7 Things You Should Really Do This Week To Celebrate Black History Month

What to read, play, and watch.

1. Read This is Grime.

Hodder and Staughton

This book is a must for music buffs and true grime fans. Journalist Hattie Collins offers an in-depth look into the history of grime, with AMAZING photography by Olivia Rose. It tells the story of how grime started from the depths of Bow E3 to become the voice of a generation.

Get a copy here.

2. Watch Kirikou & the Sorceress.

Peter Mutanda Edutainment Vanguard TeleVision / Via youtube.com

If you are in the Birmingham area then you should head over to mac Birmingham and watch Kirikou & the Sorceress. It's a family friendly movie that takes elements from West African folk tales. It is the story of a very small but very brave boy, who is on a quest to save his friends and family after his village is terrorised by an evil sorceress.

Not into it? Then you should check out Black Britain On Film, also at the mac. The documentary looks at the black experience in Birmingham, from the 1960s to the 1980s.

3. Go on a Black History walking tour.

CRER Black History Month 2016: Walking Tours / Via blackhistorymonth.org.uk

These walking tours take you on a journey through Glasgow’s mercantile past and it allows you to examine the city’s connections with tobacco, slavery and the abolition movement.

If you are not in Glasgow area, but still fancy going on a walking tour have a look at the Black History Walks website to find a walking tour in your area.

4. Head to the theatre to watch Father Comes Home From The Wars.

Royal Court Theatre / Via royalcourttheatre.com

It’s a funny, thought provoking, and deeply moving three part play that tells a story of slavery, race, and what it means to be free. Be prepared for a three-hour long emotional rollercoaster with a surprising psychological twist.

It is on from the 1st of October till the 22rd of October at the Jerwood Theatre.

Get tickets here.

5. Follow @autographabp on Instagram.

Instagram: @autographabp

The autographabp Instagram page is brilliant account is filled with stunning images of black culture.

6. Check out black British businesses.

https://www.instagram.com/sowusu/?hl=en

There are many black British businesses that are doing amazing things and are completely worth checking out. I mean you should support them all the time, but even more so on black history month.

Sarah Owusu is an artist from London, who sells her art on Owusuism.com. If art is not your thing, have a look at other businesses with black British owners here.

7. Visit the Fashion Cities Africa exhibition.

Fashion Cities Africa / Via blackhistorymonth.org.uk

This is the first​ major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion, and it is definitely worth seeing. It has been on for a little while now at Brighton Museum, and will stay on till January 2017. The exhibition explores fashion and style in four different African cities, Casablanca in Morocco, Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa.

If you can't make it down to the exhibition you can get the book, which includes stunning images.