Black History Month Photography Exhibition
As part of the celebrations for Black History Month, we have created a photography exhibition to celebrate some of the most prominent and recognisable members of the BAME community in Bromley Town Centre, including Agnita Oyawale, town centre chaplain. This exhibition is now live in the window of the old Topshop building, as well as on the link below:
To mark Black History Month, Your Bromley is hosting a celebration in Market Square from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 1st October.
Our timetable for the day (events and times may change)
- 11am: Introduction from our host for the day – Darren Springer
- 11.05am: Jally Kebba Susso – Gambian Kora performance
- 11.35am: African drumming workshop with Mangotree Kids
- 11.55pm: host reminder of the day’s events then DJ slot – Darren Springer
- 12.10pm: Debbralee Wells performance
- 12.40pm: African history workshop with Akua Blakofe
- 1pm: host reminder of the day’s events – Darren Springer
- 1.05pm: Beverley Akufo-Addo – Celebrating Our Sisters, How to Make Black Women More Visible
- 1.25pm: African drumming workshop with Mangotree Kids
- 1.45pm: African history workshop with Akua Blakofe
- 2.05pm: Jally Kebba Susso (set two)
- 2.35pm: host reminder of the day’s events then DJ slot – Darren Springer
- 2.45pm: African drumming workshop with Mangotree Kids
- 3.05pm: Debbralee Wells (set two)
- 3.35pm: DJ slot & event close, host – Darren Springer
Black creators market from Jamii
Jamii, the UK’s largest discovery platform for Black British creators and makers, is partnering with Your Bromley, to curate a one-day market on the high street showcasing the best of Black British brands.
From food to homeware and beauty to fashion, Bromley residents will get it all and have the chance to shop and support this great initiative that highlights the wealth of Black British entrepreneurship right on their doorstep.
African Drumming workshops
This Sunday we have workshops run by Mangotree Kids teaching real art of African drumming. The workshop will see children taught the real art of African drumming through a call and response technique. This wonderful workshop allows children of all abilities to express themselves creatively through drumming, which can help build their confidence and emotional well-being.
Book a place for your child here:
Live music
We will have live performances from Jally Kebba Susso, and Debbralee Wells.
Accomplished kora playing maverick Jally Kebba Susso is a UK based griot, born and raised in 74 generations of Gambian musical heritage. But he is not your ordinary griot.
Forging a new trajectory of sound for the West African harp – songwriter and composer – he honed his own upbeat electronic sound over years of experimentation on the London underground scene since 2002 and as a core member of Afriquoi.
Skilfully mixing contemporary Mandinka and Wollof music, this is a new blend of afro-futurist psychedelic funky kora that is immediately accessible and uplifting, yet filled with nuance and intoxicating rhythmical layers that give the music depth and intrigue.
After training at the Cockpit Youth Theatre, Debbralee Wells has gone on to appear in major productions including Panto Cinderella, Fame the Musical (UK Tour), Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (UK Tour), as well as numerous prime time TV shows such as Stars in your eyes and Musicality. She has sung on the stages of some of the biggest festivals Glastonbury, Womad, and She has appeared on various albums over the years.
She has released a new album this year called Displaced People a follow up to the album Featuring which was released in 2022. She is featured on It’s Gone All Wrong Live EP (2018) and also on a double A side EP Help me Jesus and Paradise City which were released in 2022 with The Future Shape of Sound. Debbralee is now writing and performing with her own band.
We will also have DJ sets from our host of the day, Darren Springer.
Cultural Workshops & Photography Exhibition
African history workshop with Akua Blakofe
Beverley Akufo-Addo (pictured) – Celebrating Our Sisters, How to Make Black Women More Visible
As part of the celebrations, we have also created a photography exhibition to celebrate some of the most prominent and recognisable members of the BAME community in Bromley town centre. This exhibition will be available here on the Your Bromley website, as well as being able to visit in person in the window of the old Topshop building.
