celebrating black history
Black History Month Summits
Our annual Black History Month Summits bring together voices from across communities to explore Black heritage in Northern Ireland, fostering dialogue, inclusion, and new perspectives on identity and shared history.
black heritage in ni
black history month summits
Each October we organise a Black History Month Summit to celebrate and reflect on Black history and heritage in Northern Ireland.
Black History Summit 2025 took place in Ulster University’s Magee campus on Friday, October 24, the theme being ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’.
The Black History Summit is an element of the North West Migrants Forum’s wider ‘Black Heritage NI: The Hidden History Project’, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project is able to shine a light on the often-overlooked contributions, experiences and resilience of Black communities in Northern Ireland.
Among the contributors to the afternoon of discussion was Zita Holbourne who travelled from England to participate in the Summit.
As well as being a writer, multi-award-winning artist, educator, community activist and trade union leader, Zita Holbourne has done momentous work in exposing the Windrush Scandal.
Joining her on the podium was Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. Ms Williams curates education programmes, arts events and walking tours to promote awareness of Black Scottish history and links between Scotland and the Caribbean.
Rajvi Glasbrook is senior implementation manager for the Welsh Government Anti-racist Wales Action Plan. Ms Glasbrook worked on the ‘Cynefin’ report which made the teaching of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales.
Among the panellists were Dr Naomi Green, a researcher on the North West Migrants Forum’s Hidden History Project. She was joined by Ulster University researcher Seun Owanuga and Daniel Sanusi, organiser of Ulster University Students’ Union’s first-ever Black History Month.
On hand to counterbalance the rich programme of knowledge-sharing were Maasai traditional folk singer Nelson Ngotiek and Irish country star Ritchie Remo who united for a unique cross-cultural fusion of music and dance.
Manager of the Black Heritage NI: The Hidden History Project, Aynaz Zarif described it as a remarkable day filled with great conversations, performances and powerful voices that highlighted the importance of representation and shared history.
A Look Back at Key Moments, Voices, and Milestones
timeline of summits
Since 2021, the North West Migrants Forum has hosted an annual Black History Month Summit to amplify underrepresented voices and celebrate the rich heritage of Black communities in Northern Ireland. Held alternately in Derry and Belfast, each summit brings together leaders, cultural practitioners and community members for powerful conversations and cultural expression.
This timeline showcases the key highlights, themes, and contributors from each year — capturing the evolution of a movement that continues to inspire dialogue, inclusion and change.
2024
Reclaiming Narratives
Black History Summit 2024, held on October 26, was special for numerous reasons.
It was our first time to take the event out of Derry, moving it instead to Ulster University Belfast. This opened it up to individuals and organisations who otherwise may not have made the journey to the north west and as a result, brought us the largest crowd our Summit has ever attracted.
It was also notable for the fact that our key speaker was Kenneth B Morris, great-great-great grandson of social reformer, author and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Mr Morris made the trip from New York for our Summit, a commitment we were deeply humbled by.
As well as a programme of informed and highly-respected speakers, Belfast-based group MSCNI provided foods from across the globe. Our good friend Donna Makusa-Nassuna, a feature of all our Summits to date, returned and entertained with her dancing and music while the immensely talented singer/songwriter Winnie Ama took to the stage, performing a series of self-penned songs about Frederick Douglass.
Summit 2024 was also an opportunity for us to officially launch the delivery phase of our ‘Black Heritage in NI: The Hidden History Project’, made possible by The National Lottery’s Heritage Fund.
A truly momentous day and one that saw our Black History Summit move to a new level in terms of exposure.
2023
Decolonising Education: Dig Deeper, Look Closer, Think Bigger
Decolonising Education: Dig Deeper, Look Closer, Think Bigger
Our third annual Black History Summit took place in Ulster University’s Magee campus, Derry, on October 21 2023 and proved to be another fascinating day of discussion and debate.
Around 100 people gathered in the Great Hall to hear why the diverse experiences of black and minority ethnic communities and individuals should be taught as part of the school curriculum.
Hosts for the day were teenager TJ Mushapo and Ulster University student Oluwaseun Awonuga and they welcomed to the stage three individuals with a wealth of knowledge on the day’s topic. Among the speakers was Dr Ebun Joseph, now Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism Special Rapporteur as well being the founder and co-ordinator of the first Black Studies module in Ireland at University College Dublin. Alongside her was Dr Hyab Yohannes, known for bringing unique perspectives to policy development in migration and education by championing decolonising approaches. And Professor Charlotte Williams OBE, a leading voice in mainstreaming black and minority ethnic history in the Welsh curriculum and beyond.
As well as a fun and energetic performance by Ugandan musician and dancer Donna Makusa-Nassuna, those in attendance were treated to foods from a range of countries including Nigeria, Guyana, Ethiopia, Columbia and Somalia.
2022
Decolonising Heritage, Building a Shared Future
In October 2022 we marked a significant milestone with the second Black History Month Summit, celebrating the formal launch of the ‘Black Heritage in Northern Ireland: Hidden History Project – Development Phase’ at St Cecilia’s College in Derry. This special event was expertly hosted by 14-year-old TJ Mushapo and guests including Mukesh Sharma, Chair of the Heritage Fund and the Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The Summit featured profound keynote presentations from leaders such as Dr Livingstone Thompson of ACSONI, Maire-Claire Amuah from the Black Cultural Archives and Chantelle Lunt from the Black Curriculum. The day was further energised by powerful performances from Ugandan musician Donna Mukasa-Nassuna and dynamic dance routines by NWMF volunteers Nixon, Ken and Yakoub which highlighted the rich cultural expressions of the Black community.
The event comprised of cultural foods from Guyana, Nigeria, Somali and Ethiopia shared by approximately 80 participants. The event not only captured attention through extensive media coverage by outlets like the BBC and UTV but also through spirited social media engagement.
2021
History and Diversity of Contributions of People of African Descent
On October 23 2021 the North West Migrants Forum proudly organised the inaugural Black History Month Summit in Derry’s City Hotel, co-hosted by Bishop Donal McKeown and Bishop Andrew Forster.
This landmark event spotlighted the rich history and diverse contributions of people of African descent across the island of Ireland. It also served as a crucial gathering for politicians, faith leaders and civil society groups to address pressing issues faced by the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
Distinguished Speakers and Engaging Discussions
The Black History Summit featured a panel of speakers who provided invaluable insights into various topics affecting our communities:
- Dominique Day, Chairperson of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
- Dr Livingstone Thompson, Chairperson of the African and Caribbean Support Organisation
- Beverly Simpson, Volunteer at North West Migrants Forum
- Patrick Corrigan, Representative from Amnesty International
- Coumilah Manjoo, Member of the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association
- Dr Philip McDermott, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Ulster University
The event saw strong support from local political figures including the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, DUP Junior Minister Gary Middleton and various councillors from different parties. Contributions also came from government and economic leaders focused on racial equality, highlighting the collective commitment to addressing community needs.
- The summit concluded with vibrant cultural expressions:
- Interactive Black History Quiz hosted by Paul Sceeny
- Performances by Sudanese youth and Eritrean musicians
- Inspiring spoken word by poet and artist Raquel McKee
- Rhythmic showcases by Djembe drummer Donna Mukasa-Nassuna and musician Wilson Magwere
This first Summit set a strong foundation for annual celebrations, fostering greater understanding and collaboration across diverse communities.
