HCP’s round up of Black History Month events local to you By Olivia Opara
Haringey Learning Partnership’s Windrush Day celebrations earlier this year. Credit: Gerry Robinson
With October bringing Black History Month to the UK, it is an opportune time to celebrate Haringey’s Black communities, and to acknowledge and reflect on their rich history and contributions to the borough. This year, the theme of the month is ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’.
From arts and crafts to walking tours and brunch to full-scale performances and plays, we have handpicked a selection of Black History Month events taking place across the borough that you can attend to learn more about the diverse Black history in Haringey and across the diaspora.
Muswell Hill
Craft: African shields
Monday, 17th October 10am–12pm
Muswell Hill Library, Queens Avenue, Muswell Hill, N10 3PE
For families with children aged four to eight years old, this craft session will take you through the history of African shields, their different designs, symbolisms and purposes. Throughout the continent, African shields had various shapes, forms and uses. From defensive weapons in warfare and signifiers of status and rank to emblems and accessories in traditional dances, you will learn how to design and create your own shields out of card.
Muswell Hill Library, Queens Avenue, Muswell Hill, N10 3PE
Local poet Abe Gibson is hosting an interactive poetry workshop for children aged four to eight and their families. Known for his moving and thought-provoking poetry and spoken word, Abe Gibson is a London-born poet and storyteller. He was poet in residence at London Transport Museum and Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution and was a member of the Brothaman Poetry Collective.
Highgate Library, 1 Shepherds Hill, Highgate, N6 5QT
For children aged five and over, this craft session will explore racial equality signified by the friendship bracelets that will be made. Also learning about unity, children will find out more about the different colours that will be used and their various symbolismS as well as the meanings of the bracelets themselves.
Multi-arts venue Jackson Lane Theatre is hosting a special Black History Month brunch for Haringey residents aged 50 and over. Performer, stand-up comedian and poet Sheba Montserrat will join the cabaret and food event to tell stories and teach a Caribbean dance. Sheba Montserrat is a Caribbean culture historian.
Exhibition: Black History Month display by Dawn Gobourne
Throughout October
Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, Hornsey, N8 9JA
In line with this year’s BHM theme, Dawn Gobourne’s display explores Black heritage and culture through the past, present and future. Founder of Speak Out Live London, Dawn hosts a series of local events throughout the year to raise cultural awareness with an emphasis on the Black and ethnic communities.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Molly Dineen, Being Blacker is a documentary on the life of Jamaican-born Blacker Dread, a prominent community figure in Brixton. The documentary, suitable for children aged 15 and up, follows Blacker’s life, his family and the wider Brixton community as it faces rapid social change. This comes as part of Hornsey Library’s BHM Silent Cinema series.
Based on the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta – Queen Victoria’s goddaughter – and set in the mid-19th century, Breaking the Maafa Chain follows two sisters, Fatmata and Salimatu, who struggle to reclaim their freedom and identity after being captured and sold separately into slavery. There will be an interview and talk with the book’s author, Anni Domingo, followed by a reading and book signings.
Wood Green Library, 187-197a High Road, Wood Green, N22 6XD
On display all month, the timeline will showcase influential Black figures from across the diaspora such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. It will also feature key Black British figures from Haringey, from Randolph Turpin,the first Black British boxing star, to textile designer Althea McNish and pioneering politician Bernie Grant.
Haringey Learning Partnership is hosting a series of immersive and creative workshops in celebration of Black History Month. There will be a spoken word workshop; a lesson on how to play the djembe drums; African and Caribbean cooking classes and an arts and crafts workshop with a focus on Haringey’s Black history.
Film: Sankofa Saturday: Know The Past, Seize The Future
Saturday, 8th October 11am–5pm
Wood Green Library, 187-197a High Road, Wood Green, N22 6XD
Sankofa Saturday is a day of film screenings, presentations and activities for the family to learn more about Black British history. Among the films and activities are: Meltrek, a children’s film about great African empires, a presentation about Black Haringey heros and a film about the history of Black theatre in Britain. There will also be a Black cultural market featuring book and literature stalls, arts and crafts, food and jewellery.
Bruce Castle Museum and Haringey Archive, Lordship Lane, Tottenham, N17 8NU
Exploring over 400 years of Tottenham’s Black history, this tour takes place in and around Bruce Castle. Hosted by Deborah Hedgecock, curator of Bruce Castle Museum & Archive, the tour will start at the castle. You will then be taken to places associated with significant Black figures from Tottenham and learn about their legacy to British history.
Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, N15 4RX
The Bernie Grants Arts Centre is hosting a night full of musical performances, poetry and spoken word in celebration of Black history and culture. There is a line-up of Black artists, activists and writers who live and work in Haringey, including singer Lorel and poet Cuban Red. Jermain Jackman, Adenike Adewale and Modupe Obasola will also be performing on the night.
Fair: Black communities healthy living and lifestyle fair
Saturday, 29th October 11am to 6pm
Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, Haringey, N15 5BN
Promoting health and wellness in African and Caribbean communities, this fair will be hosting seminars and workshops from health professionals who will be providing support and information on prostate, cervical and breast cancer screenings. The fair will feature talks about natural foods and a ‘Let’s Talk Organ Donation’ meeting. There will also be live music, beauty treatments, arts and crafts and a board games room.
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