London’s busiest public library commemorated UK Black History Month through a series of free community and school events in Woolwich.
Under the theme “honouring our communities”, the Woolwich Centre Library programme included talks from Black authors and creatives, as well as workshops for Woolwich residents and schoolchildren.
The library recorded 547,440 visitors in 2020, making it the busiest public library in London, and second busiest nationally.
Tatayana D’Souza, the library’s senior manager, said it works with Greenwich Council to celebrate Black history year round, calling the campaign a “celebration of different black cultures”.
“Black history is 365,” said D’Souza. “So although we make a concentration of it during the month of October, throughout the year we regularly celebrate with different authors, activities, and events.”
D’Souza said other libraries in the borough took part in the campaigns storytelling sessions and author visits, but that Woolwich Centre Library tends to “take on the brunt” of doing most of the activities.
She added that the library’s events give Woolwich residents, and particularly young people, access to performing arts which are typically classed as “elite”.
According to a 2021 Census, 30% of residents in Woolwich Common were of Black heritage, compared with 21% across Greenwich.
D’Souza said that it’s important that Woolwich residents know that the library is a place where their culture is reflected.
“Actually in Woolwich there’s not a designated space that is neutral,” said D’Souza. “When you come in here there’s no judgment at all.”
Throughout October the library worked with community organisation Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich to hold textile workshops in Woolwich primary schools.
Pupils learned about Kente, a handwoven Ghanaian textile, and Ankara, a brightly patterned West African cloth, working together to create a large tapestry.
“The children love the creative side of the Kente and tapestry workshop,” D’Souza said. “We’ve also had African drumming with the schools, which was amazing with really positive feedback.
“We’re so lucky that community groups want to come and do events and activities with us.”
Black British ballet consultant Dr Sandie Bourne held a talk on 22 October attended by members of the Caribbean Social Forum, a community group based in Woolwich.
Dr Bourne said many attendees had not known about Black dancers’ contributions to ballet in the UK, making the event educational for them.
She said: “It’s dance history. It’s British history. It’s world history and we need to be included as part of that history, that legacy.”
The Black British Ballet exhibition is currently touring libraries across the UK in partnership with Libraries Connected, and has since moved on to Newham.
Dr Bourne believes that libraries are the right place for these grassroots exhibitions.
“We’re bringing it to communities,” she said.
Author Dr Velma McClymont, who spoke about Caribbean heritage and legacy on 24 October, said heavy rain kept the audience small, but called the event “brilliant”.
She also highlighted the “unsung heroes” across the Black community.
“I want people to get the idea that there are lots of people in the community doing things,” she said. “It is about who gets the opportunity to tell our stories.”
Dr McClymont also emphasised to attendees that Black history should not be condensed into one month, but celebrated year round.
She called the library “a community within a community”, stating that Woolwich Centre Library was “one of the more impressive libraries” that she had visited.
“In the library there’s a whole section on Black books, which you don’t often get in a lot of libraries,” Dr McClymont said.
Woolwich Librarian, Sam Oparinde, said: “More people are becoming aware of the library’s collection as a result of the events.”
He added that growing awareness has helped assert that Black books are not only for Black people and encouraged anyone to join the library’s African Caribbean reading group.
Lord Len Duvall OBE, London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham, said: “Woolwich is one of London’s most diverse areas and I’m proud to see Black British history being celebrated.
“At a time of growing political division, initiatives like this are also a powerful way to celebrate the contributions of our communities and bring people together. They send a clear message that everyone in London is appreciated.”
Featured image credit: Woolwich Centre Library
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