Black History Month 2026

A large group of women and men posing for a group picture against a natural backdrop in black and white
Abeokuta Women’s Union. [Women in African History: an E-Learning Tool; CC-BY-SA UNESCO.]

Honouring Our Communities

A large group of women and men posing for a group picture against a natural backdrop in black and white
Abeokuta Women’s Union. [Women in African History: an E-Learning Tool; CC-BY-SA UNESCO.]

The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance, in partnership with London Arts and Health, has commissioned five artists/practitioners to explore this year's Black History Month theme, ‘Honouring Our Communities'. 

This year's theme encourages us to explore the importance of community, the spaces where people find belonging and acknowledge the places, people and connections that shape, support and sustain us every day. It asks us to think about the people we honour, the stories we choose to tell, and those whose impact has not always received the recognition it deserves.

Find out more about each of the artists/practitioners that have been selected to share their visual or text-based interpretations of 'Honouring Our Communities' within the context of creative health, social justice, and community action, below.

Anthony Larbi – On The Beat LTD

Biography:

Anthony Larbi is a music exec, studio co-founder and creative who believes in the healing power of music. Born in Accra and raised in West London, he trained in Medical Physiology and worked on NHS clinical studies before building a career in music. He co-founded On Da Beat, a community music studio which holds the Wandsworth London Borough of Culture 2025/26 commission and is credited on the platinum single "Man's Not Hot". The studio sessions for adults referred through health, housing and social care services.

Read Anthony's blog 'Who Kept the Room Open: Twenty Years of Sound as Care'

Dr Abigal Muchecheti

Biography:

Dr Abigal Muchecheti is an independent researcher, author and disability advocate whose work examines the intersections of race, disability, gender and institutional exclusion. Her scholarship centres the experiences and knowledge of Black women and other communities whose voices are frequently marginalised within academic and public discourse. She is the author of Whiteness, Space, and the Architecture of Exclusion and founder of the FNN Harbour Foundation, a charity supporting disabled people affected by domestic and emotional abuse.

Read Dr Muchecheti's blog 'Who Gets to Be Part of the Community We Honour?' here

Nduka Omeife

Biography:

Nduka Omeife, FSNA, is a Nigerian-born visual artist and creative professional based in York, United Kingdom. A First-Class Honours graduate in Graphic Design from the University of Benin, Nigeria, he previously served as Head of Creative and Graphics at United Bank for Africa. He is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists and works across watercolour, portraiture and community-centred arts projects. Alongside his artistic practice, he works at York Hospital. His Black History Month 2026 portrait exhibition honours Black NHS staff whose everyday dedication helps sustain patient care. Through his work, he seeks to encourage recognition, representation, human connection and belonging.

Read Nduka's blog 'Beyond the Brush' here

Esme Allman

Biography:

Esme Allman is a poet and facilitator from London, whose work explores history, desire and black female subjectivity in visual art and poetry. Her debut poetry collection, Sweet Bone Girl, was published by Broken Sleep Books in March 2025. She is the recipient of the New Arts Exchange (NAE) BRIDGE Writing Residency with Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP) in Finland.

She has tutored and facilitated writing workshops & programmes with the National Literacy Trust, Sydenham Arts, Arvon and Hawkwood for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity Creative Communications Programme with LSE. She has delivered workshops for schools and young people with ABP Autograph Gallery, Dulwich Picture House, The Bush Theatre and the Barbican Centre, exploring topics ranging from the Climate Crisis, activating the photo archive and self-representation through image-making and collage. 

Esme has previously worked in the participation and engagement departments at the Young Vic, Clean Break and Cardboard Citizens, supporting the delivery of a wide range of creative workshops and programmes for children, young people, vulnerable adults and community groups.

Read Esme's 'Three Poems' here

Olamide Phillips Olaniyan (Olamide Sax)

Biography:

Olamide Phillips Olaniyan, professionally known as Olamide Sax, is a Nigerian born, UK based Afro-Fusion artist, multi-instrumentalist, participatory artist and creative facilitator. His musical journey is rooted in Yoruba percussion and has expanded to saxophone, piano, vocals, composition, live performance and collaborative work.

Alongside performing, Olamide develops participatory art experiences that invite people to connect through rhythm, movement, music and cultural storytelling. His practice includes community-facing saxophone performances, Yoruba talking drum and Iya IIu Bata, and Better Rhythm, a Yoruba-inspired participatory music and movement workshop developed at ArtBomb in Doncaster.

Across festivals, cultural events, theatres and community settings, Olamide aims to make music an invitation to participate not simply something to watch creating shared experiences that celebrate heritage, encourage connection, and support creativity and wellbeing.

Read Olamide's blog 'Music that connects people. Culture that Builds Communitie…