Explore a range of community-led Black History Month events taking place in Newham.
Nature Trails Re-Imagined Exhibition
1-31 October, Canning Town Library
For Black History Month 2025, Berkeley Homes partnered with Black entrepreneurs, award-winning author Venessa Taylor, and design practice IVY Studios to work with Year 6 students from Gainsborough Primary School. Together, they celebrated the legacy of Benjamin Zephaniah by reimagining his poem Nature Trails through original poetry and illustrations created by the students. An exhibition showcasing their work will be on display at Canning Town Library throughout October.
No booking required
Honouring Our Communities Exhibition
1 October - 31 October, East Ham Library
This exhibition is a collective representation of our communities across the African and Caribbean Diaspora and within Newham. Residents and visitors are invited to engage, discuss and connect with the works on display throughout October and beyond.
No booking required
Creative Writing Workshop with Luan Goldie
Monday 5 October, 10.30-11.30am, The Well Community Centre
Do you enjoy writing poems, short stories or lyrics? Have you ever wanted to write about your life but don’t know where to start? Do you feel storytelling is something you want to try for the first time? Join us for a fun and informal one hour writing workshop. Open to everyone, no matter your age or experience.
Led by local author Luan Goldie, the workshop will give you prompts and exercises designed to encourage you to put pen to paper.
No booking required
Contact: info@bonnydowns.org
Black Ink: Newham Poetry Group
Wednesday 7, 14, 21, 28 October, 6.15-7.45pm, Stratford Library
Black Ink celebrates Black poets, writers and artists whose words, creativity and resistance have shaped our communities, challenged injustice and inspired generations.
No experienced needed. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
To book your free space, email newhampoetrygroup@gmail.com
FILM NIGHTS at The Source: Backrooms
Tuesday 13 October, 7-8.50pm, The Source
After a therapist's patient disappears into a dimension beyond reality, she must venture into the unknown to save him. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve and Mark Duplass.
Author Day with Florence Chukwuonye
Saturday 17 October, 12-1pm, Stratford Library
A special session for children and young people aged 8–17, exploring books, storytelling, poetry and creative writing. Attendees will meet Florence, hear about her journey as an author, and take part in a creative activity that encourages imagination, confidence and a love of reading.
Roots & Culture, Rhythms & Rhymes: Black History Month Showcase
Saturday 17 October, 2-4pm, Stratford Library
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of creativity, reflection, and celebration as we mark Black History Month at Stratford Library!
Roots & Culture, Rhythms & Rhymes brings together a vibrant mix of live poetry and music designed to celebrate the richness of Black African and Caribbean history, heritage, and present-day culture. Open to the general public and suitable for all ages, this community showcase highlights incredible local talent. Showcases featuring Rochelle LoRo, PJ Greaves, Essie B Music, Michael A Campbell, a special appearance by the RAFFA International Development Agency, and more amazing guests!
Writing African Voices
Tuesday 20 October, 6.30-7.45pm, Stratford Library
How do culture, heritage and lived experience shape the stories we tell?
Join British-Nigerian author Ola Awonubi for an engaging creative writing workshop inspired by influential African and diaspora writers. Through discussion, reflection and practical writing exercises, we'll explore themes of identity, family, community, migration, memory and change. Suitable for adults of all writing abilities. No previous experience required.
La Guinéolese Cultural Exchange Salon
Friday 23 October, 5.30-9pm, Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, University of East London
With a particular focus on Francophone African perspectives, the evening will bring together cultural, creative, academic and archival voices through a curated panel discussion, emerging research spotlight, cultural archive and exhibition, and networking.
How Civilisations Remember: Twelve Technologies of African Knowledge, Memory and Transmission
Saturday 24 October, 6-7.30pm, Stratford Library
We are accustomed to thinking about knowledge as something preserved through books, formal institutions and written archives. But African societies also stored and transmitted knowledge through story, human memory, music, script, number, objects, land, time, seeds, symbols, language and technology. This talk introduces audiences to twelve resilient channels through which African civilisations made knowledge durable -- and reveals why so much of it survived everything that was thrown at it.
Improving Mental Healthcare for Black Men
Thursday 29 October, 5.30-7.30pm, City Hall
This year’s summit will shine a spotlight on some of the most pressing health inequalities affecting Black communities, with a particular focus on mental health inequalities and the disproportionate experiences and outcomes faced by Black men.
Black British Ballet Presentation by Dr Sandie Bourne
Saturday 31 October, 1-2.30pm, East Ham Library
Who gets to dance? Explore the struggle, triumphs and legacy of Black British ballet from the 1940s to today. Discover the hidden history of Black British ballet, from overlooked pioneers denied opportunities in the UK to the trailblazers who broke the colour bar and transformed Britain's biggest ballet companies. Presented by Dr Sandie Bourne, PhD, the talk will be followed by a Q&A session.
