Black History Month festivities and educational events will officially get underway in London this weekend.
The London Black History Month Opening Celebration is being held at Museum London from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Put together by the London Black History Coordinating Committee, the four hour, free event will include a presentation by retired Buxton Museum curator Shannon Prince and soul singer Denise Pelley who will reflect on Black history and slavery in Canada. London pianist Steven Holowitz will accompany Prince and Pelley throughout their performance.
Following the 1:45 p.m. presentation, Matthew Lloyd, curator at the Norwich and District Historical Society, will introduce the Black History app. Through the new application people can learn about Black historical figures. Audience members will be able to participate through Lloyd's demonstration.
Nearly two dozen community groups will be on hand for the opening celebration, including London AfroCentric Arts Association, Black Lives Matter, and Western University's Black Students Association.
The theme of this year's Black history month is "Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate, a Future to Build".
Also happening this weekend is the London Gospel Collective and the London Kids Community Gospel Choir Black History celebration at First-St. Andrew's United Church on Queens Avenue. It will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday with entry by donation.
Other events happening throughout the month include a family celebration at the Byron library branch at 1295 Commissioners Rd. W. on February 10. Activities will include storytelling, music, crafts, and Black history trivia. There will also be a performance by the London Kids Community Gospel Choir and a hair braiding program for tweens and teens. The event is free to attend.
The Crouch Library at 550 Hamilton Road is hosting the free Hidden Histories of Hamilton Road on February 22 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Those in attendance will learn about the 1920’s London Elite Black Women’s Baseball team from public historian Zahra McDoom. Also on hand will be Gerry Anderson and Barry Howson whose family played with the team.
On February 24, the premiere of The Chapel Project Film will take place at Museum London at 2 p.m. The documentary by filmmaker Anthony Sherwood tells the story of perseverance of the African Canadians who built the Chapel and the diverse group of people who worked for almost 15 years to stop its demolition. A panel will be held after the films showing to answer questions about the history of the chapel. Tickets for this event come at no charge.
London Symphonia will explore the impact and legacy of Black music through various genres at Metropolitan United from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on February 24. Guest artists for the evening include curator and singer Beau Dixon, singers Alana Bridgewater,Camille Eanga-Selenge, and Robert Ball. The works of Martin Luther King Jr., Stevie Wonder, James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, and Maya Angelou will be featured.
A celebration of Black history and heritage through spoken word and music will be held at Museum London on February 29 with the Black History Slam. The free, immersive experience goes from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a showcase of artistic talent that aims to entertain, educate and inspire. The evening also includes a community panel discussion with community leaders, artists, and educators.
