African Activities

Exciting to be nominated! Looking forward to seeing and hearing about all the wonderful businesses of the forest on awards night.

Announcing the finalists for our 2024 Brilliance in Business Awards!

The finalists for the Totton College Award for Training and Development are;

African Activities
Evolution4Business
New Park Manor

Congratulations! The winner of this category will be announced at the New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards on Thursday 28th November at Brockenhurst College, with an after-party at Careys Manor Hotel - book your tickets now at https://www.nfbp.org.uk/awards/

Award sponsor: Totton College
Finalists: African Activities Evolution 4 Business Ltd New Park Manor Hotel
Headline sponsor: Parker Bullen

What a wonderful evening watching inspirational narratives be reclaimed. thank you to

🎉 What a month! It’s October 31st, and we can’t quite believe we made it!

Thanks to our incredible artists, passionate partners, and inspiring customers, by the end of the day we've delivered 30 school visits, 5 community events, and 4 company workshops this Black History Month. It’s been truly fulfilling, with so much to build on and learn.

But remember—Black History Month isn’t just one month; it’s 365 days a year! We’d be delighted to continue working with you to explore Black history, culture, and creativity. Bookings for the rest of the year are open, and we’d love to connect with you!

Join Us This Saturday in Croydon for Eco Bead Making and Adinkra Printing!

Come and join us this Saturday at the Clock Tower Atrium in Croydon for some fun and creative family activities! You can make eco-friendly beads and try your hand at Adinkra printing, exploring these beautiful cultural traditions.

There’s so much happening throughout the day, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Find out more here: https://www.culturecroydon.com/event/reclaiming-narratives-family-activities/

Celebrating Black History and Cultural Unity

This Saturday, we marked the 70th anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie I receiving the Freedom of the City of Bath. It was wonderful to have Kwame working to support Kulcha, celebrating their African and Caribbean heritage. Their presence highlighted the importance of cultural collaboration and the ongoing contributions of Black communities.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day special.

Delighted to be considered for the Award for Training and Development from and today! Immensely grateful for their flexibility in squeezing us in despite a flat tyre and a few bumps along the way. It’s always a good reminder to pause, breathe, and appreciate how far we’ve come. Thank you for the opportunity!

"We had a fantastic day on Wednesday, there was an incredible buzz throughout the school. Every single member of staff, without exception, thought Kwame was a fantastic facilitator and genuinely lovely person to work with. It was undoubtedly the best workshop we have had in this area.

We always evaluate visits to our school and must say we have found it difficult to think of ways to improve. We considered whether it would’ve been nice for the children across the school to learn more about the animals and link to rhythms etc as EYFS did but actually we can’t fault the drumming sessions for the older children!

I thought you may like to hear some quotes from children across the school:

‘It was very fun because Kwame made us laugh. I absolutely loved the drums!’
‘I really liked the workshop as we got to do things we don’t usually do.’
‘Kwame was very kind. I found him very talented.’
‘It was a great opportunity to learn about African traditions and the importance of drumming.’
‘It was the best day ever!’
‘Can we get Kwame to come back to our school?’
‘We played drums. It was fun. We learnt rhythms and beats and got to sing songs.’
‘We learnt something new.’


We would definitely love to book Kwame to come back and visit next year!"

Year 1 were enthralled by our Ghanaian friend Kwame from 'African Activities'. The children were mesmerised by his Anansi stories, they were taught how to paint a colourful African celebration picture and they danced and sang to the djembe drums. This taste of African culture has really inspired our topic work. As part of , this experience embodies the theme of Reclaiming Narratives, allowing children to connect with authentic African voices and stories. By sharing Kwame’s traditions, we're celebrating the rich heritage and diverse stories that have shaped the world.

Black history deserves so much more than simply a month. We try to offer as diverse experience as we can from our artists all year round. Kulcha (here on the right) is able to deliver so much of this, a talented artist and musician who is able to bring stories to life with his performances. He was born in Gloucester of Jamaican heritage. Scroll to meet his parents, his father came on the Windrush and it's a history Kulcha embodies. But he has also lived and worked in Uganda and Ghana and he sits on our advisory board. His knowledge of Adinkra and Akan folklore is deep. We are very proud to have such gifts on our team, he still has some dates left for booking this October.

🥁🌍 We're excited to announce Drumming Workshops at the Ghana Village in Guildhall Square tomorrow as part of the BAMM Festival!

🎶 Drop in anytime throughout the day to learn the rhythms of West Africa. Whether you're a beginner or have experience, everyone is welcome to grab a drum and join the beat! Last year’s festival was a blast, and we can't wait to do it all again.

This is the second BAMM Festival, celebrating the richness of Black culture through music, art, and community.

📍 Location: Ghana Village, Guildhall Square, Southampton
🗓 Drop-in all day!

Bring your energy and let’s make some joyful noise together! 🎉

🎨✨ Join us this Saturday at the John Hansard Gallery in Southampton for a hands-on Bead Making Workshop as part of the vibrant BAMM Festival!

🕒 Times:

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
🌍 Explore the rich history and cultural significance of trade beads, while creating your very own beads from recycled materials! It's an immersive and creative way to celebrate Black culture, heritage, and sustainability. Perfect for all ages!

🔗 No need to book but spaces will be limited so be sure to come early!

📍 Location: John Hansard Gallery, Southampton

Get ready for an amazing time at the BBAM festival this Saturday! Come celebrate with us at the Guild Hall from 11am to 7pm. You won't want to miss it!

Colourism is a new exhibition by Black History Month Southampton launching during Black History Month this October.

This ground-breaking photography exhibition delves into the complex and often overlooked issue of colourism. With images taken by renowned Southampton live music and documentary photographer Nosa Malcolm, Colourism aims to challenge perceptions and spark conversations about the profound impact of colourism on communities across the globe.

Through a series of powerful images showing at various venues across the city, the exhibition explores the nuanced ways in which colourism manifests in Black, White, and Mixed-Race communities. Beyond the superficial stereotypes, the exhibition will reveal the deep-rooted cultural, social, and economic disparities that arise from this prejudice.

Join us this October as we embark on a visual journey that sheds light on a critical issue and inspires us to work towards a more equitable and inclusive society.

Colourism is a Black History Month South exhibition, in partnership with Arts Council England.

>>> bit.ly/Colourism

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// // // // // // // // // // // // nosamalcolm.com // Black Archives South // Visit Southampton

We had a fantastic time at Four Fun Fridays in Andover this summer. Many thanks to the team for these lovely pictures and for bringing the community together like this.

🎉 Check out the magic we created at Camp Bestival this year! 🎶✨ From our first-ever performance on the main stage to the unforgettable energy of the festival, it was pure joy from start to finish. A massive thank you to the incredible team who made it all possible!

👉 Don't miss out! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more highlights, including all the fantastic fun at Camp Bestival: https://youtu.be/re081DsaOhs

African Activities performing at Camp Bestival Shropshire 2024 African Activities performance on the main stage at Camp Bestival 2024

On Sunday morning we will be on the main stage at Camp Bestival at 11am. See you there!

A day of mask making and bead making all from recycled materials.