Black History Month celebrates and commemorates the contributions of Africans to the arts and culture throughout history.
Black History Month is about recognising that, for too long, the history of black people has been told by and through the lens of other people, and so it exists to celebrate and commemorate black history.
In the UK Black History Month was conceived by the Ghanian analyst and activist Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK in 1984 as a refugee and was absorbed in community activism from the start. He saw that black children faced a crisis of identity because schools and institutions were not really teaching the true history of Africa and its people. In order to address this, he set out to produce “an annual celebration of the contributions of Africa, Africans, and people of African descent to world civilisation” (Adai-Sebo in an interview with the UK Black History Month organisation in 2017).
This year the theme of Black History Month is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, and it serves as an invitation to communities to tell the untold stories of unsung heroes throughout history and today and celebrate Black excellence in the arts, science, politics and everyday life.
Learn about Bristol’s Black history
Famously, during the Black lives matter protests in 2020, protestors toppled the statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston and threw it into Bristol harbour. You can learn more about Bristol’s Black history with stories compiled by the Bristol Museums Black History Steering Group - click here to visit their website.
Another great resource is Black Bristol, a project created and maintained by young people from Off The Record, a mental health and social movement based in Bristol and Somerset. From colonial Bristol and the world wars to the St Pauls Riots and the toppling of the Colston statue, the project shows young black people the history of the city they live in and how it has been shaped by black people across time and space. Click here for more info
In addition to this, the Bristol Museums Collections have an updated and improved collection of resources and information about Bristol and the Transatlantic Traffic in Enslaved Africans - click here for more info
Events
Bristol Distinguished Address Series: Celebrating Dr Guy Bailey - Wednesday 2nd October at UWE Bristol: a night of conversation, poetry, activism and academia celebrating the life of alumni Dr Guy Bailey; following his refusal for a job due to obvious racism, Baileys actions sparked the 1962 Bristol Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the fight against inequality in Britain. After graduating in Social Studies in 1987, he then founded United Housing Association to support Caribbean Elders, the first Black housing association in the south-west. Click here for more info
Don Letts DJ Set - Friday 11th October at Bristol Beacon: Don Letts is a pioneering DJ and film director who formed the band Basement 5 after a stint at the legendary Roxy Club. He will perform in Colston Hall between 10pm and 3am. Click here for more info
Afro Celt Sound System - Saturday 12th October at Bristol Beacon: This groundbreaking group fuses African, Gaelic and Bhangra-influenced sounds to put together a breath-taking show. Following the passing of founding member Simon Emerson last year, their latest album OVA is released in October in his memory. Click here for more info
Sinfonia of London - Sunday 13th October at Bristol Beacon: the all-star players of John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London make their Bristol debut in a special afternoon concert. Click here for more info
Kane Brown: Don’t Listen To Me - Friday 18th October at Redgrave Theatre: the veteran standup comedian has been performing for nearly 20 years, and has been hailed by Guz Khan as “the most naturally talented standup with a crowd Ive ever seen”. Click here for more info
M1llionz - Monday 21st October at Bristol Beacon: rap mogul M1llionz’ distinctive sound was shaped by his Caribbean heritage and his turbulent youth in Birmingham. His upcoming project Ghetto Life touches on significant themes like the Windrush Generation in a portrayal of struggle and growth. Click here for more info.
Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In LIVE - Wednesday 23rd October at Redgrave Theatre: an evening with the BAFTA-nominated and best-selling author, activist and performer in which he takes his brand new show to the stage. With readings from his books, Lemn Sissay OBE unravels some of the original stories behind the poems and talks about how they have impacted his life and the lives of others. Click here for more info