What’s still to come from Lambeth’s Black History Month programme

Black History Month is the largest and most widespread celebration of Black culture in Britain.

In Lambeth, libraries have partnered with organisations and a selection of inspiring writers and artists, to deliver a jam packed programme of events in celebration of African and Caribbean history.

Throughout the first few weeks of October, the borough has already welcomed discussions on curriculum diversity, talks on Brixton Library’s radical literature, a video documentary covering 500 years of African music in Britain and a celebration of the trailblazing African American author, James Baldwin.

But there is much more still to come.

Join writer, director and photographer Caleb Femi to discuss his landmark new poetry collection, The Wickedest.

Hosted in West Norwood Library and Picturehouse in Norwood High Street, on October 22, this free event will feature a minute-by-minute depiction of a typical night at a legendary monthly house party known as ‘The Wickedest’. 

Here audiences will meet a vivid cast of characters, young and old, all surfing a revelry steeped in camaraderie, community, desire and a spirit of jubilant defiance.

Mr Femi was featured in the Dazed 100 list of the next generation shaping youth culture. His award-winning debut poetry collection, Poor, won the Forward Prize in 2021 and was listed for the Rathbones Folio and Jhalak Prizes. It was added to AQA’s English Literature GCSE syllabus in the UK in 2022.

On October 23, there will be a tree planting ceremony in memory of Benjamin Zephaniah at Minet Library in Knatchbull Road, Myatts Fields

Funny, lyrical, angry and truthful, Mr Zephaniah’s work changed British poetry profoundly and has continued to do so since his passing in December 2023.

Lambeth’s primary schools and libraries will come together for the occasion which will feature nature-based poetry written by schoolchildren to celebrate the life and rhymes of Mr Zephaniah.

Staying on at the Minet Library, Cathy Hassan’s Beyond the Photo documentary will be screened with a Q&A session on October 28.

Beyond a Photo is a documentary which revives the community narratives hidden within a photograph of two young friends in the 1970s.

Tracing the journey of an image, its hidden history chronicles the personal stories that help shape Black British history. 

For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/events

Pictured top: Beyond the Photo, directed by Cathy Hassan will be screened on October 28 (Picture: Al Vanderberg)