This Black History Month, Christian Aid celebrates the theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, focusing on the importance of telling authentic Black stories and highlighting the diverse voices within our communities.
Hearing from Osai Ojigho, Policy, Public and Campaigns Director at Christian Aid, she shares why reclaiming these narratives and spreading stories of Black resilience and cultural richness matter to her.
Black History Month is an opportunity to learn, to teach, to understand.
Every October, Black History Month provides a moment to honour Black heritage and celebrate overlooked stories. For Osai, it’s about much more than celebration; it’s a call to participate and deepen understanding.
She shares: ‘Black History Month is an opportunity to learn, to teach, to understand, and therefore it’s a month I encourage everyone to participate in, to learn a little bit more about what it means to be someone of African descent or being Black.’
Reflecting on this year’s theme, Osai highlights the power of storytelling: ‘This is a theme that resonates so well with me because I know how powerful it is to tell your own story, our collective story as Black people…to challenge negative stereotypes and information which often does not serve the community.’
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Celebrating identity and diversity
With 1 October also being Nigerian Independence Day, Osai shares that her Black identity includes embracing Nigeria’s rich diversity and resilience. ‘I feel so connected with Nigeria—not only as the country of my birth but because of the diversity, the culturally dense experiences that Nigerians bring to the table.’
Nigeria’s vibrant heritage comes to life this month, with over 350 languages and a rich tapestry of cultural expressions that reflect its diverse identity. Osai reminds us that Blackness itself is not one-dimensional: ’The most important thing is to listen, to connect, but also to recognise that we are not a homogeneous group.’
In reclaiming our narratives, it’s important that we challenge negative stories when they come up, or we have platforms to promote what is coming out from the country, the continent and Black people's experiences all over the world.
Reclaiming stories through music and culture
For Osai, music is a profound way to reclaim Black stories and learn more about other cultures within the Black community.
‘I’ll be using Black History Month to listen to music from other spaces by Black artists and to learn a bit more about their culture and the stories they tell in the words and lyrics of their songs.’ One artist she recommends is Nigerian singer Onyeka Onwenu and her song One Love:
‘When we have love in our relationships…and the way we approach people, we are better able to address many of the miscommunications that sometimes arise.’
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A month to share stories of hope and positivity
As Black History Month unfolds, Osai encourages us to focus on stories of hope within Black communities. ‘I can’t wait to see and hear what’s more out there in terms of reclaiming the way history is being told about what Black people contribute to this world.’
By giving space to others to express themselves authentically, she notes, we honour Black contributions and foster a culture of respect and resilience.
