FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 13th January 2026
Chelmsford, Essex — The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) is pleased to announce it has been awarded £224,010 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its new 18-month heritage initiative, Threads of Heritage: Connecting West African Costumes with Essex Local Communities.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project will explore, preserve, and celebrate the rich textile traditions and cultural symbolism of traditional West African men’s dress. These include agbada, danshiki, boubou, kaftans, Aso-oke, kente, fugu, and traditional smocks. The programme will connect this heritage with communities across Essex through exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, and a live stage production.
At the heart of Threads of Heritage is the commissioning of authentic garments representing the textile traditions of the Creole, Wolof, Ewe, Yoruba, Ashanti, Hausa, and Igbo cultures. These garments will be co-curated with local museums, ensuring they are professionally interpreted and accessible to the wider public.
Older Black men from Essex, many of whom have privately maintained these cultural practices for decades, will act as cultural ambassadors. Their lived experience, tailoring knowledge, and personal histories will be shared through creative community workshops, culminating in a major public fashion showcase at a local theatre. This will create a powerful intergenerational and intercultural dialogue.
The project will also establish a permanent digital archive in partnership with the Essex Record Office (ERO), featuring high-resolution photography, oral histories, and educational resources to safeguard and share this under-represented heritage for future generations.
Reflecting on the award, Enitan Kane, Chairman of O5BM, said:
“Kwame Nkrumah once said, ‘We face neither East nor West. We face forward.’ This project is our way of facing forward by honouring where we come from. The threads we wear carry the stories of our ancestors,”
Commenting on the project, Marie Goldman, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, added: “I’m so pleased to see this fantastic project taking place in Chelmsford. It’s a great example of how culture can bring communities closer. Huge well done to all who’ve helped make it happen.”
Dr Samson Tsegay, Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “I’m looking forward to exploring both historical and contemporary costume practices across different West African communities, and examining the influences that have shaped their evolution. “Within the Threads of Heritage project, we also aim to document the rich cultural significance of West African costume traditions, trace their journey to the UK and map their transformation within local communities.”
Key activities include:
- Collaborating with Chelmsford Museum, Chelmsford Theatre, Essex Record Office, Anglia Ruskin University, and other partners
- Commissioning bespoke traditional garments from West African artisans
- Delivering creative workshops and exhibitions across libraries and museums
- Producing educational resources on textile heritage and tailoring
Threads of Heritage strengthens O5BM’s work to improve wellbeing, cultural confidence, and community cohesion, while creating meaningful opportunities for the wider public to engage with African heritage in Essex.
For further information or to get involved: www.o5bmforum.org.uk | info@o5bmforum.org.uk | 07488 352736
Notes to Editors
About O5BM
Established in 2018, O5BM works to address social, health, and economic inequalities affecting older Black men in the UK. Its programmes promote wellbeing, cultural visibility, and community empowerment.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the UK’s largest dedicated funder of heritage, supporting projects that help people connect with heritage in all its forms.
Media Contact
Edwina Chukura
Membership and Events Manager | 07488 352736 | edwina@o5bmforum.org.uk
