Happy Black History Month! Here are some of Ireland’s most famous Black women who have made a mark on this country and the world.
October marks Black History Month, and what better way to kickstart the month than with a list of some of the most famous Black Irish women?
From singers to actors and authors to activists, there is a wealth of talent on the Emerald Isle. Let’s take a look!
- Happy Black History Month! Here are some of Ireland’s most famous Black women who have made a mark on this country and the world.
- 10. Samantha Mumba – one of the most well-known black Irish women
- 9. Ruth Negga – Lady Macbeth from Limerick
- 8. Emma Dabiri – soon-to-be Goldsmiths graduate
- 7. Erica-Cody – a multi-talented icon
- 6. Christine Buckley – a tireless campaigner for industrial school survivors
- 5. Ifrah Ahmed – behind the banning of FGM in Ireland
- 4. Yewande Biala – our favourite Love Island gal
- 3. Jazzy – Ireland’s new rising star
- 2. Vanessa Ifediora – honourary Derry Girls girlie
- 1. Amanda Adé – D&I Business Woman of The Year
10. Samantha Mumba – one of the most well-known black Irish women
The 2000s served us with several Irish pop bangers, but none could ever quite beat Samantha Mumba’s iconic ‘Gotta Tell You’.
The bop reached the top five in Ireland, the UK and the United States. In 2023, Mumba has been working on new music and has performed at various pride events over the summer.
9. Ruth Negga – Lady Macbeth from Limerick
Ranked number ten in The Irish Times list of Ireland’s greatest film actors, Ruth Negga has taken on roles in features such as the television series Preacher and the film Loving.
The Limerick lady made her Broadway debut in 2022 as Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. Born in Ethiopia, she grew up in Ireland, attended secondary school in England and now lives in Los Angeles.
8. Emma Dabiri – soon-to-be Goldsmiths graduate
Author, activist and academic Emma Dabiri has written two books on race: Don’t Touch My Hair (2019) and What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition (2021).
Currently living in London, completing her PhD in visual sociology, her work in academia has resulted in a successful broadcast career discussing issues such as race, capitalism and Marxism.
7. Erica-Cody – a multi-talented icon
Ireland’s answer to Aaliyah, Erica-Cody exploded onto the Irish music scene with her album Addicted in 2017.
A prominent name not only in the Irish music landscape but also the political one, she launched the Don’t Touch My Hair campaign, highlighting the racism she has faced living in Ireland.
More recently, the singer donned her dancing shoes and finished as runner-up in the 2022 season of Dancing with the Stars.
6. Christine Buckley – a tireless campaigner for industrial school survivors
An activist and campaigner, Christine Buckley was raised in St Vincent’s Industrial School, Goldenbridge, and is one of the most inspiring Black Irish women.
Following her career as a nurse, she went on to become the director of the Aislinn group, providing support and education to survivors of industrial schools in Ireland. Following her death in 2014, Volunteer Ireland renamed their “Volunteer of the Year” award to honour her work.
5. Ifrah Ahmed – behind the banning of FGM in Ireland
Ifrah Ahmed arrived in Ireland in 2006 from her birthplace of Somalia. There, she had been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Upon finding out that it wasn’t common practice in Ireland, she set out to publicly address the issue of FGM. Since then, she founded the United Youth of Ireland, a non-governmental organisation and the Ifrah Foundation.
4. Yewande Biala – our favourite Love Island gal
Irish on Love Island represent! Yewande hit our screens in the summer of 2019 as one of the original girls in the series.
Since leaving the show, Yewande has amassed over half a million Instagram followers and is a total style icon.
3. Jazzy – Ireland’s new rising star
2023 is certainly Jazzy’s (A.K.A Yasmine Byrne) year. The Crumlin singer had her first solo single, Giving Me, No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the Irish Singles Chart.
Also, the first Irish female artist to reach No. 1 on Spotify, it’s onwards and upwards for this burgeoning talent.
2. Vanessa Ifediora – honourary Derry Girls girlie
Vanessa Ifediora is a photographer, actor and poet from Belfast. Perhaps her most notable role is that of Laurie, Clare’s wee lesbian crush in Derry Girls. She has also played the role of Miss Lewis in Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age film Belfast.
1. Amanda Adé – D&I Business Woman of The Year
RTE’s ‘Black and Irish’ podcast is in safe hands with Amanda Adé at the helm.
Discussing the lived experiences of black and mixed-race people living in Ireland, the podcast draws from the work of the Black and Irish group, for which Adé is currently creative director. She has also featured in Bobby Zithelo’s documentary Our Land.
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