The University of Westminster brought together colleagues, students and the wider community for an Africa Day celebration. The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow event celebrated the rich heritage, vibrant cultures and future creativity of Africa and its global communities.
The event took place at the University’s Regent Street Campus and was opened by the University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee Co-Chairs Professor Dibyesh Anand and Dr Deborah Husbands. The afternoon of conversations and shared learning was followed by an evening celebration featuring fashion, music and cultural showcases.
To kickstart the day’s events, Westminster students shared their experiences of studying and working across the UK and Africa in a Global Journeys session. Drawing on personal stories from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Ghana, the session highlighted how international exposure can strengthen skills and shape future careers.
This was followed by a panel discussion led by Reader in Global Public Health Nutrition Dr Regina Murphy Keith, which explored lessons learned from conducting research across Sub-Saharan Africa. She was joined by Julia Toppin, Senior Lecturer in Media, Music and Enterprise, and a range of Westminster PhD researchers who covered topics ranging from health systems and nutrition to music industries and child development.
Alongside the discussion, postgraduate students presented research posters addressing issues linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Topics included food security in Malawi, maternal and child health in Nigeria, and barriers to healthcare access in Ethiopia. The session highlighted both the impact of Westminster research and the importance of culturally informed and community-driven solutions.
Entrepreneurship and representation were also central themes. A session on Black entrepreneurship in the UK showcased student and community entrepreneurs connected to the Afro-Caribbean Society, who offered insight into their journeys of building businesses in the UK.
Speakers shared their inspirations, challenges and key lessons learned, while reflecting on the importance of representation and resilience. The session concluded with a Q&A where attendees had the chance to engage directly with the speakers. This was followed by reflections from the African Caribbean Society, whose leadership team spoke about rebuilding the society and growing inclusive spaces on campus.
As the day came to a close, a short film was presented to highlight the University’s ongoing partnership with Rwanda and its support for emerging fashion entrepreneurs, developed in collaboration with the British High Commission in Rwanda.
The event concluded with student performances, interactive bead workshops and a fashion showcase featuring designs that blended African heritage with global influences. The showcase included collections from Mary Martin, founder of the couture house Mary Martin London, which is known for its bold silhouettes that fuse African heritage with British elegance, and Rachel Bashabe, a fashion entrepreneur and founder of the African print fashion brand Veryl Designs, who is helping to reshape the relationship between African and UK fashion.
Throughout the day, attendees were also invited to take part in a photo competition celebrating Africa, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on creativity and community engagement.
Professor Anand said: “We had a most engaging and participative Africa Day and the memories and learning from it will reverberate for a long time. The sheer diversity and dynamism of Africa in general as well as the engagement of our colleagues and students with the continent in education and research strengthens our resolve to be a truly global university. We are grateful to colleagues and students from different disciplinary backgrounds for curating this and participating in it too.”
Lucy Quist said: “I was honoured to participate in Africa Day at the University of Westminster this year. The combination of culinary, creative and intellectual exploration of the continent through students and guest speakers was a powerful reminder of what Africa has to offer its people and the world.”
Dr Irene Riverson Brown said: “Africa Day enabled those of us who identify with the Continent to share our work, perspectives and experiences. The keynote from Lucy Quist, alongside all the other activities reinvigorated our passion for making a difference. I especially thank Rachel Bashabe of Veryl Designs, Mary Martin London and Lauren b, the designers who showcased their outfits and organised the Flash Mob in the evening for their sterling support.”
On behalf of the African Caribbean Society (ACS) Joyce Lumembo, History BA Honours student, added: “The ACS was proud to take part in this year’s celebrations, a moment that truly honoured and showcased the richness of African heritage. As a committee made up entirely of African and part-African members, it was especially meaningful for us to contribute our own voices and perspectives. A key highlight was the opportunity for each of us to reflect individually on leadership, recognising that while we all come from different backgrounds and hold different aspirations, leadership is a shared value that connects us, even though it may present itself in different ways.”
By elevating African voices and perspectives, the conference directly contributed to the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, 4: Quality Education and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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