Every October, Black History Month (BHM) in the UK celebrates black history, arts, and culture.
The theme for 2024 is 'Reclaiming Narratives', marking a shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.
If you are planning an activity for Black History Month, or an EDI event at any time of the year, please get in touch with the EDI Centre.
Black History Month October 2024
Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference - 27 September
Imperial's Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference takes place this year on 27 September 2024, just before the start of the Month. This year’s theme is “AI: Friend or Foe?” and the conference will explore how you currently perceive AI, hearing from experts working in the field alongside with those who are mid-career and using AI in a range of different applications in their role. The keynote talk will be from Anne-Marie Imafidon, co-founder of Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women in the STEM sectors.
Department of Chemistry event - 16 October
Chemistry is celebrating on Wednesday 16 October at The Works restaurant (White City Campus). The event will run between 17.30-19.00 and will feature free drinks, finger food, cake and music. Dr Faysal Farah will talk about his experience of driving outreach opportunities for students of Black heritage and setting up the Somali Academics network. Faysal will join a panel discussion with our own Doris Pappoe (postgraduate administrator with 40 years' experience at Imperial) and Hodan Warsame (PhD student and outreach organiser). Everyone is welcome to attend, including those outside the Department - please email Ingrid Temmerman to register for a space.
Ali Mangera talk on Designing a Better World- 30 October
Ali’s talk at Imperial College London 1-2pm 30 October will illustrate some of MYAA’s many projects, from Regenerative Urbanism in London and ecological master planning to the design of academic buildings, and schools built from earth in deprived communities.
Ali Mangera is an Architect-Engineer uniquely placed to understand the intricacies of technology and collaborative design. In 2007, Ali co-founded Mangera Yvars Architects, an award-winning design practice based in London, Barcelona, Riyadh and Tripoli working on projects globally. Ali has decades of experience working on a range of schemes, from Smart Eco-Cities to Mega projects and landmark buildings. Ali helped shape MYAA’s focus on technology from complex geometry in projects – such as the UNESCO Sagrada Familia – to sustainable earth construction and climate positive cities. As practice director, Ali is also a Diversity Champion at MYAA supporting practice-wide EDI initiatives.
Please register for the talk via the Imperial Events page
Business School Black Heritage Quest
Learn more about the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally. Find all five Black History Month posters located around the Business School and correctly answer the questions in the quiz. Participants will be entered in a prize draw for a £50 gift card to Diverse gifts, a local enterprise that showcases gifts by Creatives of Colour.
Imperial People profiles
We will be publishing profiles throughout the month and sharing the details on this page.
Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah
“The experience of being a visiting professor has been incredibly beneficial. I’ve been able to strengthen existing networks, develop new partnerships and collaborations, and deliver lectures to student and public audiences.”
Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah is a Professor of Geography at the University of Ghana and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London.
His current role at Imperial follows on from his position as Provost’s Visiting Professor (2023-24), a scheme established to improve the diversity of the university by hosting leading Black and minority ethnic academics.
Read more about Samuel on his Imperial People profile.
Blessings Mwanza
“It’s the creativity of maths that appeals to me, and how there are probably infinite ways to solve a problem and come to the same answer.”
Blessings Mwanza is a third year Mathematics student in the Department of Mathematics and President of the Afro-Caribbean Society.
With a vision shaped by his own experiences, he’s paving the way for a new generation of students by offering the kind of guidance he wished he'd had at the start of his own journey.
Under his leadership, the ACS is more than just a society—it’s a vibrant community where students thrive, tackle challenges, and seize opportunities together.
Read more about Blessings on his Imperial People profile.
Comfort Oluwakoya
“I want Black and minority ethnic students to know that they belong at Imperial and that there’s a place here for them.”
Comfort Oluwakoya is a third year Medical student and is Imperial College Union’s current Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Officer.
Comfort was driven to become the union’s BME Officer as she believes it is vital Black students having a seat at the table and she wants to provide a Black role model for new students.
Read Comfort's profile to learn more about her work.
Jordan Nairne
Jordan's career started with an apprenticeship, which propelled him into a career as an IT Service Management Analyst at Imperial. Here, he has found a more inclusive workplace and a progressive space for minorities.
Find out more about Jordan's journey and how he wants to leave his mark on the tech industry and make it a more inclusive sector.
Previous years
At Imperial we have marked the month in the past with a range of events including from talks from successful Black academics and professionals, workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, and social events. For example, in 2018 Imperial As One invited the B-Positive Choir to discuss Saving the Lives of People with Blood Cancer - The need to diversify the UK’s Stem Cell Register. 2018 also saw a digital exhibition that took over the screens across campuses - we showcased black staff, students and alumni, and recognised the inspiring work of renowned black scientists past and present.
Less Talk, More Action
Every individual at Imperial should feel safe and comfortable to bring their whole self to their place of work or study.
For BHM 2020 we spoke to members of our community about why the Month is important, what changes we as an institution need to make, and their vision of a bright future.
The importance of diversity in STEMM
As part of BHM 2018, Imperial invited Chi Onwurah MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.
Chi reflected on her own experiences of studying and working in STEM and what universities need to do. She also talked about the importance of diversity as an economic imperative and focuses on the need for systematic change.
Activity across College
The Department of Physics is documenting and celebrating the contributions of Imperial's Black physicists.
The Department of Chemical Engineering has profiles of their Black Chemical Engineers.