Black History Month in the UK officially kicks off in two days, with the official theme being announced as “Stand Firm in Power and Pride”. I am truly excited to partake in a range of events to celebrate this important month, and to highlight and champion our rich history.
Celebrating Diversity in Children’s Literature
One of my main motivations behind writing A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone was to continue sharing the beauty and diversity of Afro Caribbean culture, starting with my own heritage (Sierra Leone & Martinique). Whilst teaching, it became apparent that Africa was so often referenced in book titles that mainly focused on a few countries and not the entire continent. Of course, with a continent that vast, it’s to be expected that it’s no easy feat to tackle all 54 countries in one. This is why I was so keen to create a series that shone the spotlight on one country at a time. Also, without negating any truths, I wanted to create a book that made children feel excited about African countries. Not just pity and fear of scarcity, poverty and war. All of which are found across the world, even in developed countries. As always, I am excited to stand firm in power and pride this Black History Month!
A Celebration of Multicultural Books This Black History Month
The first event I’m excited to share is also one that I will be attending! It’s an online event via Zoom, that is catered to children 4+. It will be a fantastic celebration of multicultural books and a great way to commence this Black History Month. This online event is broken down into two main categories: readings and activities for children 4-8 years old and for children 9-14+ years old. There are a range of powerhouse authors and illustrators on the panel for the evening, including: Kamapala Chukwuka, Sade Fadipe and Maxwell Oginni to name a few. Having previously been a success, I am excited to be joining this year’s festivities, where I will be reading a few pages from my book and sharing facts on Sweet Salone (Sierra Leone).
The Important Bits- How To Attend?
Registry is mandatory and you can register for yourself and your young person via Eventbrite. Or scan the QR code below.
📆 Date: Friday 3rd October 2025
⏰Time: 17:30-20:30 (GMT)
🎟️Tickets: Free, registration required
All that’s left to say is see you there! Happy Black History Month ✊🏾😊
