Milton Keynes was honoured to welcome the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, as a special guest of Cllr Nana Ofori-Attaa Oguntola to participate in the city’s Black History Month celebrations. Dr. Bio’s visit underscored the significance of Black heritage and empowerment, as she attended a series of events celebrating Black art, culture, and history.

The First Lady’s visit began at Middleton Hall in the city centre, where she toured the Black History Month Art, Culture, and Business Exhibition held over Saturday and Sunday. The exhibition featured an impressive 72 stalls, showcasing a diverse array of African art, fashion, crafts, and businesses. Dr. Bio visited several of the stalls, engaging with exhibitors in meaningful conversations about their work, heritage, and contributions to the community. The First Lady also enjoyed a lively African dance performance by local children and a stunning fashion show presented by We Are The IROKO, adding a vibrant cultural touch to the occasion.

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Following the exhibition, Dr. Bio attended the highly anticipated launch of "Twenty-One African Queens Every Young Girl Should Know About," a book written by Nana Ofori-Attaa Oguntola. The launch event, held at Unity Place, Santander Bank, brought together a distinguished audience and celebrated the empowering legacy of African queens.