Black History 365

Stoke Newington Music School CIC is a Black female-led community music school providing high-quality, affordable and inclusive music education in Hackney. They will deliver a 6-week course for young people exploring local Black artistic and musical representation while creating their own original pieces.

​Nzinga Dance is a London-based community arts organisation specialising in African Caribbean cultural, historical, and contemporary dance. Nzinga’s event will Celebrate Hackney’s historical Caribbean nightlife, and honour Bob Elliott, of the former All Nations Club at Martello Street.

Founded by award‐winning historian, author, and creative director Khareem Jamal. Opus 18 Productions Ltd is dedicated to producing educational, culturally rich, and historically grounded theatre, music and storytelling experiences. Opus 18 will present an immersive historical drama set during one of the most turbulent moments in Roman history – the Year of the Five Emperors (AD 193). This forgotten history reveals a time when African leadership shaped Britain long before Windrush.

Cookie and Her Black Mambas is an east London based Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz dance group. Founded by Angela ‘Cookie’ Andrew, the collective is also made up of dancers, Korantema Anyimadu and Stephen Atemie. Cookie and her Black Mambas will reclaim the Black roots of the infamous Lindy Hop dance, at an inclusive event at Chats Palace. Get dancing!

Tropical Isles are an internationally acclaimed carnival arts company who have delivered award-winning artistic programmes with public engagement at their core. Join Tropical Isles to Explore the history and cultural traditions behind Carnival characters, including Jab Jab, Jonkonnu and Pitchy Patchy. Participants will learn the cultural significance of characters within Carnival and the wider African and Caribbean diaspora.

More Curricular CIC organise heritage walks, skills workshops and CPD for schools, universities and communities across London. They are working with the Hackney Society, who explore and champion Hackney's rich heritage and give a voice to Hackney residents, to produce a book on Hackney's Black history, and with Abney Park Trust, who are hosting both events at Abney Park.

RConsultancy is the project, event and tendering management arm of the infamous Soca Saga Boys London, led by Rena Kydd Williams. They present a panel discussion and young people’s creative writing workshop on the pioneers of Hackney’s sound systems in the 1980s-90s. Be part of this filmed event, which will become a future documentary.

The Common Press is a consciously intersectional bookshop and café celebrating writing by queer people and people of colour. a Black Queer Community Day at their new venue in Dalston. The programme will include a Black queer market, children’s activities, a badge-making workshop, book readings, talks, food vendors, sexual health organisations, and community gatherings.

Hackney Empire and Belgrade Theatre will record three podcast episodes dedicated to trailblazing, empowering and motivating Black women of Hackney, chosen by Joy Francis. These women embody the Nanny of The Maroons story to complement Belgrade Theatres 2027 show at Hackney Empire.

Did you know you can search Hackney Museum’s collections for items that help tell the story of Hackney’s Black communities? What will you find?

Hackney’s ongoing commitment to the Windrush Generation and their descendants. Information on the festival in June, plus access to resources and support.

Find out more about the story behind the name and what came to be known as ‘Hackney’s answer to Live Aid’ in 1985.

Revisit some of the most significant moments of our borough from Veronica Ryan’s sculpture unveiling to our legendary Windrush Day parties.

Devised by teachers ‘Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution’ provides free resources for Early Years through to KS3 and 4.

Hackney Museum's trove of fascinating stories from its African and Caribbean communities. Visit their website to find out more…