Salford Youth Zone brought the community together on Saturday with a vibrant event celebrating Black History Month, shining a spotlight on culture, heritage and the power of unity among Salford’s young people.
The celebration, held at the state-of-the-art centre in Pendleton, featured a mixture of sports, art and education aimed at encouraging both young people and adults to learn more about Black history and its influence on society.
The activities held included musical performances, cooking cultural dishes and football and basketball tournaments designed to promote teamwork and inclusion.
“So we’ve had a lot of musical performances, we did an AFCON (African Cup of Nations) tournament and in the sports hall we did an NBA cup.”
“We were cooking very vibrant African and Caribbean foods and had a show-and-tell table as well. But we’ve just been celebrating black culture today.”
Sports Co-ordinator for the Youth Zone Osian Lyimo spoke on the importance of the event and events like it, saying: “I think we’ve just got to help the kids be educated on black culture, how to respect that culture, how to learn it respectfully and how to understand it in a way that is new and exciting for them.”
A highlight of the event was an interactive performance where young members of the community showcased creative projects with themes surrounding black history. From musical performances to spoken word, the participants expressed what Black History Month meant to them and how it shapes their understanding of community.
“The kids seemed to really enjoy it.” co-ordinator Osian Lyimo added. “Our whole them is just really roots and excellence”
Salford Youth Zone, which provides safe and affordable opportunities for young people aged 8 to 19, regularly hosts themed events to promote inclusivity and cultural understanding. Lyimo adds his thoughts on the need for events like this. “It’s really important that we celebrate different cultures, but it’s something that we should do all year round not just for a month.
The event was met with enthusiasm from both staff and attendees, who praised the positive atmosphere, with attendees also crediting it as a ‘great opportunity to learn and grow together.’
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