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The annual event is taking the bicentennial as its theme – along with the African proverb: "Until the lion tells his tale, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."

It was launched at the Wolsey Theatre with the Nia Memorial Lecture, given by Pam Fraser Solomon. She's an award-winning producer-director working in radio, television and film and she echoes the sentiments of the proverb: "My feeling is we want to embrace diversity in the future, we want to see a global world and I don't believe you can do that if you see history through the experience of only one group of people.

"So in order to have a global future, a diverse future, and embrace and celebrate that, you need to embrace and celebrate diverse histories."

Around 20 events are planned for the county over the coming weeks. They're being co-ordinated by Del White from the Ipswich-based Nia Project which is an educational organisation who's motto is 'Celebrating Diversity, Shaping Culture, Embracing Art".

Topology

Del says the title of this year's African History Month is Squaring the Triangle: "It's a metaphor to say look at the legacies of the slave trade. So we're looking at the lion’s tale, the other stories that need to be told.

"We're dealing with a very sensitive and troubling subject matter. So I don't want to make it too heavy, but then I don't want to make it too light. We want to convey a balance in this message, so people can really understand what it is that we are experiencing.

Ghana independence celebrations

"We want to give people something they can really walk away from and say 'I’ve learnt something today'. It's about cultural diversity at its best."

So the events planned range from a museum exhibition on Suffolk abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, to a tribute to singer Bob Marley. There's comedy, poetry, readings, walks, workshops and children's events. The Deputy High Commissioner of Ghana Kwesi Quartey is coming to Ipswich as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.

"We're very much blessed to be graced with his presence," says Del "I think that in itself will be very informative. We're going to try to give as much overview as possible of Ghana and Britain's legacies there, the colonial power, and squaring up the triangle, because there are some uncomfortable truths."

One of Del's key messages for the month comes from Yolanda King, daughter of Dr Martin Luther King, who said: "We must aim to make a difference until the difference no longer makes a difference."

Slave sale notice

Del says: "That’s key to everything that we do with our work this year. To make a difference. But it needs to be the difference to ourselves as a community."

African History Month in Suffolk runs from 24 September until 3 November 2007. There's no website to refer to for dates, but the programme is available at event venues (such as the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Town Hall, Ipswich Caribbean Association, Waterstones, Ipswich Regent Theatre, Ipswich Museum, tourist information offices and other leaflet spots across Ipswich and Suffolk.

The Nia Project is based at 1, Cornhill, Ipswich, IP1 1AQ. 01473 221715.