Black History Archives - Opal22

Black History Month 2025

Opal22

1 September 2025

October is always a special month for Opal22 Arts and Edutainment, a time when we shine a spotlight on stories, voices, and histories too often left untold. This Black History Month, we’re proud to be hosting a series of authentic and accessible events that bring people together through creativity, conversation, and celebration. From powerful panel discussions to family-friendly workshops and immersive cultural experiences, each event has been designed to amplify stories of Black British History

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect chance to dive deeper into Black history and culture right here in Leicester, this is it. Whether you’re a curious first-timer or a returning friend of Opal22, our Black History Month programme has something for everyone, and we can’t wait to welcome you.

Tickets are now live! Secure your place before they are gone!

Britain Re-written: 16th October

Britain Rewritten:

Thursday 16th October 5-9PM

Brookfield, 266 London Rd, Leicester LE2 1RQ

Join renowned historians Emma Dabiri and Robert Beckford for an evening that digs deep into the politics of archives and the urgent need to rethink how Britain’s history is told. Through panel discussions, interactive displays, and opportunities for audience engagement, this event invites you to question whose voices have been preserved, whose have been silenced, and how the archive can be reimagined as a space for truth and justice. Perfect for historians, cultural thinkers, students, and curious minds alike, this promises to be an inspiring and eye-opening evening of dialogue and discovery.

Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry! Digital tickets for the event are available on Eventbrite

Black Star Mystery: 31st October

Black Star Mystery: Murder Mystery Steam train experience: poster

Black Star Mystery

31st October 5-9PM

Great Central Railway PLC, Loughborough LE11 1RW

Step aboard a one-of-a-kind live whodunnit set on a moving steam train and prepare for an evening like no other. Immerse yourself in a thrilling mystery brought to life by characters inspired by Black British history. Between twists and turns, enjoy a fine dining three-course meal in true vintage style, all while piecing together the clues to crack the case. Blending historical truths with playful fiction, this experience is light-hearted, informative, and the perfect excuse to dress up for a night of elegance, intrigue, and celebration.

Opal22 X Highcross

This Black History Month, Opal22 is teaming up with Highcross Leicester to bring history to life in the heart of the city. From interactive family activities to creative trails and pop-up experiences, we’re making sure Black history is not only seen but celebrated by everyone who passes through the centre.

Take a look at what FREE events we have on offer!

Black History Month Highcross Launch: 1 October

Opal22 Black History Month launch at Highcross Shopping centre poster

Black History Month Highcross Launch

1st October

Highcross, Leicester, LE1 4AN

We’re opening Black History Month at Highcross Shopping Centre with a celebration of movement, rhythm, and voice. Through a dynamic synthesis of poetry and dance, performers will take bring to life the stories of Black British figures who shaped our history, transforming the heart of the city into a living, breathing tribute.

Performance locations and timings will be released via instagram so make sure to follow us so you don’t miss out!

Click To Follow

Flash Black Podcast Booth: 6-10 October

Voices that Raised a City

6-10th October

Highcross, Leicester, LE1 4AN

Our annual Flash Black podcast is back! This year, we sit down with Leicester’s Black elders – the people who created change, built spaces of belonging, and shaped our city. Their stories are legacies, kept alive when we listen, remember, and act.

Step inside the Flash Black podcast booth in Highcross shopping centre an immerse yourself in their stories ahead of their release! In the mean time, check out last years series: “Pioneers and Pathmakers”

Click to Listen

Pick Your Nose: 23rd October

Pick Your Nose: Kids Workshop

23rd October

Highcross, Leicester, LE1 4AN

Ever noticed how many African statues are missing their noses? This fun, hands-on clay workshop gives children the chance to explore how facial features can reflect race, culture, and identity. Kids will learn through play, shaping and moulding their own unique sculptures while sparking conversations about history and heritage in an age-appropriate way. Creative, engaging, and a perfect way to keep young minds active during the October school break, this workshop combines art and learning in a memorable experience they’ll be proud to take home.

Children Trail Through Time: 1-31 October

Children Historical Trail Through Time

1-31st October

Highcross, Leicester, LE1 4AN

Embark on a self-guided adventure celebrating Black British figures who shaped our nation’s history. Solve puzzles, follow interactive clues, and uncover fascinating stories along the way to win fun prizes! A perfect mix of learning, exploring, and play for children of all ages!

Pick up your starter pack from the Highcross information desk and begin your journey.

Opal22 Black History Month launch at Highcross Shopping centre poster — Launch Night at Highcross

Launch Night at Highcross

Black History Month Education Programme

Opal22

2 July 2025

Opal22 is proud to offer a range of expertly designed Black History Month workshops, courses, and training opportunities for both students and teachers.

We provide both ready-to-go sessions and fully tailored programmes, workshops, and teacher training sessions to suit your school’s curriculum and timeline. For your convenience, these services are available both in person and online.

We believe every young person deserves access to accurate, well-informed education and our team of knowledgeable, experienced facilitators are here to deliver exactly that. From the Black Tudors to contemporary change makers, Opal22’s work highlights the vital contributions, stories, and experiences of Black Britons across the centuries.

Partner with us to make your Black History Month provision impactful, inclusive, and expertly delivered.

Reach out to us at info@opal22.co.uk for more information.

Let’s teach Black History correctly!

Windrush Tea Party

Opal22

23 June 2025

The windrush Tea Party

On the sun-dappled afternoon of June 21st, we came together for a celebration that felt like a warm embrace from history itself. Our Windrush Tea Party, held in the heart of Leicester, was more than just an event. It was a tribute. A tribute to the strength, resilience, and enduring joy of the Windrush Generation and the community they built.

We celebrate Windrush not only to honour the past, but to root ourselves in the legacy of those who paved the way. Those who arrived with suitcases full of dreams and hearts full of hope. Those who faced hardship and hostility, yet still made home, built community, and gave so much to Britain’s culture, economy, and soul.

This year’s tea party was bursting with energy, laughter, and the sweet scent of Caribbean food in the air. From the music, to the stall holders, to the smiling attendees, the day was alive with colour, rhythm, and love. Elders were treated like royalty as they sipped tea, nibbled rum cake and shared stories. Children played fair-style games, learned about Windrush history, and created joyful noise that echoed through the park.

We had live performances that moved us to our feet including the spoked words of Imano Ahiro and Poetic Lili, the gospel sounds of EAGA choir, and, of course, the incredible talents of Tann-I Browne. There were craft stalls, dominoes, raffle’s, a plethora of fiid choices, all narrated by our incredible host, TV’s John Simmit.

But beyond the bunting and the music, the heart of this celebration was community. Seeing generations of elders, parents, and children come together in joy reminded us why we do this. Because remembrance is resistance. Because celebration is healing. Because our stories deserve centre stage.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who came, danced, laughed, donated, and helped make this event what it was. To our volunteers, performers, food vendors, and community partners: thank you. You brought the spirit of Windrush alive.

As we look to the future, we carry the legacy of our elders forward. We honour the past, celebrate the present, and make space for new voices.

Windrush is not just a story but is a living, breathing force. And on June 21st, under the summer sky, we felt it in full bloom.

International Women's Day

Opal22

9 March 2025

Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty: A Night For Us

Black Women Take Over Abbey Leisure Centre For A Night Of Laughter!

On March 7th, Leicester’s Abbey Sports & Leisure Centre transformed into something beautiful and rare: a space curated by Black Women just for Black women to be bold, outspoken, unfiltered, and celebrated for it. Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty wasn’t just a celebration of International Women’s Day. It was a full-body exhale. A space to laugh, cry, paint, reflect, and above all, to be.

We opened the night with the words of Cheri Gillings, whose poetry danced between power and vulnerability, speaking to the complexity of Black womanhood with every verse. Then came Just Between Us Girls, an unfiltered panel conversation where nothing was off limits. Sex, softness, rage, joy, resilience. Our guest speakers we laid it all on the table, and the audience loved it. It was like a kitchen table convo with your aunties, sisters, and best friends.

Next, we got messy, in the best way. Every guest was handed a canvas and invited to paint whatever came to mind (and plenty of things came to mind!)

We closed the night on a high with comedy icon Sharifa Butterfly, who brought the house down. Her humour hit all the right nerves and had the room laughing with every punchline. If joy is a form of resistance, we were revolutionary that night.

Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty wasn’t just an event. It was a love letter. A creative call to arms. A reminder of why Black women-led events are so vital, because everyone deserve’s spaces where they are centred, celebrated, and completely unfiltered.

To everyone who came: thank you for your presence, your power, and your paint-splattered joy.

We’re not done. Not even close.

Check out the hightlights reel here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIBvcZJNbFd/?hl=en

All Shades of Brown

Opal22

2 March 2025

All Shades of Brown the Creative Conference

On a vibrant day in February, Leicester became a kaleidoscope of colour, culture, and creativity as we hosted All Shades of Brown, an extraordinary and first of its kind creative conference celebrating the rich tapestry of Black and Brown artists in the East Midlands. But the event was so much more than just a conference, it was a powerful reminder of the often overlooked contributions Global Ethnic Majority creatives make, and of the wealth of artistry the Midlands can offer!

Held at DMU’s The Venue, the day brought together visual artists, designers, filmmakers, performers, and cultural workers for a full programme of learning, connection, and celebration. The atmosphere? Electric. The energy? Unmatched.

From the moment the doors opened, the building pulsed with creativity. Panels and keynotes hosted by cultural leaders like Pogus Caesar, Gaylene Gould, and Saziso Phiri shared stories of perseverance, artistic integrity, and building careers in spaces not made for us. Topics ranged from funding and sustainability to accessibility and mentorship, giving attendees both inspiration and practical tools to thrive.

In the workshops, knowledge flowed freely. From Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE’s pitch masterclass to Kino Bino’s guide to navigating the animation industry, every session was about empowerment. How to create, how to sustain, and crucially, how not to go broke while doing it.

And it wasn’t just talk. Live performances ran throughout the day, including Black Victorians, a powerful blend of dance and historical storytelling; Create Not Destroy, an evolving live art piece; and Apittame Arts with Imani Wenham’s striking poetry. When talking about Carnival, Donna Briscoe-Greene reminded us that culture and business are not mutually exclusive, they’re intertwined.

The exhibition space showcased stunning works from Midlands-based artists, each one a reflection of heritage, imagination, and voice. Meanwhile, the marketplace buzzed with creatives selling art, sharing ideas, and making real connections. The sense of empowerment was strong, whether chatting at stalls, diving into 1-1 surgeries with Art Reach and Arts Council England, or meeting future collaborators.

All Shades of Brown was a seed planted in fertile ground, rooted in solidarity, watered by collaboration, and growing into a future where all creatives, of all shades, can thrive.

To everyone who showed up, shared, supported, and inspired: thank you. You made this moment unforgettable.

Check out the All Shades of Brown overview video !