A multiple book signing and sale, featuring three black Bermudian authors, will be held this Saturday.

The event is being hosted by Black Collective, a group of five women who have been holding a Saturday market at the Bermuda Industrial Union car park since the beginning of July.

This weekend’s market will highlight the work of Dale Butler, Dr Sharon Apopa and Dr David Chapman.

Those behind the Black Collective got together earlier this year “as a result of their desire to highlight Bermuda’s unique culture and heritage,” explained a spokeswoman.

“The Black Collective recognised that many in our community are struggling in these difficult financial times,” she added. “The objective of the Market is to give local entrepreneurs a venue to sell their products and to give buyers a venue to purchase quality goods at a reasonable price.

“The market does not charge vendors as the goal is to give persons the opportunity to make money without the burden of a fee. Although to date most of the vendors have been women, the Market is open to men and women. Goods on sale include new items as well as second hand, ‘gently used’ goods.”

Black Collective member Lynelle Furbert has featured prominently, displaying her CultureWear clothing line. A Bermudian designer who lives in Ghana, Ms Furbert has her products make by local Ghanaian artisans, aiming to support the local Ghanaian economy while providing “quality, unique Ghanaian products to the local Bermudian community.”

The CultureWear line was featured at the inaugural African Rhythms Fashion Show which the Black Collective hosted on May 21. There was such a demand for the fashions that the idea for the Market was raised and expanded to include giving opportunity to other entrepreneurs.

This Saturday’s market will put the emphasis on “celebrating our unique culture”.

“We started with Cup Match in July, featuring local artists Francis Furbert and Rhonda Cross Maskal in August and we start of September highlighting local authors Dale Butler, Dr Sharon Apopa and Dr David Chapman,” added the spokeswoman.

“We invite the public to come on by on Saturday to purchase these authors’ books and then have them signed by these authors. “The books by Mr Butler of the Atlantic Printing House, which cover topics from Bermuda’s musical and sports history, and everything in between, are now out of print so this sale represents maybe the last opportunity to purchase these books.

“Dr Chapman’s books — The Daddy and I Explore series of five, which feature a father’s interaction with his children as they explore Bermuda’s environment, have been very popular and, in fact, for this sale and signing we have only 3 of the series available, so I would encourage persons to come out early to purchase the remaining titles.

“Dr Sharon Apopa has written the novel Encounter, which tells the story of four women whose lives cross paths after the train they are travelling on crashes. Dr Apopa says that the book is a fictional representation of the various men and women she has met over the years.”