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Black History Month 2006 For Adults And Children

04/10/2006


As Black History Month begins, we pick out some highlights, with an emphasis on things to do in museums. Many events have elements specifically to appeal to children: we have marked these FAMILY. But there are also serious talks and events for adults.

You can find Black history events through to February 2007 in our African and Caribbean listings.

photo shows man in flying costume with plane in background
Gilbert Fairweat. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

But for a complete list of October events across London, including performing arts, we suggest you pick up a Black History Month magazine from your local library or museum. Elsewhere online, check out a mixture of listings here - or look up London BHM events by borough here.


1. The Horniman's Amazon to Caribbean exhibition continues until January 2007, looking at the life of Amerindian people in the Caribbean and the influence of the Maroons on some of its arts. There are many half term events for children. FAMILY

Adults who can't get to the museum during the day can tour the Africa Worlds galleries with curator Dr Hassan Arero in two evening sessions on Thursday 26th October.


2. The Imperial War Museum also goes to the Caribbean this month with a talk about the Caribbean at War

There are also Learn with your family sessions on the same subject. FAMILY

photo shows victorian room with piano

The parlour. Courtesy of Sutton House, Hackney.

3. S I Martin continues to give his Black history talks at Sutton House - the oldest building in Hackney. You can also download his Lambeth Black History walk.


4. The newish Elspeth Kyle Gallery is showing Telltale through to December - work by eight Black artists working in a mixture of media. The show ranges from Kimathi Donkor's series of paintings relating to the events around the Brixton riots of 1985, to Helen Appio's documentary Portrait of Mr Pink - the story of one London man and his extraordinary house.

Events for children in the Diverse City Season include A day in the life of an African village. Courtesy of the Natural History Museum.

Photo shows woman in African dress showing girl a craft

5. The Natural History Museum is running a Diverse City Season until the end of the year, with an emphasis on events for families and children - from Ananse the Spider storytelling to experiencing a day in the life of an African village. FAMILY

photo shows film poster for big fella

Elisabeth Welch and Paul Robeson in the film Big Fella (1937). The Elisabeth Welch Collection (Courtesy of Stephen Bourne)

6. Elisabeth Welch was probably the most famous Black woman in London between the wars. Historian Stephen Bourne, who knew the singer is giving a talk about her and other Black women of the 40s at the Imperial War Museum on 22nd October. Meanwhile you can see a small display of her personal memorabilia at the Theatre Museum.


7. The Jewish Museum is running a series of events about Jewishness in unexpected places in Africa, including Uganda and Ethiopia. It describes how Judaism in African began almost by accident: in the 1890s Semei Kakungulu helped the British to conquer Eastern Uganda. He was subsequently employed by the British as a missionary, but decided he preferred the Hebrew Bible to the Christian one.


8. Carnival

Both Hackney Museum and Bruce Castle Museum will be doing exhibitions about Carnival this year, with chances to look at gorgeous costumes and plenty of surround activities for children. FAMILY


9. Study for Adults

The National Maritime Museum looks at the "Black Atlantic Then and Now". This course running from October to December allows participants to handle objects in the museum as well as going on offsite visits.

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