BLACK HISTORY MONTH BELGIUM 2022

What’s the story behind Black History Month Belgium?

Black History Month Belgium was founded five years ago by Mohamed Barrie and Aminata Ndow. Originally celebrated in the United States as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, it is now being celebrated all over the  diaspora. In Belgium, the resilience of Black  communities is being celebrated in March. It is an attempt to transform  the way in which we represent the past and the present through conversations,  performances, lectures, film, debate, performances and exhibitions. 

Why is Black History Month still important today?     

Creating space for our communities to come together and celebrate one another is very important. This way, we can help uphold our communities and take stock of where systemic racism persists. It also allows us to give visibility to the people and organizations that are creating change. 

How has the Ghent team interpreted this year’s Black History Month Belgium theme ‘The power of assembly’? 

By celebrating the moments we come together: moments of worship, moments we meet up to share a meal, moments we gather to enjoy concerts and exhibitions together. Before anything else, we wanted to create moments where we can assemble again.

What are you looking forward to most during Black History Month Belgium? 

Honestly, we are looking forward to éverything we were able to realize as a national team. The book fair, the authors’ brunch, the exhibitions in Ghent and Bruges, the concerts, panels and discussions - really just everything! Hopefully, a lot of people will join us so we can form a like-minded community. 

With the support of AFRICALIA