Harrow’s African history season was launched last night with a focus on the theme of civic rights in the UK.

The Harrow Black History Month group launched this year’s event with a ceremony yesterday evening at Harrow Borough Council’s civic centre.

Lee Jasper, race and policing advisor to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, launched the season of events with a short lecture about his experience in the UK from the 1960s onwards.

Mayor of Harrow Councilor Nana Asante said: "We do things differently in Harrow - we concentrate on African history, and the contributions African have made in Britain and beyond.”

Last month Harrow Black History Month launched a competition for teenagers from the ages of 13 to 17 to write an essay of 600 words on what civil rights mean to them.

Young people also have the chance create and perform a collaborative work later this month at an event entitled 'Together We Can!', which will include creative writing and performance speaking on civil rights.

The event will take place on October 29 at the Civic Centre, in Station Road, Harrow. Anyone interested in performing can contact harrowbhm@hotmail.com

There will be events running until the end of the year as part of Harrow’s African history season and more details can be found here.