Bumper line up of events and activities to celebrate Black History Month

Highlights of the month’s events and activities include:

• Black History Walk of Islington: a two hour socially distanced walking tour through Islington’s Black history landmarks and places of significance with guide Avril Nanton. Avril will also be taking the same tour online via Zoom, for those who’d prefer to take the tour from home. Places are limited so booking is essential.
  
  
• A brilliant set of online talks, including sessions with singer and activist Jermaine Jackson, author and trailblazing genealogist Paul Crook, and founding member of the Black Police Association Dr Leroy Logan MBE.
  
  
• An online West African cooking class with expert chef Papa L: Conducted via Zoom, participants can cook alongside Papa L in the comfort of their own kitchen! You’ll be sent a list of ingredients beforehand, so by the end of the session you should have both a hearty meal and a flavourful taste of West African cuisine.
  
  
• Music and movement sessions for kids aged 0-6: BAFTA nominated film-maker and musician IJAHMO will be playing a fusion of reggae and Igbo vibrations for kids, along with songs from his new album of reggae nursery rhymes.
  
  
• A new Black History Month book list from the council’s libraries, with online book readings including author Destynee Onwochei reading her debut children’s book ‘Tobias The Dream Adventurer’.

All Black History Month events and activities are free and open to everyone, although booking is essential.

For more information, as well as a full line up of events and activities, take a look at the Black History Month programme available on the council’s Islington Life website.

The Islington Heritage Service is also asking for resident’s help to celebrate Islington’s Black community with a #BlackLivesMatter collage. On display at Islington Local History Centre and online, the collage will be gradually created throughout Black History Month from images collected from residents, staff and archives of Islington. Images collected will also be added to the Centre’s archive collection for future generations to view and research. To help, take a look at details of how and what to contribute or please contact the local history centre at local.history@islington.gov.uk.

Cllr Una O’Halloran, Executive Member for Community Development, said:

“I’m delighted to support this year’s brilliant line up of events for Black History Month and invite everyone to come listen, learn, join in, reflect, share and celebrate.

“The Black Lives Matter movement, and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on Black and minority ethnic communities has sparked a vital conversation about systematic racism and inequality that continues to exist in our society.

“Black History Month gives us a platform to discuss those issues, to challenge inequality, and to give voice to the unique and brilliant Black history and culture that is too often overlooked in our society. However Black History Month shouldn’t be the only time we celebrate Black history and culture, and we intend to highlight the significant contribution of Black history and culture to British history year-round as we work towards building a more equitable, inclusive community.”