Black History Month 2024 at BGU!

Throughout Black History Month (BHM), October 2024, the University hosted a variety of events to celebrate the local, national, and global contributions of Black People.

From storytelling to film screenings to a fashion show and a sports celebration, the BGU community – including staff, students and local businesses, came together to host a wonderful programme of events.

The intended purpose of the events and activities was to educate, entertain, and challenge existing ideas and knowledge.

Sheine Peart, Associate Professor in Access, Equality and Inclusion and Programme Leader at BGU, discussed the importance of the awareness month: “In the local context of Lincolnshire, the contribution of Black individuals can be invisible, forgotten or minimalised – raising potential challenges regarding community cohesion.

“As part of that community, the University has the opportunity to influence dialogue, debates, raise issues and determine how we live and work together.

“At BGU we celebrate BHM to help fulfil our civic responsibilities and to promote ways we can join together, for the mutual benefit of the University, the locality and beyond.

Staff and students across the University even incorporated BHM into their work; Students on our Early Childhood Studies course hosted a reading buddies sessions at St Giles Nursery School and St Faiths Nursery and Infant School, where they shared a range of texts celebrating BHM with children.

After first hosting events in line with BHM in 2021, this year saw the highest level of engagement from students, alumni, staff and members of the public.

Particular highlights across the month included student and graduate led events: Esther Oyeniyi, a BGU alumni, returned to campus to host an Afrocentric Fashion Show, bringing contemporary and traditional Nigerian designs to the catwalk. Watch our highlights video here!

Alongside current student and Basketball Captain, Mahamodou Kamissoko, who brought students together for an evening of fun, non-competitive basketball, with entertainment provided by the BGU Dance Society. Both events brought students together for evenings full of joy and energy.

Sheine continued: “BHM at BGU affirms our commitment to being a university which values the entire community and aims to promote success for all.

“We extend our sincere and genuine thanks to everyone who helped make BHM 2024 at BGU so successful. We are proud to have worked with African businesses Little Africa Foods, Zoe Alphonzo Designs and LIbun Apparels.

“BHM at BGU is here to stay and we are already planning the programme of events for next year!”

If you have an idea or suggestions for BGU’s BHM 2025 programme, please email sheine.peart@bishopg.ac.uk.