Black History Month: 10 events and exhibitions in London

Black History Month takes place in the UK every October celebrating the lives, histories and cultures of black people in Britain.
James Barnor - whose photographs are being celebrated for Black History Month. Credit Autograph London.jpgJames Barnor - whose photographs are being celebrated for Black History Month. Credit Autograph London.jpg
James Barnor - whose photographs are being celebrated for Black History Month. Credit Autograph London.jpg

In London there is a whole programme of dedicated events, talks, exhibitions, performances and guided walks dedicated to the contributions those with African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to the UK.

Here are ten events Londoners can enjoy during Black History Month.

Black History River Cruise

Temple Pier October 23 £36

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Enjoy a three hour cruise along the Thames from Temple to Greenwich and back showing the thousands of years of African/Caribbean history on display.

With special historical guests Phyliss Wheatley, General Dumas, Queen-General Yaa Asantewa, Warrior Queen Amanirenas and Olaudah Equiano, not only will you get a unique informed historical commentary on the cruise, but you will hear inspiring true stories from legendary Black resistance leaders.

The cruise will cover topics such as African Romans, the Ivory trade, African diamonds, African Odysseys on the Southbank, the Apartheid Millenium Wheel, The Palace of Stolen Goods, West India Docks, Canary Wharf’s African roots, Kings College’s Caribbean connection and Black Shakespeare.

James Barnor Exhibition Credit Autograph London.jpgJames Barnor Exhibition Credit Autograph London.jpg
James Barnor Exhibition Credit Autograph London.jpg

Black History Walk

St Paul’s Bank October 31 £10

In 140 minutes, your guide will take you through hundreds of years of the African presence and contribution to London’s way of life.

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Discover secret alleyways and enormous buildings all connected to Africa and the Caribbean in ways which the owners do not want you to know. Find out about Black loyalists and African revolutionaries.

Uncover the submerged links between racism, trade, religion, slavery and politics which are still evident in the very streets and buildings of the oldest part of London.

FEBRUARY 20: Dr. Patricia Adelekan speaks onstage (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)FEBRUARY 20: Dr. Patricia Adelekan speaks onstage (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
FEBRUARY 20: Dr. Patricia Adelekan speaks onstage (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Feeding Black: Community, Power & Place

Museum of London Docklands Til July 17 Free

This is a new display exploring the central role food plays in Black enterprise and identity in south-east London.

Feeding Black: Community, Power & Place includes recipes, objects and recorded stories from the business owners Kaleema and Kareema Shakur-Muhammad, Eugene Takwa, Junior and Tafeswork Belayneh, along with TikTok and Instagram cooking videos of traditional African and Caribbean dishes with a contemporary twist.

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The display also showcases newly commissioned photography by Jonas Martinez and an original soundscape by Kayode ‘Kayodeine’ Gomez.

Feeding Black Credit Jonas Martinez Museum of London.jpgFeeding Black Credit Jonas Martinez Museum of London.jpg
Feeding Black Credit Jonas Martinez Museum of London.jpg

Visit Black-Owned Hackney Market

Bohemia Place Market October 16 & 17 Free

Black Eats LDN and Bohemia Place Markets team up every month to bring you some of London’s best Black-owned food stalls and artisanal traders at a market right opposite Hackney Central station.

At Black Owned Hackney Market you can sample some of the best vegan and non-vegan food in town, support black-owned stalls selling sustainably-made clothing, gifts and skincare and enjoy takeaway drinks from a selection of themed bars.

James Barnor: Accra/London- A Retrospective

Serpentine Gallery Til October 24 Free (Timed Tickets)

Since May 2021, a retrospective covering the career British-Ghanaian photographer James Barnor, highlighting six decades of change in both London and Ghana’s capital, Accra, has been available at the Serpentine North Gallery.

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The exhibition finishes on October 24, so book your timed tickets while you still can.

Two schoolgirls stop to look at one of four postboxes painted black (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)Two schoolgirls stop to look at one of four postboxes painted black (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Two schoolgirls stop to look at one of four postboxes painted black (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Coming Together, Growing Together

Clapham Library October 30 Free

Coming Together, Growing Together is a celebration of black British women in theatre during the 80s and 90s featuring Munirah Theatre Company and writer Nicola Abram.

The evening will feature a showing of Polishing Black Diamonds (1988), a short documentary by Susannah Lopez which interweaves the choreopoetry of Munirah Theatre Company with the political and social thinking of group members at the time.

A presentation on black British women’s theatre by Nicola Abram will be followed by Still Coming Together, Still Growing Together – an interactive conversation sharing how the magic of Munirah has sustained a near 40 year SisStarhood, the current pursuits of Munirah members and their encouragement for the younger generation of Black people living in Britain.

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Get inspired, join the discussion and enjoy the evening of theatre and sounds.

Black History Month Stand Up Special

Soho Theatre October 27 Tickets from £12

Soho Theatre and Hannah Layton Management have joined forces for an unforgettable night of live comedy to celebrate Black History Month.

Join Thaniya Moore (Funny Women Winner 2018) and Aurie Styla (BBC Radio London) for a one night only comedy special downstairs at the Soho Theatre featuring a line up not to be missed.

The full line up is still to be confirmed.

A general view of work by artist Emma Odumade on display during the “The Medium (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)A general view of work by artist Emma Odumade on display during the “The Medium (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
A general view of work by artist Emma Odumade on display during the “The Medium (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

An Ode to Afro-surrealism

Horniman Museum Til November 21 Free

Experience this photographic art display exploring contemporary relationships with spiritualism, reality and surrealism, through a Black British lens.

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Drawing from personal experience, mythology and symbolism, artists Hamed Maiye and Adama Jalloh explore new ways to imagine spiritual identity through photography.

Afro-surrealism, first coined in 1974 by the poet Amiri Baraka, is a visual and literary movement that uses the surreal and otherworldly to visualise the present.

Honour, Remember, Inspire

Zari Gallery Til October 29 Free

Zari Gallery presents an exhibition featuring British and International Black artists in celebration of Black History Month.

The Zari team have curated a number of artists each with their own story, showcasing their contribution to the art world.

Inua Ellams: Rhythm and Poetry Party

London Library October 28 £9.67- £11.79

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Nigerian-born poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his exhilarating live literature phenomenon the R.A.P. (Rhythm and Poetry) Party to The London Library for a nostalgic, no-clutter, no-fuss, evening of hip-hop-inspired poems and favourite hip-hop songs.

Ellams has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the BBC. His latest play was an adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters set in Nigeria, staged at the National Theatre.

he Actual, his fifth poetry release, and first full collection was published in 2020 by Penned in the Margins.

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