• Cladia speaking
  • Abass 150817_4
  • tippa Irie Stick to my roots
  • Black History Season - a performance
    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: A man performs as Abass Dodoo (2L) and One Drum band perform during Festival of Highlife...It's In The Drums at Hackney Empire on October 07, 2021 in London, England. Abass Dodoo and One-Drum Foundation CIO bring you a Festival of ancient African drumming rhythms infused with Jazz and Afrobeat in memory of the legendary Ginger Baker of Cream and music from Ginger Baker?s Jazz Confusion. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
  • Black History Season - photo of a dancer and a drummer
London,
20
September
2023
|
11:17
Europe/London

Camden celebrates Black History Season

This October, Camden Council is launching its fourth annual Black History Season with a whole host of community events - from art exhibitions, live music, and history talks - running until December.

This is Camden’s fourth Black History Season since extending Black History Month in 2020, which will dedicate three months to celebrating the incredible and wonderful achievements and contributions of Black people across Camden and the UK.

Highlights from this year’s programme of events include poetry readings, live musical performances, history walks, art exhibitions, supper clubs and much more.

As part of this year’s Black History Season, the Council are collaborating with range of cultural organisations including Black Owned London, the British Museum, KOKO and Café KOKO, the British Library, LabTech, Bloomsbury Festival, Outernet and the Anti-Apartheid Legacy.

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Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture

Black History Season gives communities across Camden the opportunity to come together and celebrate the amazing achievements and contributions of Black people across Camden and the UK whilst giving communities the chance to learn and explore the past, present and future of Black culture. 

I’m so proud to be involved in this brilliant programme where we will be shining a light on the activists, changemakers and leaders we have here in Camden. There will be something for all and I encourage everyone to get involved in what will be a fantastic season of celebrations.
 

Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture
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Camden’s Black History Season will run from October to December 2023, with the programme officially kicking off on Friday 29 September at Coal Drops Yard in partnership with Black Owned London and their first ever BOLO fest. BOLO fest aims to promote Black economic empowerment by providing participating brands a platform and unique opportunity to connect with local communities.

Other highlights include:

  • Black In Business Panel and Mixer on 11 October, a mixed panel event with an hour long discussion facilitated by industry experts, who will touch on areas such as growing your business, developing your niche, and overcoming hurdles. Entrepreneurs, start-ups and business owners across Camden will have the opportunity to network and take part in an open ended discussion on building resilience in business. We will also be launching our Business Survey for Black Businesses, coordinated with our partner, Black Pound Day at Café KOKO.
  • Camden Black Radicals: Saluting Our Sisters on 16 October, a talk celebrating the lives of Camden women activists Claudia Jones, Amy Ashwood Garvey, Una Marson and Eslanda Robeson and their significant work in civil rights, social justice and Pan-Africanism. Hosted by Athian Akec with keynote delivered by United Nations Fellow, Priscellia Robinson and panel discussion with artist Rosa Johan Uddoh. 
  • Lens To Runway - a series of cultural interventions, curated by Emmanuel Sugo, Sahara Ashanti and Auda Sakho from Camden Black Creatives. From outdoor multimedia installations at Outernet to fashion shows, exhibitions and panel talks at Labs House, these interventions will immerse audiences in an experience that places Black voices at the emotional centre. Taking place on 18 to 22 October at Outernet and 28 October at Labs House.
  • Tippa Irie: Stick To My Roots | Jacaranda Books an evening with Tippa Irie on 1 November. Grammy-nominated, ragga icon, Tippa Irie brings his long-awaited memoir; Stick To My Roots to Pancras Square Library in an unmissable conversation with radio presenter and media personality, Charlene Francoise. 
  • Black Victorians presented by Jeanefer Jean Charles at British Museum on 4 November. Inspired by nineteenth century studio photographs of black men, women and children this performance calls attention to previously hidden figures and challenges historical and contemporary perceptions.
  • Supper clubs at Ma Petit Jamaica, Cottons, Rogers Kitchens and Vibe N Go, celebrating some of the best Caribbean cuisine Camden has to offer alongside entertainment. 
  • Black History Walks between 19 October and 5 November. Join qualified Camden walking guides Avril Nanton and Shirley Fortune on a walk exploring Camden’s black history. Tours will cover the railway worker who overturned a whites-only recruitment policy, one of the first Black women in higher education and one of the UK's first civil rights group.

Most of the Camden-run events this year are free, with a small number of events having a low entry fee.

You can find out more about this year’s Black History Season and see the full programme of events at lovecamden.org/blackhistoryseason.

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BHS graphic