Dartford Community celebration brings together local voices, music and pioneering Black British history
Dartford came together on Monday 5 October for a special evening celebrating Black History Month at Crossways Community Church.
The event, produced by Cohesion Plus and Dartford Borough Council working with Kent Equality Cohesion Council as an event partner, brought together residents, community leaders and guests for an evening of powerful speeches, music and performances, providing an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution, achievements and experiences of the Black community locally and beyond.
The evening was opened by Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL in his role as a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, who welcomed guests and reflected on the importance of continuing to create opportunities for communities to come together, celebrate diversity and learn from one another.
The Mayor of Dartford, Cllr Avtar Sandhu and Council Leader Jeremy Kite, also addressed the audience, speaking about the importance of Black History Month and the strength that Dartford draws from its diverse communities.
Guests enjoyed a wonderful performance from Zamara Voices, as well as a vibrant performance from Afro-Pop/Gospel artist Chimburuoma. The evening also featured contributions from local community representatives Debo Adeaga and Wunmi Babalola, who shared their experiences and reflections with those attending.
One of the highlights of the evening was a keynote speech from Benjamin Odeje, who made sporting history as the first Black footballer to represent England at any level, playing for the England Schoolboys in 1971. His contribution provided a powerful opportunity to reflect on his pioneering place in British sporting history and the importance of recognising the achievements of Black Britons who helped break down barriers for the generations that followed.
A keynote speech was also delivered by Dr Barbara Adewumi, who gave a thought-provoking contribution reflecting on Black history, racial equity, representation and the importance of ensuring the voices and experiences of Black communities continue to be heard.
The event was brought to a fitting close by Naz Mighty, who addressed the audience before delivering a special performance of “One Love”, ending the evening on a positive and uplifting note.
The event attracted a very good turnout, reflecting the continued support within Dartford for opportunities that bring communities together and celebrate the borough’s cultural diversity.
Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL said:
“It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout for our Black History Month celebration in Dartford. The evening was about celebrating achievement, hearing different voices and creating a space where people could come together through conversation, culture and music.”
“It was particularly special to hear from Benjamin Odeje, a genuine pioneer in British football whose story deserves to be much more widely known. His achievement as the first Black player to represent England at any level is an important part of both Black history and British history.”
“I would like to thank all of our speakers and performers for their contributions, Crossways Community Church for hosting us and, most importantly, everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a positive celebration.”
The Dartford Black History Month event forms part of the ongoing work of Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Dartford Borough Council and Cohesion Plus to celebrate diversity, strengthen community cohesion and provide platforms for local voices and stories to be shared. During October workshops have been arranged in 8 local schools to celebrate Black History Month across Dartford as well as 3 weekends of entertainment in the town centre as part of the ongoing Town Centre Live programme.
