography, while at Clapham Library the Pegasus Opera Company will perform their uplifting Legacy and Hope concert.

“Since 2019, more than 250,000 people have attended more than 4,000 Black History Month events in the UK on Eventbrite. However you want to take part in Black History Month – whether it’s literature, crafting, music, film or wellbeing – there’s bound to be an event at which you can celebrate the rich Black culture in London,” says Eventbrite’s Sebastian Boppert.