African Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

People of African heritage in Birmingham come from more than forty countries, including Somalia, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some families have lived in the city for generations, while others have arrived more recently as students, health workers, professionals and people seeking safety.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 66,038 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Black African; and 52,323 people living in the city had been born in Africa. The number born in Africa also includes many people of Asian and European heritage, and the community is growing quickly.

Working for Birmingham

African doctors, nurses, carers and social workers are a vital part of Birmingham's health and care services, and African students are a large and growing group at the city's universities. African professionals work in finance, law, IT, engineering and education, and African-owned shops, restaurants, churches and businesses serve every part of the city.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The African community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

African Christian churches and mosques are among the busiest places of worship in Birmingham, and faith is central to many families' lives. African music, from Afrobeats to Congolese rumba, fills the city's venues, and African food, from jollof rice to injera, is winning new fans. Black History Month each October celebrates African heritage.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the African community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.