Black History Month: October

Southampton has celebrated Black History Month over a number of years, and its impact and influence has increased over the years. Schools, universities and colleges always play a significant role.

Black History Month Launch
The month will be marked by an official launch that is supported by the Mayor of the City. This year it will be on Wednesday October 1st at the Southampton City Art Gallery.

Objectives
The objectives of Black History Month are to:

• Promote knowledge of black history and experience.
• Disseminate information on positive black contributions.
• Heighten confidence and awareness of black people in their cultural heritage.

Events
Some of the events featured during this month are:

1st October

• Black History Month Launch. Southampton City Art Gallery, Civic Centre.
  Launch of the activities with the Right Worshipful Mayor of Southampton.
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274

1st - 10th October

• The Windrush and Beyond Photographic Exhibition. Southampton City Art Gallery.
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274
  

4th October

• Text against Racism - Press launch. Vosper Thorneycroft Sports Ground, Portsmouth Road.
  The RJAS group will be officially launching a text messaging service, whereby victims of racism can discreetly report any incident. The project managed by Hampshire Football Association’s
  disciplinary department will, in extreme cases, inform the Police. The project is designed to increase the level of reporting and increase the confidence that all cases will be investigated.
  For further information contact Michael Ward, Hampshire FA on telephone 01256 853016

• Multi-cultural Community Festival and Fun Day. Ropewalk Community Garden, 53 Derby Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 0DJ
  12 noon - 4 p.m.
  This years Ropewalk event will take on a Black Heritage and Black popular culture theme. With an Afro-Caribbean style cafe and juice bar, African and Afro-Caribbean arts and crafts, exhibitions and activities, steel and skin drums and much more. If anyone from the black communities would like to get involved please email Dee at ropewalkgarden@gmail.com for more
  information.
  

5th October

• Caribbean Hurricane Appeal Music Event. So-Bar, Portswood Southampton.
  12noon until late.
  Over the past few months, Hurricanes Gustav,Hanna and Ike have caused death and devastation throughout the Caribbean. The CBreeze Caribbean Restaurant & the Sobar are holding a fundraising event to raise money for the Red Cross's Hurricane Appeal which is providing emergency relief in the Caribbean, with thousands of volunteers working around the clock to help the tens of thousands of people affected. This fun-filled event promises live entertainment, including DJs, bands, vocalists and Caribbean food. There will be raffles, with great prizes, and you can bid for some special items in the auction. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross's Hurricane Appeal.
  Cost: £5 Adults £2.50 Children Under 2s free.
  For information & tickets contact:Jenny, C-Breeze Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, 11 Canute Road, Southampton 023 8033 3022

11th October

• Caribbean Open Day. Mount Pleasant School. Mount Pleasant Road.
  12noon - 5pm.
  This will present an opportunity for those with an interest to come and see a little more than is usually available. Come along and see some of the old photographs that have been brought to City historians since July 2007. There will be: Black History Exhibitions, Caribbean Food, a Steel Band & other Caribbean music and a Slide show of faces you may recognise!
  It is possible that you may have items that form a part of Southampton’s history. If you have material like photographs, diaries, letters and other material about the Caribbean community’s past and present in Southampton then city historians would be interested to see them.
  Come along on the 11th October to share your memories and show city historians material about the Caribbean community. A team will be standing by on the day to scan or photograph material you bring along. This day will also be an opportunity for friends to gather together and reminisce. And will formally open at noon with a special guest.
  For further information contact Corene Forbes on 023 8022 1260 or email coreen.forbes@southampton.gov.uk or sue.woolgar@southampton.gov.uk

• International Community Cohesion Cup football competition
  Community Cohesion Cup,is an annual five aside football tournament which celebrates the diversity of Southampton and encourages interaction between people from many different cultures and backgrounds. The event has successfully enabled people to form new friendships and bonds on a level playing field and take part in a special tournament that they extremely enjoy. This year’s event will take place at GOALS five-aside arena in Millbrook.
  For further information contact Jazz Bhatti on telephone 0845 6889370

• Mango Spice concert. Turner Sims Concert Hall. University of Southampton.
  3pm - A Caribbean workshop for all the family.
  Immerse yourself in the culture of the Caribbean by taking part in Mango Spice where you’ll learn popular Jamaican folk songs and ring dances, try your hand at some Caribbean rhythms, and get to know the role of the instruments in establishing the ‘groove’ of the music. Gary Crosby – leader of the internationally acclaimed Jazz Jamaica – leads an all-star team of tutors for this special workshop that all members of the family can join in and enjoy.
  For further information contact the Box Office on telephone 023 8059 5151

• Vibrant Vibes. African Caribbean Show on Unity 101 (101.1FM) 6pm - 8pm
  Tune into Vibrant Vibes, the African & Caribbean show on Unity 101 Community Radio, for updates on events taking place in and around Southampton for Black History Month.
  Presented by Veronica Gordon & guests, the Vibrant Vibes show is informative, entertaining and will bring you lots of fun facts and information about Black history alongside vibrant
  music, and news & topics from across Africa, the Caribbean Islands, the UK and US. There’ll be lively discussion, community news & events and lots more! Plus you can win great prizes with competitions & giveaways.

13th - 17th October

• Black History Week for schools
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274

13th - 31st October

• The Windrush & Beyond Photographic Exhibition. Southampton Solent University Concourse. Michael Andrews Building. East Park Terrace.
  For further information please telephone Melissa on 023 8031 9038

16th October

• Gospel at lower ground floor of West Quay. 6.30pm-7pm and 7.30pm-8pm
  Southampton’s Sing It! Youth Gospel Choir are a 30 strong group of young people from across the city, who meet regularly to learn gospel singing under the direction of London-based
  world renowned gospel tutors.
  For further information please email singitgospelchoir@hotmail.co.uk

• Billy Cobham - Jazz. Turner Sims Concert Hall. University of Southampton.
  8pm
  When jazz drumming icon and musical legend Billy Cobham first teamed up with the innovative and stylish young Cuban group Asere at WOMAD 2002, no-one could quite have anticipated where their union would end up. Six years on, the result is a stunning collaborative debut album ‘De Cuba y De Panama’, which marks a journey into the making of musical history. The warmth of the relationship that has developed between these two powerhouses radiates loud and clear through their music as they bring the full Cuban experience to the stage, exploring soul, jazz and funk influences all mixed up with a kicking Latin vibe.
  For further information contact the Box Office on telephone 023 8059 5151

18th October

• Ebony Rockers. Caribbean Centre, Trinity Road. Southampton.
  8pm
  To Commemorate Black History Month the Ebony Rockers, a well known Southampton Reggae Band, are performing a special concert.
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274

• Southampton v Watford. National Week of action against racism in Football.
  During Black History Month Southampton always nominate a game in October to specially celebrate Black History and the Watford game has been nominated.
  Mark Ashton CEO has said that" Watford Football Club and its players, staff and supporters join Southampton Football Club in a joint committment that they will not tolerate racism
  in any way, shape or form"
  For further information contact Jazz Bhatti on telephone 0845 6889370

24th October

• UN Flag raising Ceremony

25th October

• Vibrant Vibes. African Caribbean Show on Unity 101 (101.1FM) 6pm - 8pm
  Tune into Vibrant Vibes, the African & Caribbean show on Unity 101 Community Radio, for updates on events taking place in and around Southampton for Black History Month.
  Presented by Veronica Gordon & guests, the Vibrant Vibes show is informative, entertaining and will bring you lots of fun facts and information about Black history alongside vibrant
  music, and news & topics from across Africa, the Caribbean Islands, the UK and US. There’ll be lively discussion, community news & events and lots more! Plus you can win great prizes with competitions & giveaways

27th October

• Back to Black Fashion Show - A journey in style from 40s to now.
  Southampton Solent University, Sir James Matthews Building, Above Bar. Southampton. SO14 7NN
  12noon - 2.00pm. Free Admission.
  A visual expression of how Fashion & Hair have been important markers in relation to the Black experience in the UK.The show will feature models representing the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s,and 00s. Each model would wear the appropriate attire for that time and the appropriate hair style for that time. The show will feature a catwalk presentation. There will be images, photographs and remembrances of the relevant era and the models performances would be accompanied by the music of the time. Kiki Maurey will provide the historical and social background of the time.
  For further information about this event please contact Judith on 023 8055 4926 or email blackfashionshow@hotmail.com
  

• Afrodisiac. University of Southampton African Caribbean Society. Black History dance at the Cube. (University of Southampton student union).
  7pm - 3am
  University of Southampton African Caribbean Society invites all to a night of fun to celebrate black history month. On the night there will be live performances from various artists and top
  DJs playing urban and traditional songs.
  For further information contact Silvester Kabwama on telephone 07979 154832

28th October

• Black and Multi Cultural Policing through History Session. African Caribbean Centre.
  Drop in between 10am and 7pm.
  Find out about the progression of Black Police officers and Staff and the contribution they have made to changing the way the Police Service works with communities and individuals.
  Meet your local Police and Police Community Support Officers and put your questions to them.
  For further information contact Karen Scipio on telephone 023 8067 0974

29th October

• Stamping , Shouting and Singing Home. Nuffield Theatre.
  12 year old Lizzie tells us her story of life in the Deep South in the 1950s in this inspirational and uplifting tale of a families' struggle in a world on the verge of change. A joyful and moving celebration of freedom with the great sound of live gospel and spiritual music.
  For further information contact the Box Office on 023 8067 1771

30th October

• Etran Finatwa - North African Music. Turner Sims Concert Hall.
  3pm
  Enjoy an afternoon with the musicians of Etran Finatawa. Based in Niger, West Africa, the group is made up of members of the Wodaabe and the Tuareg tribes. They will perform a selection of songs and explain the customs, lifestyle and costumes of their culture. Discover everything from how to tune the group’s instruments to how to train a camel! Suitable for adults and children (6+).
  8pm
  This band should appeal to any followers of Tinariwen in need of a new blast of the desert blues…The Guardian Among the grasslands of the Sahel and the shifting sand dunes of the Sahara desert, two legendary nomadic peoples, the Wodaabe and Tuareg, are joined together through the raunchy guitars, camel-gait percussion and haunting voices of Etran Finatawa. Reflecting on their roots and with a nostalgia and warmth that mirrors the majesty of their desert home, these six musicians have toured constantly all over the world since the release of their BBC Award-nominated first album in 2006. Now based in Niger many of the group’s songs reflect their longing to return to their roots – the nomadic lifestyle which relies on cattle, the great expanse of the Sahelian grasslands and never-ending dunes of the Sahara.
  For further information contact the Box Office on telephone 023 8059 5151

Throughout October

• Taharqua - The Black Pharaoh. Tower House Museum. Winkle Street. Southampton.
  The statue is thought to be a portrait of the black Pharaoh, Taharqa, who reigned in the 7th Century BC. He was Kushite king, and came from Nubia, now Sudan. He is depicted as a god, and is superbly sculpted in finely grained hard black stone, grano-diorite.
  Opening times:
  Monday: Closed
  Tuesday-Friday: 10am-4pm
  Saturday: 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
  Sunday: 1pm-4pm
  For further information contact Musems Services on telephone 023 8063 5904

• The Black Presence inSouthampton - 500 Years Exhibition. Civic Centre.
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274

• Black Footballers in Southampton Exhibition. Civic Centre.
  For further information contact Don John on telephone 023 8083 2274

• Black Literature Display. Southampton City College.
  For further information contact Helen Mason on telephone 023 8057 7642

• Cuban Art - Rastafarianism & Women.
  For further information contact Tracey Spicer on telephone 023 8001 1011

• The role of Black women in Nursing Post-War-Exhibition.
  For further information contact Sue Woolgar on telephone 023 8083 2631

• The Black Presence in Southampton from Tudor times Mural. Southampton City Art Gallery, Civic Centre.
  For further information contact Tracey Spicer on telephone 023 8001 1011

Further details of these events are published in the Black History Month Guide which is available to download from the link on the right hand side. This free Guide is also be available from the end of September from the Civic Centre Southampton whilst stocks last.

For more information please contact: Don John or Tel: 023 8083 2274.

If you would like to contact someone about this page, please send an email to events@southampton.gov.uk