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Cambridge City Council

How to participate in Black History Month in Cambridge this October

30 September 2022

BLACK History Month takes place during October each year, and partners across Cambridge are promoting a packed schedule of events for 2022 to honour the accomplishments of Black people throughout history.

The international event, which Cambridge City Council supports each year, is an annual celebration of the contributions made by Black people from around the world and in the UK.

Highlights for Black History Month 2022 in Cambridge include:

  • Saturday 1 October, 3pm to 10pm, Women’s Voices for Africa’s multicultural event with international food, activities and entertainment, Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington
  • Thursday 6 October, 7.30pm, Black Sheep: an autobiographical story about a Black woman re-defining and finding love in all its forms, presented by Livia Kojo Alour, J3 at Cambridge Junction
  • 11 October to 8 January, Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest: this new exhibition is the first of its kind to examine the interplay between money, power and dissent over the last 250 years – with a key strand of the show exploring the role of the individual in protesting for rights and representation, with the University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum
  • Saturday 15 October, 3.30pm, None of the Above: Travis Alabanza talks to Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, about their new book where they examine phrases people have directed at them about their gender identity, Online
  • Saturday 15 October, 8pm, Channel One with their full Sound System: a six-hour Roots & Culture, Reggae, Dubwise session, with Mikey Dread and Ras Kayleb, J2 at Cambridge Junction
  • Monday 17 October, 7pm, An account of the Windrush story, with Patrick Vernon OBE, Online
  • Saturday 29 October, Cambridge African Network’s full day event with stalls, interactive arts and crafts, fitness activities and dinner, music and dancing in the evening, Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington
  • Sunday 30 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm, Grandad Anansi, presented by Half Moon and Z-arts: Abi and her Grandad tell each other Anansi folktales, J2 at Cambridge Junction
  • Until 30 October, Howardena Pindell: A New Language – this exhibition tracks the development of Pindell’s artistic language, and examines her work over a six decade career as exemplary in articulating empowerment, Kettle’s Yard.

A number of current exhibitions will run beyond October, including:

  • The University of Cambridge’s COLOUR: Art, Science and Power, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
  • Paint Like the Swallow Sings Calypso, Kettle’s Yard
  • Power and Memory programme, the University of Cambridge Museums
  • Friday 25 November, Cambridge Storytellers with Wendy Shearer will present ‘Caribbean Heat: stories from the islands with a sprinkle of pepper sauce, a dash of sunshine and a lot of passion’, Ross Street Community Centre.

Find out more about any of the above events online.

Cllr Mairéad Healy, Executive Councillor for Equalities, Anti-Poverty and Wellbeing said: “We are proud to support Black History Month each year – whether through funding partners who run events, providing grants to support the work being done by local organisations such as the Cambridge African Network throughout the year, or our colleagues providing logistical support to the programme.

“We know that the history that many of us experienced in lessons at school would not have featured many of the cultures that are represented in our vibrant city – these events give us a great opportunity to discover more about local and global communities.

“I am looking forward to the fantastic schedule of events and would encourage others to take a look at what’s on and support our brilliant partners who are putting in a lot of work to share these stories and celebrate Black people’s achievements throughout history.”

This year’s programme has contributions from the Cambridge African Network, Women’s Voices for Africa, Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Junction, UNISON, Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.

Visit our webpage for more information about this year’s events and booking details.