Adferiad welcomes Queen of Congo to celebrate Black History Month

As part of Black History Month celebrations, Adferiad is highlighting the near-forgotten story of the African Training Institute in Colwyn Bay. 

It comes as part of a unique friendship between with Adferiad and Congolese royals, establishing a 10-year relationship. 

Adferiad has prided itself on a longstanding history of developing services for a diverse population of Wales, ensuring every community it supports has their needs met. The charity previously merged with Diverse Cymru in 2024. 

A concert featuring Congolese and local musicians will pay respect to the rich multicultural history between the two nations.  Taking place on Friday 24th October 2025, the concert starts at 7:15pm in Rydal Penrhos School. 

Attendees from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in attendance, including the Congolese Ambassador to the UK, and many others.  

The delegation will visit ancestral graves in Old Colwyn on Thursday 23 October, the site of the Congo Institute, as well as the Library Exhibition in Colwyn Bay, paying respect to the original roots of the historic partnership. 

Clive Wolfendale, vice-chairman of Adferiad said: 

“Adferiad is delighted to support this visit by our Congolese friends.  

“This astonishing piece of history illustrates the long and positive relationship between Wales and African nations. It also points to how cultures and traditions can harmonise to mutual benefit.”  

 

The event is sponsored by Adferiad, Bay of Colwyn Town Council and the Network for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration https://nwami.org.uk/. The Principal Congolese organisers are Queen Bakembisa Mafuta and Chief Thomas Bikebi. 

This long-standing history between the two nations dates back to 1882, when the Reverand William Hughes preached in Congo. 

Ill health forced him to return home to Wales where he brought two students, known as the Congo Boys, who the explored Welsh chapels and gave lectures in different languages, raising funds and selling photographs. This sparked a new partnership between the African state and North Wales, after the colleagues settled in Colwyn Bay,  

Three years later the African Training Institute was established, where the most promising African students would be sent to Britain where they could learn new skills and medicine alongside integrating in communities and culture, enabling them to become self-supporting missionaries in Africa.  

By 1903 more than 20 students from nations like Cameroon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the United States were training at the institute; by the time it closed more than 100 had passed through its halls. 

Students at the institute went on to have significant influence on the development of their home countries and even today, that influence has remained recognised for its significant cultural impact. 

This friendship between the groups will both commemorate and celebrate the historic connection founded by the Reverand William Hughes, with visitors paying respect to the ancestral graves.