October is Black History Month in the UK — a chance to learn about Black creatives, heroes, and campaigners from the past and the present. There's a whole lot going on in London — we've picked some highlights.
Black History Month walks, talks and tours
- Black History Walks host a number of guided walks in October, including a Theatreland Black History Walk and Hackney Black History Walk (various dates in Oct)
- The Wellcome Collection in Euston puts on a series of special Black History talks and tours this month, covering themes including incarcerated labour and the cultural significance of kola nuts (FREE, throughout October)
- You have two chances to do the Culture Mile BID Black History Walking Tour, in which you'll uncover the fascinating stories of Black Londoners in the Square Mile (FREE, 2 and 31 Oct)
- Social activist and historian Darrel Blake leads the City Of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour, following the hidden story of one of Britain's first slave traders, London's Plantation Economy Triangle and the blood money trail of the Lloyds family (5, 12 and 19 Oct)
- Jon Newman of Lambeth Archives talks about a new exhibition, Shakespeare's Othello in Lambeth, which hones in on historic performances of Othello by Black actors. (FREE, 10 Oct)
- Kids will love Travel Back to Tudor London: A Family Adventure in Southwark, an immersive experience in which families must solve riddles and clues on the trail of a thief (17 & 29 Oct)
- Find out about 'Lost Woman of British Jazz' Sadie Crawford, and a street named after an African King from Botswana, on this Tooting Black History Walk (FREE, 19 Oct)
Other Black History Month events
- London Museum Docklands has a slew of events taking place, including first-hand Windrush generation testimony and talks about people of African heritage who were central to England's abolition campaigns. Check out the lineup (throughout October)
- At time of writing, Brixton's Black Cultural Archives haven't announced their October listings, but no doubt there'll be some insightful things happening, plus this month is always a good excuse to call in and explore the archives (throughout October)
- Barbican hosts the Black British Book Festival 2024, packed with well-known speakers, including Dianne Abbott and Big Manny (5 Oct)
- Get down to Brixton's Black Culture Market, with over 40 traders selling cakes, clothes, skincare, fashion and African art (5 & 6 Oct)
- 1970s American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group The Blackbyrds take to the stage at Islington's Union Chapel (12 Oct)
- The music and culture of Guinea are explored by musician Shumba Maasai and singer and percussionist Falle Nioke, at Kindred in Hammersmith (16 Oct)
- Pete Rock, one of the most renowned figures in hip-hop history, plays the Electric Brixton (19 Oct)
- Trailblazing Somali women writers Yasmin Mohamed Kahin and Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf are at Southbank Centre to share some of their poetry and words (25 Oct)
- Brixton Library hosts a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, where you'll be taught how to write, and enhance existing articles about Black people, history and society. (FREE, 29 Oct)
- Last year, a set of artworks by Trinidad-based artist Che Lovelace was unveiled in St James' Piccadilly, dedicated to Quobna Ottobah Cugoano, a former enslaved man who ended up living in London and campaigning against slavery. It's free to go and see. (FREE, anytime)
Londonist on Black history
Check out our articles on Black history in London:
- "I Had Never Seen A Train Before!" Memories Of A Windrusher Arriving In London
- A Black History Tube Map
- 10 Black Women Who Changed London For The Better
- Wilston Samuel Jackson: A Plaque For The UK's First Black Train Driver's At King's Cross Station
- Who Were The First Black Footballers At Every London League Club?
- This Botanical Map Of Brixton Spills Unsavoury Truths About Slavery
- 10 London Locations Linked To Slavery
- London's Best Walking Tours: Black History Walks
- This Map Of Black History In London Charts Slavery To Black Lives Matter
- Black London: 10 Sculptures, Murals And Plaques To See
- 8 Remarkable Vintage Images Of Black Londoners
- Who Was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor? (He's Not To Be Confused With Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
- Plaque To Phillis Wheatley: The First African-American Woman To Be Published In English
