Black History Month is always a busy time in Leicester and this year is no exception. Run by the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, this year’s theme is Black Women: Invisible Power. It’s all about showcasing the significant positive change that Black women have made across a range of diverse sectors. You can expect a rich programme of exhibitions, talks, films, performance theatre, music and more!

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Free exhibitions!

The month launches with 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark, a display at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery celebrating Black women past and present. It’s open to the public from 2 October right through until January 2025.

Exhibitions will be running across a variety of locations including Archiving The Past, Reflecting the Future at John Lewis, which shows the artistic and cultural contributions of the African and African Caribbean diaspora to Britain. Also at John Lewis is a special display telling the story of Larry Gains, a Leicester boxer who was denied the opportunity to become World Champion due to his colour. There will be a touring pop-up exhibition telling the extraordinary stories of the Windrush Generation at Leicester Central Library, The BRITE Centre and St Barnabas Library.

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Comedy and talks

As the home of the biggest comedy festival in Europe, of course there will be some great black comedy as part of the month. Travis Jay brings his sell out show to Firebug on 2 October, Kane Brown just opened for Guz Khan on his UK tour and will be at the Y Theatre on 19 October, and the Africa v Caribbean Comedy Night will be at the African Caribbean Centre (ACC) on 25 October.

Talks covering some big issues have always been part of Black History Month and this year is no exception. A discussion on 29 October at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre on the DMU Campus will look at how our systems fail Britain’s black children, a free online interview with reggae musician Julian Marley on 30 October will voice his profound thoughts on love, resilience and peace in the Black Community.

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Film

The Phoenix cinema has teamed up with local partners, curators and creatives for a diverse range of stories. Included the NASA biopic Hidden Figures, the Don Letts directed Dancehall Queen, and the revealing documentary White Nanny, Black Child, which also includes a panel discussion ed by Ty’rone Haughton, a Leicester-based poet, author and care leaver. There will also be a ‘pay what you can’ Black Short Film showcase presented by Apittame Arts on 5 October and a Director Spotlight on Ngozi Onwurah featuring her short films on the 16 October.

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Poetry, music and theatre

Enjoy the traditional performance arts with loads of opportunities to be entertained throughout Black History Month. On 12 October there is an afternoon of spoken word at the Attenborough Arts Centre with Caribbean Women: A Tribute Through Poetry Words and Song followed by the Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition at Highfields Library on 26 October.

Experience the traditions of black music as Black Voices in Concert celebrates a capella music in the Black oral tradition at Attenborough Arts Centre on 4 October. You can allow a selection of local and nationally recognised artists take you on A Journey Through Black Music at the African Caribbean Centre on 18 October.

The story of Dr Martin Luther King’s last hours are told in The Mountaintop, a powerful drama which comes to Curve from 1-5 October. And Still I Rise presents radical new performances turning the personal into political created by Midlands based artists from Black, African and Caribbean backgrounds. It is presented by 2Funky Arts and will be at the Y Theatre on 13 October. Also at the Y, Going For Gold won the Black British Theatre Award 2023 and tells the true story of Frankie Lucas, a young Black boxer navigating the challenging world of 1970s London.

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Workshops and community events

One of the best things about Black History Month is the range of workshops and events to get involved with. Pathmakers and Pioneers is a special black tie event on 4 October at the African Caribbean Centre featuring an illuminating talk from Hakim Adi, the UK’s first Professor of Black History. …And Still I Rise is a trio of workshops at the centre on 5 and 12 October, focusing on themes of Black Love, Black Confidence and Self-Esteem, and Black Empowerment.

Fun family activities are the order of the day at Curve on 19 October as their Black History Month Community Day celebrates the contribution of drama, dance, performing arts and theatre. And a Racism Recovery Retreat on 26 October at the ACC provides a safe space for those who have experienced individual or institutional racism, with group work opportunities for self-empowerment, support and friendship.