Black History Month 2023 is here. This October, Liverpool will play host to a series of events that will inspire, reflect on and recognise the contributions made by people of Black heritage that have impacted and influenced their communities.
Events this year will explore the theme ‘the power of words through storytelling and shared histories,’ and two celebrated organisations will be leading the city-wide festivities:
Writing on the Wall is a creative arts organisation who run two annual literature festivals (WoWFEST in May and Black History Month in October) to celebrate our city-based creatives. Recognised for their commitment to diversity and inclusion, WoW provide a space for underrepresented voices and continue the fight for true equality.
Making a stand against racism, intolerance and hate, Creative Organisations of Liverpool is a collective of 30+ key arts organisations which recognises the important role that creativity plays in imagining an inclusive and equitable future.
Below features a list of some of the amazing events running throughout this Liverpool for Black History Month:
BlackFest
BlackFest is an award-winning festival that features live music, theatre, spoken word poetry, art and fashion. This month marks it’s 6th year of celebrating cultural diversity in the region.
Talents will be showcased across a range of key venues.
Event: BlackFest
Date: October 1st– 27th October
Location: The Palm House, Museum of Liverpool, The Philharmonic Hall, The Tung Auditorium in Liverpool,
Tickets: Black Fest 2023 | Tickets & Line Up | Skiddle
Letters to Gil with Malik Al Nasir
Join Writing on the Wall and uncover the life story and journey of author, poet, and academic Malik Al Nasir as he releases his powerful memoir, Letters to Gil.
Delving into his childhood, Malik Al Nasir discusses his negative experience while being under the 1970s care system of Liverpool left him partially literate, homeless, and destitute.
However, he later expresses his chance encounter meeting iconic poet, musician, and civil rights advocate, Gil Scott-Heron, who later became his mentor and how this inspired his trajectory and journey of self discovery.
Event: Bluecoat: Black History Month 23: Letters to Gil with Malik Al Nasir
Date: October 4th
Time: 12.30pm
Location: The Bluecoat, The Sandon Room
Tickets: WoW BHM: Letters to Gil with Malik Al Nasir Tickets, Wed 4 Oct 2023 at 12:30 | Eventbrite
Black, Female and Scouse Exhibition Talk and Tour
This exhibition will run from October 2023 to the end of February 2024 and will celebrate pioneering women of Liverpool, past and present. For one day only, co-curators Vicki Caren and Janaya Pickett will be holding a talk to showcase the women featured in the exhibition and to give a behind the scenes tour at the Liverpool Record Office.
Event: Black, Female and Scouse exhibition talk and tour
Date: October 16th
Time: 1.30pm, 5.30pm
Location: Liverpool Central Library
Tickets: Black, Female, Scouse exhibition talk and tour Tickets, Mon 16 Oct 2023 at 13:30 | Eventbrite
Black History Month Day Festival
Focusing on themes of growing up in Liverpool, identity and finding a sense of belonging, local artists will take the stage at St. Georges Hall for the annual Black History Month Day festival. The event features a vibrant range of music genres: Neo-Jazz, alternative introspective R&B, poetry, art and rap.
All profits will go towards the restoration of the hall and developing a more educational and diverse space for the community.
Event: Black History Month Day Festival
Date: October 21st
Time: 12pm-6pm
Location: St. Georges Hall
Tickets: Black History Month: Day Festival (ticketquarter.co.uk)
Black Market
24 Kitchen Street is holding it’s first Black Market which will feature works by Black owned businesses and creatives alongside interactive opportunities throughout the day.
Products available to buy will be locally produced clothing, jewellery, trainers, food, art and much more. The public will also be able to enter the upstairs event space for the first time.
Exhibitors include Anthony Wild, Jade Edwards and Desserts by Dre as well as community representatives and organisations such as the The Anthony Walker foundation.
Event: Black Market
Date: October 24th
Time: 11am-5pm
Location: 24 Kitchen Street
Tickets: Free
Katumba Drumming & Movement
To celebrate Black History Month, Katumba is offering three free drumming and movement sessions that explore elements of the African Brazilian artform: Carnival!
All inclusive, the sessions is open to everyone and there are safe spaces held for those from marginalised communities.
The sessions will celebrate the heritage, culture and wellbeing practices of people of the African Diaspora during Black History Month
Event: Katumba Dancing & Movement
Date: 3rd,10th and 17th of October
Time: 6.30pm
Location: Katumba Culture Hub
Tickets: Free
From literature to dance and music, there’s something for everyone this October. Pick an event this month and immerse yourself in this magnificent celebration of culture in our city. We’ll see you there!