Pupils on song as they celebrate Black History Month

PUPILS from across Neath Port Talbot have taken part in a special event to celebrate Black History Month.

The event at Pontardawe Arts Centre on November 11 featured performances from pupils of 10 local schools. Invited guests took part in a lunch-time of song, dance, music and readings.

It was organised by the Minority Ethnic Achievement Support Team (MEAS), part of the Council’s Education Development and Inclusion Service and was partly funded by the Arts Council through the Black History Month Wales Association. Leanne Rahman, Co-ordinator for BHM Wales, opened the event with Cllr Peter Rees, Deputy Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council and Cabinet member for Education.

The event was part of wider Black History Month (BHM) events across Wales in September, October and November which aim to celebrate achievements and contributions made to art, culture and politics.

This year, BHM Wales’ theme is Celebrating Great Black Women, Past and Present and reflecting this, the event in Pontardawe showcased a diverse range of talent from Neath Port Talbot schools reflecting on inspirational black women.

Singing at the event and representing Dwr Y Felin school was Britain’s Got Talent star Maia Gough, who wowed the judges and UK public earlier this year with her tribute to Whitney Houston on the programme.

Fellow Britain’s Got Talent star Arnold Matsena, whose dance group A3 were semi-finalists in 2010, helped Godre’rgraig and Maes y Coed schools to prepare for the event by giving dance workshops to pupils in the run up to the big day.

There are more than 300 black and dual heritage pupils in Neath Port Talbot and MEAS works with schools throughout the year to raise the achievement of ethnic minority pupils at risk of underachievement, some of whom may have English as an additional language.

Neath Port Talbot Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Peter Rees, said: “Events such as this showcase not only the talent of our young people in the county borough but also the achievements and contributions of Black people across all aspects of society, business, learning, arts and culture. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in arranging this event and raising awareness of the many inspirational Black role models in British society.”

Captions.