Taking the theme of journeys this year, Haringey’s Black History Month (BHM) programme of events allows a look back at the past and a visionary glance at the future, as the achievements of the Black community are highlighted and celebrated through art, theatre, film, music, talks and workshops.

Higher Education Minister and MP for Tottenham David Lammy has once again pledged his support to BHM, which has been celebrated across the UK every October since 1987 thanks to Linda Bellos OBE and former Haringey Cllr Narendra Makanji.

David Lammy says: “In a borough as diverse as Haringey, these messages of hope, courage, equality and justice are vital to every individual, irrespective of race.”

This year’s highlights include the borough-wide exhibition, The Journey, which runs across various venues throughout the month and features the work of international artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy (MBE), who will be exhibiting in a group show at The Original Gallery, Hornsey Library. The Nigerian-born artist, who was famously commissioned to paint the Queen, tells me: “The importance of BHM is very obvious, we want to be included in the history of the culture of this country. For any Black person in Britain it is about knowing where they are, where they have came from and what they are achieving.”

Elsewhere, amateur photographer Richard Russell will explore the diversity of London and Londoners through his moving images at Jacksons Lane.

The Highgate venue will also host three knock-out hip hop performances in one night, Adventures in Anti-Cool, on Thursday, October 15, and the children’s theatre production of Handa’s Hen, from Saturday, October 24 to Wednesday, October 28. Adapted from Eileen Browne’s African-based book, the play follows Handa and her friend Akeyo on their musical journey to find her grandma’s black hen.

From stage to screen, the Moors Bar, in Park Road, will show works by local Black filmmakers on Tuesday, October 13, followed by a Q&A with the directors. Wood Green Central Library will also host an introduction to making a low budget film with the cast and crew of British movie Freestyle on Monday, October 26.

The spoken word will be represented with a comprehensive poetry and talks programme, with events including An Evening of Black Poetry courtesy of celebrated published poet Abe Gibson at Alexandra Park Library on Tuesday, October 13 and there’s a special talk entitled A Thin Line Between Love & The Black Arts at The Original Gallery on Thursday, October 15.

But, of course, these wonderful events would be redundant without an audience, as Chinwe explains: “It’s very important when people put on something like this, whether it’s music, art, craft or theatre, that people attend and it reaches the people it is serving, because that’s what it’s for to learn, see and to give. We are all learning, the purpose of life is to learn and to learn from each other.”

Visit www.haringey.gov.uk to download a full brochure of events