THE late Tottenham MP Bernie Grant will be a key part of Haringey's Black History Month programme this October.

Haringey, which prides itself on its diversity, marks the month-long celebration of black culture and achievements with a packed calendar of events.

The 2010 celebration carries the theme Black History Month Now and in Haringey tributes will be paid to present-day successes in the borough.

MP Bernie Grant became the first black man to lead a council before going on to become one of Britain's first black MPs. This year marks the tenth anniversary of his death.

His life and legacy will be a key theme of the 2010 programme, and many events will be held at the performing arts venue which carries his name.

Key exhibitions include a Bernie Grant roadshow at local libraries and the Bernie Grant Arts Centre as well as seminar by the MP's official biographer Onyekachi Wambu.

Councillor Dilek Dogus, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "Black History Month is the main way we celebrate the proud history of the borough’s black community.

"We have one of the most extensive and exciting programmes of events for the month in London.

"In particular it’s appropriate that we mark the life and achievements of MP Bernie Grant as this year is the tenth anniversary of his death."

Other events include a borough-wide art exhibition at locations across Haringey - entitled Sisters in Sprit – featuring the work of contemporary black female artists.

Nicola Green’s thought-provoking exhibition House-Slave, Field-Slave will trace the struggle for the abolition of slavery as commemorated in the borough in 2007 - before this locally-based, nationally-respected portrait artist shows her work at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool in 2011.

Another exhibition at Bruce Castle Museum - Black Sporting Heroes – showcases sporting local black role models, in a bid to engage primary school children studying Olympic issues in the build-up to the 2012 London Games.

Other events for young people will include a series of family workshops, theatre productions and other creative activities at local children’s libraries and museums – covering everything from calypso singing and west-African drumming to a talk given by children’s author Gill Harvey about her books set in ancient Egypt.

For full details of Black History Month celebrations in Haringey, visit www.haringey.gov.uk/blackhistorymonth