City celebrates black history with music, sport and arts

Twenty pieces of art have been commissioned for a display in the Community Junction at Paragon Station, which explores “the feminine spirit of Africa” through photographs and drawings.

The same venue is also hosting the Black Colour Fields exhibition, showing the progression from slavery to individual success.

Hull’s leading alternative music venue The Adelphi will host Payback on October 21, a night of Black American music from 1960 to 1979, while three Hull bands – Kingston Allstars, Hekima & the Bongo Flava, and the Upendo Crew – will mix traditional African sounds with modern music at the Piper Club on October 27.

An exhibition on black achievement at Hull History Centre focuses on the life of Venture Smith, an African who was kidnapped and sold into slavery but worked his way to freedom and went on to become a successful businessman.

Two of the city’s top youth rugby league sides – West Hull ARL and East Hull ARL under-14s – will compete for the Venture Smith Challenge Cup on October 23.

The programme, which runs until the end of the month, has been organised by the Hull Black History Partnership.