Black History Month 2023
Black History Month 2023
Join us as we take a step back in history and explore the lives of black artists through arts and literature.
Introducing Preston-based artist and Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid CBE RA, the artist behind Hannibal’s Sister. Himid was born in 1954 in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and became heavily involved in the UK Black Art movement throughout the 1980s. Himid’s work focuses on the reclamation of identities, interwoven with themes of cultural history and activism.
In 2010, Himid was awarded an MBE for services to black women’s art, and in 2017, she was awarded the Turner Prize. The following year, Himid was promoted to CBE for services to art. Currently, Lubaina is teaching at the University of Central Lancashire where she is a professor of contemporary art.
At The Harris, we are honoured to be in possession of one of Lubaina’s notable works – Hannibal’s Sister.
The image below shows the imagined sister of Hannibal, who was a daring military leader who defeated the Roman army in 218–219 BC. Hannibal is believed to have been of black Phoenician heritage. Himid, born in Zanzibar, presents us with an alternative black history in which Hannibal’s sister could also be a war hero.
Books
Have you visited our library recently? We have a range of adult and children’s books ready for you to borrow, that explore the lives of black icons and characters, written by black authors. If you need a recommendation, ask one of our friendly librarians.
Blogs
Discover our latest acquisition ‘Sweetest Devotion’ and learn more about the artist behind the piece, Billie Zangewa.
Read about the life of designer Althea McNish and how she left her mark on the textiles world. You’ll also be able to see one of her wonderful prints in our collection which can be found on our Fashion & Textiles page.
Preston’s African Caribbean Community
Oral History
Listen to clips of an interview with Preston’s Maxine Grant recorded in 2002. These are part of a larger archive of oral histories that we will share more of on the collections page.
