Culture And Memory

Threads of Heritage: Connecting West African Costumes with Essex Local Communities

The Over 50s Black Men Forum seeks to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of traditional West African men's costumes by connecting this history with our local Essex community. Through our "Threads of Heritage" project, we will commission, document, and exhibit 15 heritage garments; deliver hands-on intercultural workshops that engage the community and host a grand public fashion show featuring older Black men as models, with cultural narrators and music. The project will actively promote West African costumes heritage within the Essex community by ensuring that local museums and cultural institutions have permanent access to and the ability to display these significant garments, thereby embedding African fashion heritage into the region’s cultural narrative for future generations. We will develop a community co-curated exhibition with Essex museums and digital artefacts that will be archived at the Essex Record Office, ensuring that both physical and intangible elements are preserved.