October marks Black History Month in Sheffield, a time to celebrate and learn about Black History and culture.

Events have been held all across the country since the event first began in the UK in 1987, but it wasn’t until 1997 that the celebration was brought to the Steel City.

Comedy events, exhibitions, and poetry readings are happening all across the city, which brings together people of all backgrounds to recognise the rich history of Black British and African heritage.

Sheffield has a vivid range of events going on this month including a screening of The Princess and the Frog, a comedy set by Munya Chawawa, a celebration of the Queen of British Souls 50th birthday, and a performance by this years Britain’s Got Talent winner, Axel Blake.

Here are a handful of impactful events occurring across the city to help celebrate the city’s rich and diverse heritage;

  1. A poetic tribute to the Windrush generation ‘Who We Were, Who We Became’ will be screening for free on 15 October at the back of the Town Hall as well as an event about the short poetic film taking place at Sheffield Town Hall on the 28th October for £5.

Find out more here

  1. The documentary, Cassius X: becoming Ali, is running at the Showroom from 13 October to 19 October exploring Muhammed Ali’s origin story to the emergence of a hero, featuring powerful interviews from people in his life.

Find out more here

  1. Join Peter Braithwaite and Paterson Joseph at the Off The Shelf festival on Saturday 21 October as the two examine more than 100 artworks featuring black sitters from medieval Europe to today. With tickets ranging from £7 to £9.

Find out more here

  1. As part of Black History Month the mental health and well-being organisation Adira have organised a Caribbean Nostalgia exhibition. The free exhibition is taking place every day from 8am to 5.30pm at the Moor Market until Friday 27 October.

Find out more here

  1. A powerful and moving dance production ‘Boy’s Khaya’ is showing for one night only on Tuesday 31 October in the city centre. This dance production uses a mixture of contemporary, ballet and African dance to tell the story of the choreographer’s early life in Zimbabwe. With tickets ranging from £6 to £13.

Find out more here

  1. A powerful art exhibition ‘Hair: Untold Stories’ will be showing for free at Weston Park museum until 29 October. This free exhibition explore hair as a material as well as societies entangled relationship with hair. 

Find out more here

Birmingham City and Sheffield United players wear Black History Month shirts during the warm up prior to the Sky Bet Championship between Sheffield...
Sheffield United player wear Black History Month shirts in a game against Birmingham City in 2022

To find out more about these events and explore new events visit: https://www.ourfaveplaces.co.uk/our-picks/black-history-month-in-sheffield/.


See what The University of Sheffield are doing at https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/blackhistorymonth and what Sheffield Hallam University has to offer at https://events.hallamstudentsunion.com/event/black-history-month-events/93771 .