Events in Bury to mark Black History Month

A number of events are taking place in Bury and across Greater Manchester to mark Black History Month.

The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Saluting our sisters’ to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of black women to society.

The 2021 Census data for Bury showed that the number of black residents increased by around 1,800 residents during the previous 10 years and now make up 1.9% of Bury’s population, nearly twice the level of a decade ago. This is broken as 1.3% Black African, 0.4% Black Caribbean and 0.2% Black Other.

Councillor Tahir Rafiq, cabinet member for corporate affairs and HR, said: “Black History Month is important in Bury as we celebrate the rich diversity of our borough and reaffirm our commitment to eliminating discrimination in any form.

“The month is also an opportunity for everyone to learn about the history and experiences of black people in the UK, contributing to having inclusive communities and workplaces.”

Black History Month events in Bury

There is a variety of events around Bury and in Greater Manchester during October:

• Bury Art Museum is hosting “Am I not a woman and a sister?”, a four-screen film installation made with Manchester-based artist Elizabeth Kwant and female survivors of modern slavery with national charity City Hearts. The museum will also be highlighting the BAM Black Art Trail which is now accessible through the Art UK Bloomberg App.
• Bury Libraries, alongside a Celebrating Diversity collection on Borrowbox, will feature a display on a Bury Archives blog – the Resettlement of Ugandan Asians in Bury.It introduces us to one of the families who came to Bury as a result of Idi Amin’s expulsion of those of Asian heritage from Uganda 50 years ago.
• BHM Annual Gala Awards – The Black Caribbean & African Health Network will be honouring individuals and organisations for their contributions to the health and wellbeing of Black Caribbean and African Communities across the United Kingdom. There is still time to nominate personal or professional efforts that have made a difference to Black Caribbean and African people. Nominations open on Wednesday close on 1 October 2023. Further Information here: https://portal.cahn.org.uk/galanomination

• Greater Manchester Black History Month Civic Launch - Celebrating our sisters from the Windrush era - 28 September at Manchester Cathedral at 6.30-9pm. https://www.cahn.org.uk/bhm/
• Gasper Nali and Michael Mountain music gig – 11 October at The Met, Bury. A roots one-man-band from the shores of Lake Malawi, Gasper Nali creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats. https://themet.org.uk/event/gasper-nali/
• ‘Our Power of Staff Networks Conference’ run by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service with the theme of ‘Change the Story!’. On Thursday 12 October, 10am-5pm, at Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS. Tickets are available here
• LGBTQI Forum – Hate Crime against LGBT BAME people – 25 October at The Met, Bury. https://themet.org.uk/whats-on/october/
• AFRICAB Cultural Event – 15 Knowsley Street, Bury - 27 October, 10am-12pm https://africab.org/

Inspiring stories

This is an opportunity to tell your colleagues what Black History Month means to you, the black people who have inspired or continue to inspire you and the stories you want to share.

You can do this through blogs, pictures, recommendations for films, TV, books, poems or influencers to follow!