Events celebrate a very proud history

10:52am Thursday 9th October 2008

A VARIED programme of free events have been planned in October to celebrate Black History Month.

The event has been marked in the UK every October for more than 30 years, and was first introduced to recognise the achievements of the black community, and to remember black history.

There will be historical and political documentary programmes throughout the month on television and radio, and in Waltham Forest there are free activities in libraries, Vestry House Museum and the William Morris Gallery.

The celebrations were launched last Wednesday evening at Walthamstow Library, with a live music performance by Akubu, a story-teller, and Caribbean food.

But there is still much more to come, including a two-day African Showcase Market on Saturday and Sunday in Walthamstow Town Square. The square will be transformed for the day, with African music, food and workshops, and more than 25 stalls of traditional art and crafts.

At Vestry House Museum, children can also take part in an African mask making and story workshop, which will look at the history and meaning of masks in African culture and the significance of the artistic details of original mask design. Children will then create their own African masks.

Cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, Cllr Geraldine Reardon, said: “The black community has made a huge contribution to enriching life in Waltham Forest and we will be recognising and celebrating that over the next month.

“Black History Month is a celebration of black culture and achievements and is also an important way of promoting tolerance and respect in our borough.”

EVENTS

• Thursday October 10

Walthamstow Library

7.30pm to 8.30pm

Robin Walker, When We Ruled, a visual journey through thousands of years of black history.

• Saturday and Sunday October 11 and 12

Walthamstow Town Centre

12 noon to 6pm.

African Showcase Market 2008: Celebrating diversity through commerce. More than 25 stalls selling everything from arts and craft to textiles. An outdoor event with the best of African artefacts, music, food and workshops.

Live music and DJs from artists from East, South and West Africa, workshops with choreographers, head wrapping, face-painting, bead-making sessions and endless activities.

Higham Hill Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Under-5’s story time

Leyton Library

3pm to 5pm

Workshop: The Black Presence in Waltham Forest Peter Ashan, learning and outreach officer for The Museum Gallery and Archives Service of Waltham Forest will lead a workshop on the black presence in Waltham Forest using resources from the collection of The Vestry House Museum and archives.

• Sunday October 12

William Morris Gallery

12noon to 4pm

Jump Up Time. Listen to a Carnival story and draw your own carnival costume with Zoe O’Hare. The Trinidad unofficial Carnival starts in October when the music for the season is launched. Stories will be read at 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

• Tuesday October 14

Leyton Library

11.30am to 12.30pm

Under-5’s story time

Hale End Library

2pm to 3pm

Under 5’s story time

• Wednesday October 15

Lea Bridge Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Under-5’s arts and crafts session with Sophia Ekpang

• Friday October 17

Leytonstone Library

6pm to 9pm

Akin Oyetade – Black achievement from a British perspective, Black History film.

Hale End Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Under-5’s story time with Faustine Charles

• Saturday October 18

Walthamstow Assembly Hall 8pm to midnight The Best of Black Comedy with Geoff Schumman and guests. Richard Blackwood, Dibi, Nadil, Lateef Lovejoy, Glenda Jackson, Felicity Ethnic and singing sensation Don-e.

Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow Tickets: Adults £9.50; children £5.50, available from ticketweb.co.uk or by calling 08700 600 100.

• Sunday October 19

Vestry House Museum 12noon to 4pm Josephine Regis will look at the story of prominent black inventors and individuals who have left a significant historical footprint. Children will be encouraged to consider the individual contributions they could make in the form of an invention and illustrate these ideas in a creative way.

• Tuesday October 21

Walthamstow Library

6.30pm to 7.30pm

Ena Miller, poet, performer and storyteller.

• Wednesday October 22

Leyton Library

5.30pm to 7pm

Speaker Marika Sherwood. First Pan-African conference - experience of being black in the UK.

• Friday October 24

Wood Street Library

2pm to 3pm

Under-5’s arts and crafts session with Sophia Ekpang

• Saturday October 25

North Chingford Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Over 8’s African arts and crafts • Sunday October 26

William Morris Gallery

12noon to 4pm

Help artists Jane Grosvenor and James Holdsworth recreate one of the paintings by Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili.

• Monday October 27

Higham Hill Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Under-5’s storytelling, music and song with Winston Nzinga

• Monday October 27

Walthamstow Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Over-8’s creative writing with oral history

• Tuesday October 28

Lea Bridge Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Over-8’s African contemporary art and painting

Wood Street Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Over-7’s African drumming

Harrow Green Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Under-5’s. John McAnuff songwriter and singer recites the alphabet Jamaican stylee.

• Wednesday October 29

Higham Hill Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Over-8’s Anansi storytelling with Jean Buffong

South Chingford Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Over-8’s drama based on The Empire Windrush

• Thursday October 30

Leytonstone Library

2.30pm to 3.30pm

Marcia Barritt ACIL – Bilingual Jamaican Patwa language poet, writer, author, spoken word performer and artist. Display of Marcia’s artwork.

• Thursday October 30

Hale End Library

10.30am to 11.30am

For all ages – storytelling, music and song with Winston Nzinga

• Friday October 31

Higham Hill Library

10.30am to 11.30am

Under 5’s story time with Faustine Charles

Leytonstone Library

1.30pm to 3.30pm

Oral history workshop. Family event focusing on shared experiences.

Booking:

There are limited spaces for events in libraries. To book a place, visit the library or call 8496 3000. There is no charge for events in the libraries, Vestry House Museum or William Morris Gallery.

Call Waltham Forest Direct on 8496 3000 or visit: walthamforest.gov.uk/black-history-month to check for any changes to dates or times.