In 2022, Black History Month Leicester will explore the theme, Independence: A New Time, A New Era. 2022 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Jamaican and Trinidad and Tobago’s independence. In the UK, it marks 35 years since the first Black female politician, Diane Abbott, was elected to parliament and in Leicester 2022 marks 40 years since the start of Talking Blues by Herdle White, the longest serving African Caribbean Presenter on local radio in the UK.
- Black History Month launches with BHM Live, a wonderful line-up of Black artists across artforms from music and poetry to textile art and dance. It is an opportunity to showcase emerging talent and celebrate.
- A series of films inspired by the theme, Independence: A New Time, A New Era, the programmed films take an international perspective from political struggles and personal journeys to independence.
- Serendipity will be publishing the third edition of BlackInk, a magazine for Black History Month and beyond. Issue 3 explores the theme of independence with nuanced reflections including contributions from Pauline Black OBE DL, Soweto Kinch, Lisa Amanda Palmer, Gus John, Anita Gonzalez, Stephen Small, Kwame Nimako, Vanley Burke and many more.
As co-ordinators of Black History Month Leicester, Serendipity is delighted to present a full programme of events.
Black History Month will launch on 1 October with BHM Live at Attenborough Arts Centre bringing together new commissions from artists participating in Serendipity’s Launchpad platform: Jada O’Neill, Kelis Darko, Rose Aïda and Ty’rone Haughton. Working across artforms from music and poetry to textile art and dance, it is an opportunity to showcase emerging talent and celebrate trailblazers who have paved the way and are deserving of wider recognition.
Featured exhibitions include Memory Materials: Ceremony for Living Objects at Two Queens, presented by Two Queens. Serendipity and Leicester Museums and Galleries are working to create a Touring Exhibition, available for schools to loan and display in classrooms and foyers. Following the success from LDIF22, The Disappearing Act makes a return to Leicester’s Guildhall. Presented by Serendipity, Yinka Esi Graves explores the idea of Crypsis in The Disappearing Act. Audiences are invited into this exhibition space to discover what Crypsis means and entails to the artist.
Music fans can look forward to seeing Soweto Kinch at The Y Theatre, presented by Leicester Jazz House. One of the most exciting musicians of today, multi award-winning alto-saxophonist, MC and composer Soweto Kinch delivers his exhilarating, hard-hitting jazz, racing freestyle lyrics and hip hop.
This year’s film series for Black History Month will showcase a ground-breaking film throughout October at The Dialogue Box. Featured films include She Had a Dream (2020), Marighella (2019) and Simulacros de Liberación (2021). A series inspired by the theme, Independence: A New Time, A New Era, this section of films takes an international perspective from political struggles and personal journeys to independence. The legacy of Menelik Shabazz continues through a special double bill screening of Time and Judgment and Catch a Fire.
This year we have BlackChat: In Conversation with Herdle White and BlackChat: The Changing Face of the Record Office.
There are several comedy events including Comedy Shutdown Black History Month presented by COBO and the multi-award winning Babatunde Aleshe with his show Babahood, in which he talks about family and fatherhood in this highly anticipated debut tour.
Commissioned by Serendipity and composed by Philip Herbert, with two independent choreographic interpretations by Monique Jonas and Thomas Tawala Prestø, Siren Calls: To an Illusive Journey seeks to honour the Windrush generation and crystallise their experiences.
The film showcases behind the scenes footage on the making of this new work, including interviews with the producer, composer, choreographers and musicians. In conversation Thomas Tawala Prestø and Pawlet Brookes – A Wise Monkey Knows Which Tree to Climb: Perspectives on Decolonising Black Dance accompanies it, followed by a Q&A session.
For those looking for more performances, The Curve presents the following: Celebrating Plays of Excellence, A Final Act of Friendship, and Black is the Colour of My Voice. Also the highly anticipated RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey, presented by Rush Theatre Company will be at De Montfort Hall. Africology Productions are bringing The Voices of Black Folk to The Y Theatre, a dramatic production which looks at the rich history of Black people in Britain and Europe before the Windrush.
Exploring the vibrant heritage of Black arts in Leicester, Mellow Baku and Fred D’Aguair gather for WORD! BHM special and there will be a Celebration of Black Female Voices recognising the poetic talent of Leicester. As well as this there are several literary events such as An Evening with Stanley J Browne, where you can join the actor as he talks about his career so far and his forthcoming memoir, Little Big Man.
Following the major success of LDIF22, celebrate the launch of a new publication resulting from the LDIF22 conference In Situ: Responding to Space, Place, People and Time. This publication brings together artists, practitioners and educators, rooted in the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.
Pawlet Brookes, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity said:
“Black History Month 2022 returns with an in-person programme with something for everyone, from exploring the hidden histories of the Leicester’s Black community to celebrating the changing face of African and African Caribbean people as they move from the margins to the centre.
Peter Soulsby, City Mayor said:
“Black History Month is a time when we can recognise the African and African Caribbean community and its role in making Leicester such a rich and vibrant city. It is also an opportunity to take action and make positive changes that can be taken forward throughout the year, whether this is volunteering, participating, supporting local artists and businesses, or taking time for self-education”
A full line-up of events as they are announced is available at www.serendipity-uk.com/black-history-month-leicester