Black History Month Events #2: Black Book Festival

As we move into the colder months and events are starting to return indoors, I must admit I am grateful that I no longer have to battle the elements. Let’s just say, wind and books don’t mix. Come to think about it, extreme heat from the sun doesn’t bode well either. Anyway, I digress… Black History Month in the UK is well underway and I’m excited for this upcoming event, which takes place in six days.

This Saturday 18th October is the 6th annual Black Book Festival, including the Education Expo organised by Simon Education. It also marks my first post-summer, indoor event, woohoo! The festival is set to be a literary feast including seminars, workshops, marketplaces, a children’s book competition, music and more!

I will be there, in the marketplace, selling copies of A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone.

About the festival

This grassroots festival is aimed at the African Diaspora and is a platform to showcase the books, services and initiatives that the Black community is making in the book industry throughout the world.

The event provides an opportunity for the global community to:

  • listen to new and exciting Black writers and publishers
  • learn how to write the book they always knew they had within them
  • learn about the global Black book industry
  • identify opportunities to publish and exhibit books on the Black experience.

Entry to the Black Book Festival

  • Free entry to book expo with 50 stalls.
  • Paid entrance to seminar presentations and book expo.
  • Paid ticket holders to go to the front of the queue. Seminar tickets can be booked online or at the venue and will be allocated on a first come-first-served basis.

Date: Saturday 18th October 2025

Time: 11am- 6pm

Location: Goldsmiths, University of London

8 Lewisham Way London SE14 6NW

Tickets: £0- £12 Eventbrite

Black History Month Events #1: CALF-E Online Event

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!

Cover of book- A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone

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).

Flyer for Children & Authors’ Literary Fanfare & Events

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 ✊🏾😊

A For Africa stall at Camberwell Carnival 2025 | Explore the alphabet Sierra Leone Style

Flyer for Camberwell Carnival

It’s been a summer filled with events galore. Whilst Notting Hill Carnival has now passed, there’s still room for more fun! I’m really excited to be in attendance of Camberwell Carnival on Saturday 30th August 2025, where I’ll be selling copies of A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone.

What to expect at Camberwell Carnival?

CAMBERWELL CARNIVAL RETURNS!

Bigger and better than ever – We have everything from food from all over the world, FREE for the first hour! Washed down with FREE RUM PUNCH, as well as so many choices from our range of over 50 vendors. A star-studded entertainment line up! Welcoming back the amazing Ebony Steel Band for a second year in a row. We will be joined by South London Samba stampeding through with the drums. That’s not all, we have our amazing host, Fullavibes with Villain ready to showcase some amazing tunes and performances, with special guest features and even a live violin and sax! We welcome DJW with the old school reggae for the Lovers Rock crew! We are excited to be joined this year by Soca Karaoke! You’ve seen them all over the country and now they join us for another big singalong! So it wouldn’t be a singalong without our headliner bringing big tunes back to back – this year our headline act is none other than MIXMASTERS! We can’t wait for you guys to shake a leg! Oh and did we mention we have a Mechanical Bull for all the riders out there!

What a chance to bring your Beyonce Cowboy hats for one last rodeo!

A For Africa stall at Camberwell Carnival

I’ll be selling my debut children’s book, A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone, which is available online and in store via major book retailers. A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone is a fun and educational way to explore the alphabet Salone style!

The book costs £10.99 and all books come with a free bookmark! Bookmarks are available to purchase for £1 each.

 Payments will be accepted in both card and cash.

A For Africa book on display

How to keep in touch with A For Africa

To keep supporting and continue on the journey, you can follow along on social media channels including: TikTokInstagram and YouTube. Join in on the fun across social media platforms.

Tell a friend to tell a friend!

Hopefully see you at the weekend for a fun celebration of Caribbean culture! 

Where to find the event?

Camberwell Green
London
SE5 7AA

A For Africa book reading at Africa Day

Africa Day Celebration Day craft fair flyr

I’m really excited to announce my very first book reading! I’ll be at Africa Day; a celebration crafts event at Hale End Library on Saturday 24th May. Come and join us for a morning of crafts and fun, all embracing the rich cultures of countries in the second largest continent, Africa.

What to expect?

Join in on the crafting fun and celebrate with Hale End Library! Celebrate with a craft activity and come along for some crafting fun at this family friendly event. Suitable for ages 3 and over.

A For Africa book reading

I’ll be introducing my debut children’s book, A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone, which is officially released on 26th May. A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone is a fun and educational way to explore the alphabet Salone style! I’ll be reading from the book and I will also have copies of the book to purchase, for £10.99. Payments will be accepted in both card and cash.

How to keep in touch with A For Africa

To keep supporting and continue on the journey, you can follow along on social media channels including: TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Join in on the fun across social media platforms.

Tell a friend to tell a friend!

Hopefully see you for a morning spent celebrating the arts and culture of this special continent! 😊

Where to find the event?

Hale End Library

Castle Avenue

London

E4 9QD

Where to Find A For Africa on Social Media – Connect and Join the Journey!

A For Africa social media banner featuring Sierra Leone children's book

Are you ready to explore the alphabet African style? 🌍

A For Africa is a Sierra Leone children’s book that invites young readers and their families on a journey through the continent — starting with Sweet Salone. Whether you’re already familiar with Sierra Leone or just discovering the country, this book offers something for all readers. Whether an alphabet pro or still learning your ABCs, this book is perfect for all little readers. Follow along across social media for behind-the-scenes updates, fun facts, and the latest news from this exciting self-publishing journey. From Instagram to TikTok and YouTube, there’s a space for everyone to connect, learn and be inspired by the vibrant culture of this mammoth continent.

📸 Follow Us on Instagram

Want the latest updates? Instagram is the place to be! From exciting news to daily highlights, you’ll find a vibrant mix of posts that reflect the heart of A For Africa. It’s a space to connect, engage, and celebrate the beauty of African heritage — starting with Sweet Salone!

🎥 Join the Fun on TikTok

TikTok is where I keep things lively! Get bite-sized facts about Sierra Leone and I take you behind the scenes of what it’s like to self-publish a children’s book. Join in trending fun and engage with me through TikTok live.

▶️ Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel

Follow the journey from concept to creation on YouTube. From author updates to special readings — it’s a great way to connect with A For Africa.

🌍 Why It Matters

Take young readers on an adventure through the second-largest continent in the world!
A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone offers a fun and meaningful way to explore the alphabet Salone Style — and our social media is an extension of that journey. Each platform brings a unique way to experience the story, meet the author, and join a growing community that values diversity in children’s literature.

✅ Stay Connected

If you love discovering new books and celebrating culture, be sure to follow, like, and share. Your support helps spread the joy of A For Africa far and wide!
📚 Let’s explore the alphabet — African Style.

A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone – Official Release Date & Pre-Order Information

A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone book cover with launch date 26/05/25

Where It All Began

Let’s travel back a few years to where it all began. What started as a few erratic notes on scraps of paper has blossomed into something real and wonderful. A For Africa children’s book, A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone, is now a vibrant, fact-filled picture book celebrating this incredible West African country.

About A For Africa children’s book

Want to come on a journey? Take young readers on an adventure through the second largest continent in the world. A For Africa children’s book invites curious minds to explore Sierra Leone’s rich wildlife, food, language, history, culture, and geography — all through the letters of the alphabet.

Inside the book, readers will:

  • Uncover fascinating facts from A to Z

  • Learn about the oldest tribe in Sierra Leone

  • Journey through the stunning beaches of the Freetown peninsula

  • Discover some of the country’s most protected animals

Each letter spans a beautiful double-page spread packed with facts and vibrant illustrations. Plus, at the back, there are blank pages for readers to add their own bonus facts about Sierra Leone.

This book is a fun and educational way to explore the alphabet — Salone Style!

Pre-Order Information

I am incredibly proud to announce that A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone will be officially released on 25th May. If you’d like to continue supporting, please do purchase a copy via pre-order — there is a link on the shop page of the website.

Future Stockists

If you’d prefer to wait, you certainly can! A For Africa: S For Sierra Leone will be available to purchase directly from this website, in addition to:

 

It will also be available in a select few bookshops across the UK. All stockist information will be updated via the website or social media channels.

Thank You for Your Support!

Once again, thank you so much for your support! Help to spread the word and tell a friend, to tell a friend!