Activities to Recognise Black History Month

Unchained on the Rock - by Unstoried

Bermudian Storytellers Liana Nanang and Ajala Omodele will be hosting two 90-minute walking tours around Hamilton throughout the month of February. The Unchained on the Rock initiative launched this year and will consist of year-round talks, tours and workshops that chronicle narratives of Black liberation and resistance throughout the Atlantic basin. 

The walking tours this month will be held at 2 pm on Sunday the 12th and Sunday 26th of February, meeting on the steps of City Hall. More information about the tour can be found on their website.

Resistance Black History Month Tour - by Long Story Short 

Kristin White is known for her profound knowledge of Bermuda’s history and her engaging personality. In addition to her usual walking and cycling tours, on Saturdays throughout February she is offering a special tour commemorating Black history. This tour focuses on stories of people of African descent and allows you to walk in their footsteps, and learn of their rebellion, resistance and resilience. Find out more on the website. 

Mary Prince Legacy Tour - by Titan Tours

Mary Prince was the first enslaved black woman to give her narrative and publish an autobiography about the brutality of slavery. This 2-hour bus tour will tell her untold story and take you to sites, including two of her residences, as you learn about her life as an enslaved woman. To book this tour you can contact Titan Tours on their website. 

Bredrin - Bermuda Society of Arts

A selection of work by Black Bermudian artists will be on display at an exhibition called Bredrin opening on February 10. There will be a variety of media that explores Black artists' position within the culture of Bermuda. The Bermuda Society of Arts calls this exhibition a ‘zone of creative and cultural liberation’.

African Diaspora Trail 

Along Bermuda’s African Diaspora Trail, you will find a number of statues that represent moments of Black history. One example is the statue ‘When voices rise’, which depicts the 1959 Theatre Boycotts when Bermudians of African descent revolted against racial segregation and won. Find this statue and many more along the trail. 

Richard Saunders A Personal Perspective - Bermuda National Gallery

Bermudian photographer Richard Saunders (1922-1987) was born into segregation. The realities of institutional racism in Bermuda propelled him to go to New York, where he was able to find a mentor in Gordon Parks, widely recognised as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. Saunders learned to apply his artistic eye to documentary photography and went on to become an award-winning photojournalist, capturing Black life in major U.S. cities. The exhibition at Bermuda National Gallery of Saunders' work has been extended to run until May 2023.

*Below image courtesy of Bermuda National Gallery 

Blind Ambition – Film night at BUEI

On Saturday February 11th, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) will showcase the documentary Blind Ambition, a story about four friends who conquer the odds to become South Africa’s top sommeliers after escaping their homeland of Zimbabwe. More information and tickets can be purchased here. 

Open Mic Night – The Chewstick Foundation

In partnership with the Department of Culture, an open mic night with the theme of The Black Enterprise will be held on February 26th from 8 pm until 1 am at the Blue Water Anglers Club. Tickets can be purchased here or at the door.