Black History Month Family Fun free event on Saturday set to bring cultures together at Eden Court as African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association celebrates biggest event to date
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A FREE event to bring together cultures of various communities in Inverness and celebrate Black History Month will be held in the Highland Capital this weekend.
The Family Fun Day for Black History Month is organised by the Inverness-based African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association (ACAMHA) at Eden Court.
Running on Saturday, October 15, between 12pm and 4pm, the event will be open to everyone and will see a day of fun with arts, music and song, dance, crafts and more celebrate the rich heritage of Inverness communities.
Among the various activities on the day, participants will be in for a treat with a fashion show, Egyptian coffee tasting, Caribbean carnival crafts, hair braiding and interactive drumming.
Organiser Remi Martin (29), who was born and raised in London but whose family hails from Jamaica, Barbados and around the Caribbeans, said they were expecting around 400 people to attend.
She said: "Last year it was our first event. Lots of things happened in the media about Black Lives Matter movement. and held a first event at Smithton Church.
"I am originally from London but I love living here and being black and British, however we have to children and just at the end of lockdown my eldest child was starting P1 and I had some worries – it's not the same as nurseries, everybody wears the same uniform and you can pick up the black child – or the mixed-race child, or the Asian child from a mile away. I really wanted to make sure that my children felt included and that their ethnic background, their language and food they eat at home was valued.
"I met Mya and Fiona, who have different cultural background from me, and together we had the idea to put together an event for the community that celebrated black history, but make it fun and also highlighting what black culture brings to the UK.
After contacting Highland Council and with the help of the community, the group organised the first event at Smithton Church, with around 150 people attending.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to do this again. Although this event is celebrating black culture, we want every ethnicity, race, heritage background, demographic of people to be a part of this community event!
"Going forward we aim to organise other similar events, for Diwali and for Ramadan, so that we celebrate all the cultures that are part of the Inverness community."
Participants can register for the event on Eventbrite or find more information on Eden Court's official website.
The organisation ACAMHA was born after Mrs Martin and co-founders, Mya Chemonges-Murzynowska and Fiona Forbes, saw the need to create a network where children and people wanting to learn more about African, Caribbean, Asian and mixed heritage cultures.
Mrs Chemonges-Murzynowska (44), who moved to Inverness 11 years ago, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response and the support of all the community.
"We are now in direct contact with Highland Council to work with schools and provide support and resources which can help students learn more about the different cultures and backgrounds in their communities.
"We do this through our own personal experience.
"Our aim is to have a positive impact and to create a space where everyone, from children to adults, can feel comfortable about asking about someone else's heritage and background. "
A foundraiser was set up at gofund.me/980908f7, with donations going towards the organisation of the day.
Anyone interested in learning more about ACAMHA's activities can get in touch via their Facebook page.
