A series of talks, walks and workshops are happening throughout October at Canary Wharf to celebrate Black History Month, with writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch, Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize winner Patrice Lawrence, and author of ‘500 Years of Black London’, SI Martin to participate.

Celebrations will kick off with the final instalment of Canary Wharf’s 2023 lunch markets as Karnival market will transform Montgomery Square into a foodie paradise. Karnival will welcome a myriad of flavours from African and Caribbean culture offering a treat for the tastebuds as traders include Only Jerkin and Mauritian Coalition. The market will take place from 12-2.30pm on 5th October.

For those looking to learn more on the Black history of the area, author of ‘500 Years of Black London’ SI Martin will host a talk on 12th October, 1 – 2pm, at Crossrail Place Roof Garden on the local impact of the 1919 race riots. With extensive local knowledge and understanding of Black history, the author will also offer a walking tour of West India Docks, Limehouse and Poplar on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th October which is sure to both educate and inspire those who attend.

Participants will learn about the human cost behind the West India Docks and hear stories of generations past from local Black seafarers and their families. Visitors will walk in the footsteps of the victims of the 1919 race riots and visit the final resting places of forgotten servants and settlers from the 1700s. Those looking to attend will need to book through the Canary Wharf app, where they’ll receive information on the meeting point.

British writer and journalist Patrice Lawrence, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, will be hosting two workshop sessions on Sunday 8th October (for ages 6-8) and Saturday 28th October (for ages 9-11) to inspire little minds. Creating unique characters, action and storylines using inspiration from the surrounding history and personal experience.

Canary Wharf’s innovative Short Story Stations – literary vending machines that dispense free one, three and five minute stories for visitors to read – will include extracts from Afua Hirsch’s new book for six weeks only. The British broadcaster and author’s latest work, Decolonising My Body: A Radical Exploration of Rituals and Beauty, challenges preconceived notions of ancestry and body image. It charts Hirsch’s year-long journey of radical unlearning, reassessing the notions of body image beyond those of the colonial, patriarchal gaze.

The programme is the latest instalment of Canary Wharf’s extensive arts and events programme, which puts on over 100 free events every year. Canary Wharf Group is committed to creating spaces that are representative of diverse audiences; recent initiatives have included commissioning Yinka Ilori to transform Bank Street Park with a vibrant basketball court installation and Camille Walala’s colourful redesign of the Adams Plaza bridge.

Those spending a day exploring the Wharf can enjoy a stroll along 5km of boardwalks, take in the UK’s largest free to explore outdoor public art collection or sample one of Canary Wharf’s many eateries including new openings mallow, Fish Game and Dishoom.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Thursday 5th October – 12pm – 2.30pm
Karnival lunch market

Sunday 8th October – 11am – 12pm
Literary Workshop (Ages 6-8 years)
Free to attend
Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Thursday 12th October – 1pm – 2pm
SI Martin talk: The local impact of the 1919 race riots
Free to attend
Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Thursday 19th October – Thursday 30th November
Extracts on Short Story Stations by Afua Hirsch

Tuesday 24th October – 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Sign up through the Canary Wharf app
Free to attend

Wednesday 25th October – 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Sign up through the Canary Wharf app
Free to attend

Saturday 28th October – 1pm – 2pm
Literary Workshop (Ages 9-11 years)
Free to attend
Crossrail Place Roof Garden

To find out more about what’s going on for Black History Month at Canary Wharf, please visit:

Black History Month at Canary Wharf