Outdoors and Attractions

Streets paved with gold

From music and dance to poetry and exhibitions see a highlight of events below taking place at various venues across the city throughout Black History Month and visit the websites for more information.  

Empire Windrush

Black History Month in the Black Country

Wolverhampton Arts and Museums marks the 60th anniversary of the landing of the HMS Windrush with a series of special events and exhibitions for Black History Month.

Celebrate with Jamaica’s favourite dub poet Yasus Afari at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, take part in the interactive show Waters of Change at Bantock House, listen to stories from Peter Chand and much more….

Visit the Wolverhampton Arts and Museums website for more information.

Black History Month in Walsall

Streets paved with gold

DATE: 16th October (5.45pm-8pm)
VENUE: Walsall libraries

Author and poet, Victor Richards, will be talking about and performing his new poetry trilogy book, 'Streets paved with gold'.

Black History Month in Dudley

Each year Dudley Council in partnership with community and voluntary groups publishes Black History Month activities to promote cultural heritage and diversity in the borough and the UK.

Moving Here

DATE: 2 - 31 October
VENUE: Dudley Archives and Local History Service, Mount Pleasant St, Coseley.

Moving here exhibition Exhibition that tells the story of people that migrated to the West Midlands.

 Dudley Archives and Local History Service Tel no: 01384 812770

Stories from the Caribbean

DATE: 8th - 15th October
VENUES: Various libraries

Stories from the Caribbean - Ananci the spider African Caribbean story telling and games for children.

Contact Tel no: 01384 817847

Black Expressions Awards Evening Awards evening

DATE: 1 November, 6pm
VENUE: Claughton Youth and Community Centre, Blowers Green Rd, Dudley

A celebration of African Culture.

Celebrating Black History Month

Contact: African Caribbean Community Network, Tel no: 07886 718215 

Cultural event

DATE: 11 October, 2:30pm
VENUE: Dudley Library

Dudley Library Celebration Cultural event with Candi Miller and Byron Jackson.

Tel no: 01384 815560

For more information and full listings visit the Dudley City Council website

Black History Month @ The Drum

To celebrate Black History Month The Drum has an exciting agenda of performances:

Andy Hamilton celebrates 60th anniversary of Windrush

DATE: 26 Oct, 1pm
VENUE: The Drum

Andy Hamilton

Legendary saxophonist Andy Hamilton will perform a very special session to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Empire Windrush’s arrival on British shores.

The Maharajah and the Kohinoor

DATE: 15 Oct, 1pm & 7.30pm, £7 (£5) £3.50
VENUE: The Drum

Charting one of the most illustrious episodes in British history The Maharajah and the Kohinoor is a touching tale of love and loyalty. The play follows the story of Duleep Singh, Maharajah of Lahore and King of the Sikh Empire, who was deposed at the age of eleven and sent to England. Accompanied by a workshop and discussion for young people.

The Maharajah and the Kohinoor

Soon Come (exhibition by artist Anne Marie Salmon)

DATE: 6 Oct- Fri 31 Oct, (Artist talk Fri 17 Oct, 7pm)
VENUE: The Drum

Soon Come is a photography exhibition that celebrates the passengers of The Empire Windrush who helped pave their way for the steady stream of Caribbean migrants that followed.

Soon Come - artist Anne Marie Salmon

Sweet Tooth, Rivers to Cross

Thu 23 Oct, 7.30pm, £5, (£3)
VENUE: The Drum

Sweet Tooth, Rivers to Cross will take you on a multimedia journey throughout history into Colonialism and Empire, segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, the arrival of Windrush and more.

For more information regarding any of the above events please call 0121 333 2444 or visit the Drum website.

More Black History Month events in Birmingham

Skin by ACE Dance & Music

DATE: 14 October
VENUE: Solihull Arts Complex

Skin by ACE Dance & Music

Six dancers explore how from the outside we look different, but underneath, aren't we all the same? Skin at Solihull Arts Complex features two very different pieces, one Japanese-style with martial arts moves whilst the second is South African, wonderfully earthy and percussive.

Tickets: £10 (£9) or £6 school/college groups, available on 0121 704 6962.

Sweet Freedom

DATE: 10 October (19:30 - 21:30)
VENUE: Birmingham Central Library, Library Theatre

Balsall Heath Local History Society - “Sweet Freedom” – Performance based around the abolitionist movement in Birmingham.

Handsworth Revelations

DATE: Until 2 November (Tuesdays – Sundays 11.30am – 4.00pm)
VENUE: Soho House Museum

A local community exhibition created by young people funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. See the results of their work with Vanley Burke, Milton Godfrey and Birmingham City Archives.

Free admission

Hair exhibition

Hair Exhibition

DATE: Until 1st March 2009
VENUE: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

An interactive exhibition showing until 1 March 2009 exploring Asian, African-Caribbean and punk rock hairstyles, in an exciting programme of events including talks and interactive family activities.

For a full events listings happening across Birmingham visit the Birmingham Black History website

Black History Month at Birmingham Libraries

From poets to storytellers and performers there are events for all ages at Birmingham libraries throughout October including half-term.

Yasus Arari

Yasus Afari – Jamaican Rastafarian Poet

DATE: 13 October, 7–8.15pm
VENUE: Handsworth Library

Family session featuring Rastafarian poet Yasus Afari reading his poetry with a discussion and question session afterwards.

African Drum Workshop

DATE: 15th October, 10.00am-12.00noon
VENUE: Weoley Castle Library

A drum workshop with noted Nigerian/British drummer Rocky Amoo. The students will be pupils from Shenley Court College Samba Band.

Breaking the chains with Knowledge

DATE: 29th October, 7.00pm
VENUE: Handsworth Library

A production of a play developed and produced with young people.

For full listings visit the Birmingham libraries website.

Are you holding an event to celebrate Black History Month? Tell us about your event and we will add it to our listings email: birmingham@bbc.co.uk