ON October 24 2025 we gathered in The Great Hall of Ulster University’s Magee campus for our fifth annual Black History Summit.

As in previous years, it was a fabulous day of discussion followed by a musical fusion where Kenya met Ireland in the form of Maasai singer Nelson Ngotiek and Irish star Ritchie Remo.

Our guest speakers on the day included Zita Holbourne who travelled from England to be with us. As well as being a writer, multi-award-winning artist, educator, community activist and trade union leader, Zita has done momentous work in exposing the Windrush Scandal.

Joining her on the podium was Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. Ms Williams curates education programmes, arts events and walking tours to promote awareness of Black Scottish history and links between Scotland and the Caribbean.

Rajvi Glasbrook, senior implementation manager for the Welsh Government Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, also addressed the Summit. Rajvi worked on the ‘Cynefin’ report which made the teaching of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales.

The event was moderated by Lilian Seenoi Barr, Chief Executive of the North West Migrants Forum, while the panellists included Dr Naomi Green, one of the researchers on our Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project, Ulster University researcher Seun Awonuga and Daniel Sanusi, organiser of Ulster University Students’ Union’s first-ever Black History Month.

Closing remarks were by author and activist Chantelle Lunt, also a researcher on our Hidden History Project.

We want to put on record our thanks to everyone who contributed to make the event a success and to National Lottery’s Heritage Fund, British Council, Ulster University and Housing Executive for their support.