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
Image courtesy of On Da Beat (ONTHEBEAT LTD)
Read Anthony's blog 'Who Kept the Room Open: Twenty Years of Sound as Care' here
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.
Dr Abigail Muchecheti
Photograph of Dr Abigal Muchecheti, an independent researcher and author whose work explores race, disability, gender and institutional exclusion
Read Dr Muchecheti's blog 'Who Gets to Be Part of the Community We Honour?' here
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.
Nduka Omeife FSNA
Photography, artwork and video production © Nduka Omeife, 2026. All rights reserved
Read Nduka's blog 'Beyond the Brush' here
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.
Esme Allman
Esme Allman is a Poet, Writer, Theatremaker and Artist, collaborating with artists, young people and local communities to create stories in response to themes of blackness, desire and imagined worlds. Blog coming soon.
Olamide Phillips Olaniyan (Olamide Sax)
Olamide Sax is a Nigerian-born, UK-based Afro-fusion artist, multi-instrumentalist, participatory artist and creative facilitator. Blog coming soon.