Collecting our past and our future
Black History Month (BHM), in March, is an annual celebration of the resilience of the black community today and in the past. It is an attempt to transform the way in which we represent the past and present through talks, exchanges, lectures, film, debates, performances and exhibitions. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate the importance of preserving and promoting cultural diversity and everyone’s right to culture in our society.
In 2021, Black History Month Belgium focuses on recording and documenting the past and present of black people in Belgium. The aim is to work towards the establishment of an archive (operated and monitored by the black community) to collect all manner of works relating to the black diaspora in Belgium.
For the first time, we are joining forces with Black History Month Belgium in order to support this project with a musical perspective and raise awareness of the theme.
Guestlist podcast edition
The month of March begins with an edition of Guestlist, the new AB podcast. Together with Black History Month Belgium, we invite 2 special guests to take a closer look at the experiences of black musicians in the Belgian music industry.
You can listen to this special episode of the Guestlist podcast on Apple, Spotify, Deezer and Google from 3 March 2021.
AB x BHM Talk (Livestream)
We are also getting together with BHM to hold a talk and a debate around the theme with a group of musicians on the stage. You can follow this talk live in English on Thursday 11 March 2021, via the usual AB channels.
Live Performances (Livestream)
As part of our desire to look towards the future, we are focusing on a series of young, rising artists. We shine a light on artists like Agneskena, Kenny Mala Ngombe, Badi, IKRAAAN, ESINAM, Sunday Rose, April Maey, WAYI, nanaKILL and Rami Hara through live performances, art, video recordings and photography.
In this way, this new generation of artists will define the musical and artistic archives of the years ahead, together with AB and BHM.
Not only will you be able to watch the concerts via the AB channels on 17, 18 & 19 March 2021, but also on TV through the pop-up culture channel Podium19 .
Read more about the AB x Black History Month 2021 programme here.
More on Black History Month here.
Artwork made by Rachel Hansoul
