Black History Lewisham 365

Honor Oak Community Centre, 50 Turnham Road.

Dates: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 27-31 October. Exhibition 27-31 October, 2-6pm, workshops 5-7pm.  

Designed and led by 10 young fine artists from Black communities, many of whom are based in or connected to Lewisham. Their lived experience, as artists navigating identity, heritage, and belonging, directly shapes the workshops and the exhibition. By placing these young creatives in mentoring roles, the project ensures that Black leadership is central to both the design and delivery of the activities.

The activity celebrates the contributions of Black communities in Lewisham by creating new artworks that reflect on local history, migration stories, and cultural resilience.

Through curated storytelling sessions, participants will explore key moments and figures in Lewisham’s Black history, from activism and music to visual culture and community building, embedding those narratives into their creative work. Black communities are involved at every stage of the process.

The workshops are open to beginners of all ages within Lewisham’s Black communities, ensuring broad participation. Young fine artists from Black backgrounds will lead the sessions, while Black curators and cultural historians will help frame and present the final exhibition. The exhibition launch during Black History Month will serve as a community celebration, where local Black audiences can see their histories and experiences represented and honoured in a public, creative space.

Grove Park Youth Club, Marvels Lane, SE12 9PR.

Dates: workshops for ages 11-17 Tuesdays and Thursdays in October 6pm-8.30pm. Exhibition Thursday 30 October 6.30pm-8.30pm. All families and friends of Grove Park welcome.

This is a Black-led, youth-driven celebration of the creativity, resilience and global contributions of Black communities. In October, young people will come together every Tuesday and Thursday session to honour African and Caribbean culture through creativity, innovation and art. The sessions will lead up to an exhibition showcase on Thursday 30 October.

Grove Park Youth Club presents Black is Beautiful: A Youth-Curated Museum Experience. This is a Black-led, youth-driven celebration of the creativity, resilience and global contributions of Black communities. Guided by an African American program director and supported by staff of Caribbean and African heritage, the project is rooted in lived experience, cultural authenticity and deep community connection.

In October, our young people will come together every Tuesday and Thursday to honour African and Caribbean culture through creativity, innovation and art. Each session leading up to the exhibition will focus on a different invention, artwork, or cultural expression, allowing participants to explore, reimagine and create, culminating in the Black is Beautiful Museum Showcase on 30 October.

Young people will engage in hands-on workshops where they experiment with inventions and art forms that showcase Black creativity and innovation. Sessions will include: Traffic Lights and Ice Cream Scoops Replicas (Oct 2), Painting Replicas (Oct 7 & 14), Fire Escape and Hot Comb Replicas (Oct 9), Clothes Dryer and 3D Graphics (Oct 16), Create Your Own Invention / Painting (Oct 21) and an African Sewing Workshop (Oct 23 & 28). These sessions highlight the contributions of Black inventors and artists while empowering our youth to step into the role of curator, designer and storyteller.

On Thursday 30 October, we will transform the youth club into a community celebration, where every creation from the young people will be showcased. Families, neighbours and local partners will be invited to walk through the exhibition, enjoy cultural food and celebrate Black culture in Lewisham.

To honour local Black excellence, we will also invite guests of honour such as Candice Carty-Williams and Maxi Priest, global legends who began their journeys in Lewisham, incorporating their music into our DJ set.

Young people will learn about Black history and practice leadership, creativity and cultural pride. They are taking ownership of how Black culture is celebrated and remembered in their community, making this a project that both honours the past and inspires the future.

Our event promotes and celebrates Black culture in Lewisham by:

• showcasing inventions, art, fashion and music created by Black people worldwide, with a focus on African and Caribbean heritage
• highlighting the ingenuity of Black inventors through hands-on workshops that allow young people to recreate inventions like the traffic light, ice cream scoop and home security system
• presenting a Cultural Showcase Wall featuring traditional dress, Afro hair history, music and achievements in sports, politics and the arts
• hosting a community meal, featuring dishes from the African, African American and Caribbean diaspora, with menu cards sharing the stories and history behind each dish

Our team has extensive experience running cultural and arts-based projects within the Black community. We deliver programming that centres representation, empowerment and skills-building, and this event continues that tradition. Reflecting the Black History Month theme, 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride', the project creates a space where all generations can celebrate and take pride in Black heritage.

Grove Park Youth Club, Marvels Lane, SE12 9PR.

Thursdays 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 October 6-8.30pm. For ages 11-17 and up to 21 SEND.

Celebrates the experiences and contributions of Black communities in Lewisham by providing a platform for local young people to share their voices, tell their stories, and release music that can be heard and celebrated by both the local and wider community. The sessions will explore a range of Black music genres and their cultural significance, connecting participants with their history, creativity, and resilience and power of Black artists past and present. Hosted by Beats Lab CIC.

Power Mode is a dynamic 5 week music project at Grove Park Youth Club. Inspired by this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’ young people will create and release a collaborative beat tape of original songs and instrumentals.

Working with experienced facilitators, participants will explore iconic Black music styles and tracks, using them as inspiration for new creations. Sessions will blend cultural reflection with skill building in lyric writing, beat making, sampling, production, rap, vocals, midi keys, guitar, and computer based interactive learning.

The project nurtures confidence, creativity, and collaboration while celebrating and reflecting on Black history, pride and culture. It culminates in an open DJ workshop and showcase, where young people will spin their own tracks, inspiration songs, and their own collaborative curated playlist with the community.

All abilities welcome.

Friday 21 November, 11am-4pm.

The Hummingbird Club, St Laurence Church Hall, SE6 2TS.

The Hummingbird Health & Heritage Fair is a Black-led, intergenerational event celebrating Black History Month 2025 through the lens of wellbeing, culture and collective power. Building on the success of our 2024 health fair at The Hummingbird Club, this year’s event expands the model by involving trainee doctors and work experience students from local schools and medical placements.

Hosted by Therapy 4 Healing (T4H) in partnership with The Hummingbird Club and Modality PCN, the event centres the lived experience of Lewisham’s Black communities - particularly Afro-Caribbean elders, many of whom are from the Windrush generation. The day will offer free therapeutic massage, stress relief support and culturally sensitive conversations around health and wellbeing. Alongside this, we will serve healthy Caribbean food, create space for shared stories and offer opportunities for intergenerational exchange.

The project responds directly to health inequalities disproportionately affecting Black communities - especially in areas like chronic pain, mental health and underdiagnosed conditions. By inviting Black trainee doctors and local young people to take part, the event creates space for connection and learning across generations, while offering real-world experience in culturally competent care.

We will work closely with The Hummingbird Club to co-design the day. As a long-standing Afro-Caribbean elders group with over 120 members, they bring deep insight into the needs and priorities of the community. T4H’s team of Black therapists and health workers will lead the delivery, supported by the young people and medical trainees. Young black people in Lewisham aspiring to be doctors will be able to join black GPs from Modality PCN via the Health Equity Teams in Lewisham as we provide a health awareness day for the members of The Hummingbird Club.

Rooted in the 2025 theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” the project celebrates Black resilience while offering practical support that affirms wellbeing as a form of resistance and healing.

Weekly from 1-29 October, for young people aged 18-25.

Lewisham Youth Theatre, 436 Lewisham High St, London SE13 6LJ.

This Lewisham Youth Theatre project will provide a creative and constructive outlet, celebrating and showcasing young Black artists while fostering resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging. Register interest in joining the project.

This project will bring together a diverse group of young people from LYT’s membership, who will explore creative producing skills and learn to curate work that highlights the talents of young Black artists. It is essential to create safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for young Black artists to express themselves. This project will provide a creative and constructive outlet, celebrating and showcasing young Black artists while fostering resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Across these workshops, participants will learn producing skills, centring lived experiences of Black artists by embedding their perspectives into the production process. They will engage with an audience of peers, families , community members and industry professionals to grow their understanding of Black artistry in the borough and beyond.

They will plan a legacy event that will present an evening of bold, thought-provoking, and inspiring performances from Black artists, open to the public. 

Participants will:

• learn from industry professionals
• develop skills in producing, budgeting, and events management
• gain hands-on experience planning and delivering an event
• gain key networks with local creatives
• gain pathways to further opportunities

Deadline to express interest: Friday 19 September.

Thursday 30 October, 7-10pm.

Bellingham Leisure Centre, SE6 3BT.

Hosted by The OTMS Foundation, a mental health organisation, this intergenerational men’s forum, led by and rooted in the lived experiences of Black men in Lewisham, focusing specifically on the Black male experience across generations while still welcoming our wider community members.

As a mental health organisation, we are launching our Intergenerational Men’s Forum, led by and rooted in the lived experiences of Black men in Lewisham, focusing specifically on the Black male experience across generations while still welcoming our wider community members.

The event will bring together Black men aged 16+, 25+, and 60+ to discuss their personal and collective experiences challenges, triumphs and ongoing journeys. Storytelling and open dialogue will be central to the event, offering a safe, respectful space for reflection, listening and learning.

What makes this event special is the intergenerational structure, which allows younger men to hear directly from elders and older men to understand the realities of the younger generation. Through these conversations, we aim to identify shared struggles and explore how certain experiences persist across time especially within Black communities in Lewisham.

This activity celebrates the contributions and stories of Black men in Lewisham by making space for their voices to be heard, recorded and respected. We also plan to create a legacy wall or visual timeline where participants can note important events or memories, which may later be displayed in a community centre or online.

Crucially, members of the community will be involved not only as attendees, but also in shaping the agenda. We will hold a planning session with Black community leaders, youth mentors and elders to co design the structure and conversation themes, ensuring the event reflects real needs and interests.

We believe this event contributes to healing, understanding and unity not just within the Black community, but across cultural lines by helping non Black attendees better understand what life has been like for Black men in Lewisham, both historically and today.

Public viewing 18-19 October 11am-5pm.

Art Hub Studios, Stanley St, London SE8 4BL.

This community storytelling exhibition will explore the reproductive journeys of Black people in Lewisham, from first periods to fertility struggles, from chronic conditions like fibroids and PCOS to miscarriage and motherhood. The event will feature curated stories, artwork, photographs and personal reflections submitted by local residents. Each piece will be physically connected by red thread or yarn in a symbolic installation representing lineage, pain, pride and collective memory.

This Won’t End Me (TWEM) is a UK-based non-profit raising awareness of endometriosis and menstrual health through creativity, storytelling, and education.
Led by lived experience, we break the silence by creating spaces for awareness, empowerment, and creative self-expression. Our mission is to ensure menstrual and reproductive health are no longer misunderstood, stigmatised, or overlooked. Through art, advocacy, and community, we amplify voices and give individuals the tools to advocate for themselves.

Red Threads is an extension of that mission. This community storytelling exhibition will explore the reproductive journeys of Black people in Lewisham - from first periods to fertility struggles, from chronic conditions like fibroids and PCOS to miscarriage and motherhood. The event will feature curated stories, artwork, photographs and personal reflections submitted by local residents. Each piece will be physically connected by red thread or yarn in a symbolic installation representing lineage, pain, pride and collective memory.

Led by Black women with lived experience of chronic and maternal health conditions, the project is rooted in healing and community care. Visitors will be invited to contribute their own reflections through a journaling corner and interactive wall, creating a safe and accessible space for quiet expression.

We aim to collaborate with local birth workers, wellness practitioners and Lewisham Hospital’s reproductive health team to increase awareness of Black maternal outcomes and highlight systemic inequalities. This project builds on our hands-on work in the community including a recent Menstrual Health Workshop for young people experiencing homelessness at New Horizon Youth Centre, where we partnered with a Black-owned period brand to distribute free menstrual kits and open a dialogue around period dignity and reproductive justice.

Red Threads directly responds to the Black History Month 2025 theme, 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride' by offering a space to reclaim Black bodies, stories and legacies. At its core, this project holds the belief that storytelling, art and shared vulnerability are powerful tools for dismantling stigma, building intergenerational connection and celebrating Black resilience.

Saturday 18 October, 11am-6pm. 

Goldsmiths, University of London, 8 Lewisham Way London SE14 6NW.

This grassroots festival is aimed at the African Diaspora and is a platform to showcase the books, services and initiatives that the Black community is making in the book industry throughout the world. The festival consists of 40 bookstalls, six seminars and several children's workshops. Book tickets to the Black Book Festival. 

The event provides an opportunity for the global community to:

• listen to new and exciting Black writers and publishers
• learn how to write the book they always knew they had within them
• learn about the global Black book industry
• identify opportunities to publish and exhibit books on the Black experience

The festival consists of 40 bookstalls, six seminars and several children's workshops. The festival is staged by Ebony Education (formerly Ebony Saturday Schools) that started in the Borough of Lewisham in 1987. This year's event will have a range of author interviews and a special STEM two-hour workshop for children (8 years plus). There will also feature a major exhibition entitled, Windrush In Colour.

The festival provides a wonderful opportunity for local families, teachers, librarians and community workers to meet and further learn about the power and range of multicultural books.

2, 9, 13 and 24 October, 6pm.

Radio Lewisham, First Floor, The Fellowship & Star, Randlesdown Road, Bellingham.

This October to celebrate Black History Month, young people at Radio Lewisham will create a 1-hour special programme dedicated to the experiences of young Black people growing up in Lewisham in the past, present, and future. Find out more about Radio Lewisham.

Radio Lewisham is a diverse youth-led radio station giving a platform for all young people in the borough to share their views and creativity. It was created by former Lewisham Young Mayor Jentai Gen-One as part of his manifesto and is run as a partnership between Lewisham Music and the Young Mayors team. Black youth voice at is at the core of Radio Lewisham, with over 73% of participants identifying as Black British, African, Black Caribbean, and Mixed. 

Like every programme on Radio Lewisham, LEWISHAM: Past, Present and Future will be curated, produced, and presented by Lewisham’s young people. The concept for the show has been developed by three of our young presenters Michelle, Micah and Indi. Here is the proposed show plan as developed by them. 

LEWISHAM: Past, Present and Future is a 1-hour Radio Show exploring what it means to be a young Black person in Lewisham today. 

Part one

Introduction to our presenters Michelle, Indi and Micah. In this section we will hear their personal histories, their experiences as young Black people in the area, their memories of growing up in Lewisham, what they like/dislike about the area, opinions on the opportunities here, their contributions to the area. 

Part two

Youth Experience (documenting life today for the archive) – In this section the hosts will speak to other young Black people who live in Lewisham and ask what they think of the area: best and worst parts, what’s it like to live in Lewisham today? 

Part three

Heroes – Michelle, Indi and Micah will introduce us to one of their personal heroes, the people who have inspired them in some way – be they a celebrity, family member or friend. 

Part four

Making History – In the final section of the show, the hosts will look ahead to the future of Lewisham by speaking to the Black people making history now. This will include an interview will Jentai Gen-One, the young mayor who set up Radio Lewisham, and Brenda Dacres, the first woman Black mayor of Lewisham. 

The programme will be broadcast live on Radio Lewisham on Monday 27 October. The broadcast will be accompanied by a live listening party at The Fellowship Inn in Bellingham, where we will invite other members of the community to listen to the show and share their thoughts. Following this, the programme will be made available to stream and download.

Saturday 25 October, 11am-4pm, free entry.

At top of Catford Broadway (next to Broadway Theatre).

Catford Broadway comes alive this Black History Month with a vibrant mega-market spotlighting pioneering creators, makers, and artisans from the African and Caribbean diaspora. Don’t miss the grand finalem, an unforgettable celebration of culture, creativity, and community. Explore a curated selection of exceptional food, art, fashion, homeware, gifts, and more!

Sunday 26 October, 4-7pm.

SE London Pride are hosting an event to spotlight the experiences of queer people within the Windrush community.

At SE London Pride, we are proud to be a Black and Caribbean-founded charity, working to amplify the voices too often left out of history. Standing Firm in Power and Pride is part of our ongoing commitment to spotlight the experiences of queer people within the Windrush community, a group who, despite the immense strength they brought to post-war Britain, were often silenced or excluded due to both racism and homophobia.

This event is a tribute to those who never got to live out loud and a celebration of the generations who now can. Through poetry, music, food and storytelling, we honour their legacy and push forward together in pride.

• book your free ticket or free ticket with donation
• find out about events at SE London Pride