Welcome back!
October
Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK every October for over 30 years, each year growing from strength to strength. Black History Month is a time when we highlight and celebrate the achievements of the black community and uncover hidden history about our communities.
The BHM site will provide you with a comprehensive guide to all the activities which are taking place throughout Black History Month and keep you updated throughout the year with information relating to Black History, Education, Arts and Culture.
You can visit them through this link: http://www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk/
Highlights of Black History Month 2009 for London, England:
•Black History: Green History Series, British Museum, 17 Oct (free)
Short films, documentaries and talks on climate change, poverty and sustainability in Africa and the Caribbean, plus sustainability awareness in the UK
•Family Day: Black History Month, Sutton House, 25 Oct (free)
Black music, art, food and dance for all the family
•Black History Month Trail, Sutton House, 1 Oct-31 Nov
Follow the trail to learn about the lives of influential black Londoners
•Black History Month – Struggles for Black Community, Rich Mix, 24 Oct
Colin Prescod, Chair of the Institute of Race Relations, presents two seminal documentaries on contemporary Black history plus a Q&A session
•In Conversation with… Diane Abbott, Museum of London, 21 Oct (free)
MP Diane Abbott, the first black woman elected to Parliament, shares her defining memories of London
•The Price of Sweetness, Museum of London, 24 & 27 Oct (free)
Interactive workshop of poetry, rap and sugar bowl-making with rap artist BREIS
•Black History Month – Family Workshops, Imperial War Museum London, 26-30 Oct (free)
Hands-on, drop-in session where you can learn about African, Asian and Caribbean servicemen and women in the Second World War
•Writing Africa: Marking 10 Years of the Caine Prize, British Library, 10 Oct
Celebrate 10 years of Africa’s highest literary award with Booker Prize Winner Ben Okri Brian Chikwava, Chika Unigwe and Binyavanga Wainaina.
•”Here’s One”: Roland Hayes, British Library, 27 Oct
Remembering Roland Hayes: son of former slaves and the first African-American man to gain fame as a classical singer throughout the world, with Michael Harper
•Football Workshop, Westminster Academy, 7 Oct
Talk to professional players and try out your skills, with Paul Canoville, Chelsea Football Club’s first black player, and London Tigers
•Historical Boat Trips, departing from Tate Pier, 13 & 20 Oct
Learn about life in London during slavery on a guided Thames boat tour
•Mary Seacole Play, Beethoven Community Centre, 14 Oct
Cleo Sylvestre performs a play about the life of Mary Seacole, followed by a chance to meet Mary in full costume and ask questions
Get more information from the Visit London website: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4733701
Contact ZZVN for more information on this year’s October Gala.
African Odysseys Screenings: Playing Away + Introduction by Horace Ové (TBC)
When: Sat 10 October 2009, 14:00
Where: BFI Southbank, SE1, NFT 1
Adm: Matinee tickets £5 (free for seniors)
Inspiring films from the hip-hop youth of Dakar to the cinematic infuence of Spike Lee.
UK 1986. Dir Horace Ové. With Norman Beaton, Robert Urquhart. 100min
In this funny and poignant drama, a West Indian cricket team from Brixton plays an away match against a local team in a suffolk village.
Tickets 020 7928 3232 / www.bfi.org.uk
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An open debate on the Black Arts: “There is a thin line between love and the BLACK ARTS”
When: Thursday 15th October 2009, 7 – 9PM
Where: Original Gallery, Hornsey Library, Crouch End, London N8 9JA
Adm: Free
Artists and creative people from the community are invited to an event presenting solutions to the issues that are facing young and up-and-coming artists who choose a career in the fine arts.
The evening will include a presentation of selective artwork.
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Black British Perspectives: Music
Date: Tuesday 20 October
Time: 2-4pm
Venue: The Venue, Leeds College of Music, 3 Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7PD
Tel:0113 222 3400
http://www.lcm.ac.uk/info/maps.htm
Music and arts critic Kevin Le Gendre asks guests, singer Sheila Chandra and music manager, Kwame Kwaten (formely of D’Influence), how hard have black and other multi-ethnic British artists had to struggle to be recognised over the years, in order to break through in the mainstream on their own terms? Are there still enough Black powerbrokers in the music industry and media to ensure that original Black voices are given a platform to do what they feel is progressive without pandering to expectations from ‘inside’ and outside their own community?
Rsvp by 16 Oct
kadijageorge(at)gmail.com
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Word Power: International Black Literature Festival & Book Fair – Voices of the Diaspora
When: 24th – 25th October 2009
Time: 3-6pm
Where: Ocean, 270 Mare Street, Hackney London E8
Adm: Free
Dozens of Authors, hundreds of readers, thousands of Books. All under one roof.
Featuring leading writers, historians, poets, publishers, distributors, book sellers dealing with African Caribbean literature from all over the world.
Bonnie Greer, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing (author of The Isis Papers), Dr Haki R. Madhubuti (Founder and editor of Third World Press), Nia Reynolds, Paul Ifayomi Grant, Wayne B. Chandler, Dr Marimba Ani, Anthony T. Browder, Sister Nzingha Assata, Jacob Ross, Dr Robinson Millwood, Onyeka, Paul Simons, Nathaniel Agbahowe, Debii Mckoy, Charles Emeka, Anton Marks, Dan Obachike, Dr William ‘Lez’ Henry plus many more.
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Lecture: Dr Frances Cress Welsing
When: 31st October 2009
Time: 6.30 – 10pm
Where: Centreprise, 136 Kingsland High Street, London E8, 2NS
Adm: Tickets £12 adv – £15 on the door
A lecture by Dr Frances Cress Welsing, author of The Isis Papers, the Keys to the Colors
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Not to be outdone by London, Liverpool offers a full schedule of Black History Month events. Here are just two:
Destination freedom
Based upon the true story of William and Ellen Craft, this performance follows their personal journey from enslavement to freedom.
Suitable for all visitors
Dates
Next date : 2pm and 3pm – Sunday 11 October 2009International Slavery Museum
International Slavery Museum visitor information——————————————————————————–
Great African women
The second in a series of three informal Sunday School lectures by Dr Mark Ledwidge, dealing with different aspects of Black heritage, politics and culture.You do not need to attend all three sessions but places are limited and open to 16s and over. Please email Sam Turner to book a place.
Suitable for adults / seniors
Dates
Next date : 1-3.30pm – Sunday 11 October 2009International Slavery Museum
Lecture theatre, 4th floor
International Slavery Museum visitor information
View the full schedule for events in Liverpool: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatsonnet/eventseries.aspx?sid=7
