Some things don't need to be written down to be remembered. They live in the kitchen, in the music, around the table, on the playground, or on the dance floor. This is a living archive of traditions passed down through generations in the Black community — kept alive not by institutions, but by people. By families. By us. A new tradition is added regularly. Have one to share? We'd love to hear from you.
Home Remedies
More than what sat on the shelf, home remedies are memories of care, passed from one generation to the next. A pot on the stove, lemons and ginger, a familiar jar within reach — small details that bring back the people who looked after us. You learn by watching, listening and being cared for. Then, in time, you pass those memories on.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
The Dance
From the Electric Slide to the Cupid Shuffle, movement has carried culture across continents and generations. The Dance is how joy gets passed on — learned at family gatherings, at christenings, at parties, without a single lesson being formally taught.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
Kwanzaa
Celebrated from 26 December to 1 January, Kwanzaa is a time for reflection, community and celebration — built around seven principles that hold communities together, spoken aloud and passed on.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
Spades
More than a card game — it's a rite of passage. Played at family reunions, cookouts and late nights, Spades is where strategy meets tradition. You don't just learn to play. You earn your seat.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
Clapping Games
More than a playground game, it’s rhythm, memory and friendship, passed from hand to hand. From Miss Mary Mack to the chants you still remember, clapping games turn a few words and a shared beat into childhood memories. You don’t learn from a rulebook. You join in, find the rhythm and pass it on.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
Jollof Wars
Few debates in the Black community run as deep — or as joyfully — as the Jollof Wars. Nigerian or Ghanaian? Every family has a recipe, every recipe has a story, and every story comes with absolute certainty that theirs is the best.
Want to know where it started? Click here to find out more.
This page grows with our community. Is there a tradition your family has kept alive — a recipe, a game, a celebration, a saying? We'd love to add it to the archive. Get in touch and tell us what's been passed down to you.