Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has taken a stand against Nigel Farage’s criticism of the Black on the Square festival, which was held in Trafalgar Square. The festival aimed to celebrate black culture, food, and creativity with hundreds of people attending. Khan engaged with the crowd, took selfies, and praised the event as a chance to champion and celebrate the city’s undervalued and under-appreciated black community.
Farage, a presenter on GB News, had previously criticized the festival, describing it as “horribly divisive” and questioning whether such an event would be acceptable if it were centered around white culture. Khan responded to Farage’s comments by saying that if he thinks the festival is a bad idea, it must be a good thing. He emphasized that diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and that the event was a celebration of black excellence, culture, and creativity.
The festival featured performances from black gospel singers, DJs, live bands, and poets. Somali-born poet Gboyega Odubanjo was scheduled to perform but tragically disappeared at Shambala Festival last weekend, only to be found dead later. His disappearance and death were met with tributes and heartfelt messages from the festival organizers and attendees.
Sadiq Khan (Via Sadiq Khan/Twitter)
The event comes at a time when there has been an increase in racist abuse directed towards Sadiq Khan, with a former Conservative donor recently urging people to “dump the Muslim mayor” and saying “someone should kill him.” Khan has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, and his campaign to celebrate black excellence has been met with widespread support.
In response to Farage’s comments, Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeted, “In a week where a former Conservative donor urged people to ‘dump the Muslim Mayor’ and said ‘someone should kill him’ it is past time to call out the racist abuse directed towards @SadiqKhan.” He added that such abuse has no place in politics and must be condemned.
The Black on the Square festival was a celebration of black culture and identity, and it is essential to recognize the value of such events. By promoting and celebrating diversity, we can foster a more inclusive and tolerant society. As Khan noted, “Today is a really good opportunity to celebrate black excellence, culture, and creativity – and for all of us to celebrate that.”
