Camden’s Black History Season returns for 2025
One of the UK’s only season-long celebrations of Black history, culture and creativity is back – from live concerts and film screenings to history talks and art exhibitions
Now in its sixth year, the Council’s trailblazing season will run from autumn into winter, offering London and visitors from across the UK the opportunity to immerse themselves in the contributions of Black people through stories, film, music and art.
The 2025 Season launched on Friday 3 October with a powerful evening of performance. from African drummers One Drum and moving spoken word performance from writer and poet Britny Virginia. Elsewhere in Camden, award-winning photographer Ian Watts introduced his immersive “Through the Lens” exhibition at Outernet London, which is on throughout October.
This year’s theme for Black History Season is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” highlighting the lasting contributions made by Black leaders, activists and pioneers who have shaped history, while looking ahead to a future of unity for all.
Most events are free of charge, though some operate a “pay what you can” system where proceeds will support the Umoja Health Forum, a Camden and Islington based charity championing health and wellbeing in African and Caribbean communities.
The wealth of events available to book now includes a never-before-seen digitised exhibition from the Neil Kenlock Archive, a conversation hosted by BBC presenter Eddie Kadi exploring the rise and influence of Nigerian music in the UK, and a screening of Horace Ové’s Pressure (1976) the first Black British feature film, capturing the anxieties of second generation West Indian living in Britain in the 70s.
The Council is collaborating with cultural cornerstones - including Everyman Cinema and the BFI – alongside the iconic Camden venue, KOKO to deliver a diverse calendar of events. With demand expected to be high, advance booking is recommended.
“We’ve always felt in Camden that one month is not long enough to amplify the rich tapestry of stories, culture and innovation that is Black History. As the years pass, we’re making more and more exciting connections to deliver what I believe to be the biggest celebration of Black History in the country. We’re proud to welcome communities from Camden, the capital and the country to experience Black voices, whose palpable influence has transcended generations and will continue to for many more.”
Further information
Key events
- Camden Black Radicals: A hub for the Pan-African movement – Dr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, founder of UK Black History Month, explores the influential the work of key Pan-Africanists in 1920s-1960s Camden. Followed by a panel discussion, hosted by Camden activist Athian Akec.
- Beyond Expectations: The Legacy of Black British Communities, Culture and Influence in Camden, 1960s–1970s - Never-before seen, newly digitised photographs from the Neil Kenlock Archive, it highlights Black British leadership, activism and cultural expression during this pivotal era.
- Notting Hill Carnival Through the Lens of Ian Watts - Join photographer Ian Watts and curator Lisa Anderson for a conversation exploring one of the UK’s most significant photographic archives of the Notting Hill Carnival and Black British life.
- Horace Ové’s ‘Pressure’ Film Screening + Q&A - A rare chance to experience this cinematic milestone on the big screen. The first Black British feature film - a groundbreaking exploration of the anxieties of an emerging second-generation of West Indians in Britain.
- ‘Frederick Douglass – My Path to Freedom’ Film Screening - Experience a compelling solo performance by Devarnie Lothian as Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved man who became a leading abolitionist, writer, and orator in 19th-century America.
- Nigeria’s Story: Beat of the West - Hosted by BBC presenter Eddie Kadi - An in-depth conversation looking at the rise and rise of Nigerian music, it’s powerful impact in the UK and the effect it is having globally.
You can find out more about this year’s Black History Season and see the full programme of events at lovecamden.org/blackhistoryseason.