Every October, Black History Month (BHM) in the UK celebrates black history, arts, and culture.

The theme for 2024 is 'Reclaiming Narratives', marking a shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.

If you are planning an activity for Black History Month, or an EDI event at any time of the year, please get in touch with the EDI Centre.

Black History Month October 2024

Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference - 27 September

Imperial's Beyond Ethnicity Career Conference takes place this year on 27 September 2024, just before the start of the Month. This year’s theme is “AI: Friend or Foe?” and the conference will explore how you currently perceive AI, hearing from experts working in the field alongside with those who are mid-career and using AI in a range of different applications in their role. The keynote talk will be from Anne-Marie Imafidon, co-founder of Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women in the STEM sectors.

Department of Chemistry event - 16 October

Chemistry is celebrating on Wednesday 16 October at The Works restaurant (White City Campus). The event will run between 17.30-19.00 and will feature free drinks, finger food, cake and music. Dr Faysal Farah will talk about his experience of driving outreach opportunities for students of Black heritage and setting up the Somali Academics network. Faysal will join a panel discussion with our own Doris Pappoe (postgraduate administrator with 40 years' experience at Imperial) and Hodan Warsame (PhD student and outreach organiser). Everyone is welcome to attend, including those outside the Department - please email Ingrid Temmerman to register for a space.

Business School Black Heritage Quest

Learn more about the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally. Find all five Black History Month posters located around the Business School and correctly answer the questions in the quiz. Participants will be entered in a prize draw for a £50 gift card to Diverse gifts, a local enterprise that showcases gifts by Creatives of Colour.

Imperial People profiles

We will be publishing profiles throughout the month and sharing the details on this page.

Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah

“The experience of being a visiting professor has been incredibly beneficial. I’ve been able to strengthen existing networks, develop new partnerships and collaborations, and deliver lectures to student and public audiences.”

Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah is a Professor of Geography at the University of Ghana and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. 

His current role at Imperial follows on from his position as Provost’s Visiting Professor (2023-24), a scheme established to improve the diversity of the university by hosting leading Black and minority ethnic academics.

Read more about Samuel on his Imperial People profile.

Previous years

At Imperial we have marked the month in the past with a range of events including from talks from successful Black academics and professionals, workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, and social events. For example, in 2018 Imperial As One invited the B-Positive Choir to discuss Saving the Lives of People with Blood Cancer - The need to diversify the UK’s Stem Cell Register. 2018 also saw a digital exhibition that took over the screens across campuses - we showcased black staff, students and alumni, and recognised the inspiring work of renowned black scientists past and present.