This Black History Season is packed with events in Hackney – readings by local authors, delicious food, an award-winning film and workshops with entrepreneurs.
The annual event, coordinated by Hackney Council, is a mix of entertainment and education and also seeks to offer advice and practical support to those impacted by the Windrush scandal.
Events include a film screening of Ama: An African Voyage of Discovery at The Rio Cinema on Sunday, October 1 at 6 pm. This film is about a Ghanaian girl living in London who, on a mission to save her father from death, reconnects with her ancestral traditions. It first screened in 1991 and received critical acclaim worldwide.
What better way to celebrate Black History Month than enjoying mouth-watering food at the Black-Owned Business Market in Bohemia Place? Taking place from October 5-8, at Bohemia Place (near Hackney Central), there’ll be live music, cocktails and brilliant street food. The events start on the Friday night (6 pm-10 pm) and continue on Saturday and Sunday (12 pm-6 pm).
A spokesperson for organisers Black Eats LDN said: “Our event is more than just a market – it’s a showcase of the rich and diverse cultures that make up our community. We’re proud to feature a variety of Black-owned businesses, each bringing their unique flavours, styles, and talents to the table.”
On Wednesday, October 4 (6.30 pm-8.30 pm) there’ll be a panel discussion at Hackney Library about the Windrush scandal. The event will explore the next steps in terms of justice and compensation for victims of the UK’s ‘hostile environment’ policy.
If you’ve suffered losses because of the Windrush scandal, you may be entitled to compensation from the government. Windrush justice clinic partners Claudia Jones Organisation and the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit are holding drop-in advice clinics on October 16 and November 20 (11 am-4 pm) to help residents apply for the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Celebrating black creativity and entrepreneurship and encouraging better collaboration between businesses, a three-hour workshop at Homerton Library will tackle issues such as mental health in the black community, overcoming obstacles and the power of partnerships. This event takes place on October 25 (1.30 pm-4.30 pm).
There are some lovely events for children too. Dr Ronx (best known for her role in Operation Ouch) will be introducing their debut book Amazing Bodies. It’s described as a fun-filled whistle-stop tour of our human body using the games ‘Higher or lower?’ ‘What’s in the bag?’ and involving volunteer members of the audience in live demos! October 25 (3 pm-5 pm) and October 28 (2 pm-4 pm).
Award-winning author and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max (Dream to Change the World: The Story of John La Rose and Jump Up!) will host a family storytelling session at Stamford Hill Library during Half Term on Thursday, October 26 (2 pm-3 pm) for children aged five and over.
Other events are expected to be added to the calendar over the coming week. For full details and to book tickets, visit: www.lovehackney.uk/black-history-season-events
