BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2004 IN THE MIDLANDS AND EAST OF ENGLAND
By 24 Hour Museum Staff
Devotees at 'The Green' c.1975. from the exhibition Echoes of the Frontline. Photo: Vanley Burke.
Birmingham
In Birmingham, concerts, films and exhibitions celebrating black history take place all year round, but the different generations have come together during Black History Month 2004 to promote the cultural diversity of Britain’s second city.
Siffa Sound, Handsworth Park c.1975 (Left to right: Ricko, President, Bandit, General Hawkeye). Photo: Vanley Burke
Voices and Images of Birmingham’s Recent Black History opens at Newman College of Higher Education in Bartley Green on Friday, October 1, and is a photographic archive of Vanley Burke’s images.
His work can also be seen in a free exhibition of photos that capture Birmingham’s reggae history at the Symphony Hall. Entitled Echoes from the Front Line, Burke’s images are displayed alongside those of fellow photographer, Andrew Jackson.
Making Sense by Helen Wilson. Courtesy of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
One of the most powerful exhibitions taking place during Black History Month is that of Helen Wilson, a black British artist who visited Rwanda in 2002.
Her work reflects the resilience of the Rwandan people in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide that killed a million people in 100 days.
Making Sense: A Rwandan Story opens at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday October 16, and runs until January 23. Her work reflects the resilience of the Rwandan people in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide that killed a million people in 100 days.
Families are encouraged to explore their own family trees in a workshop at Druids Heath Library on Saturday, October 16. Families are invited to attend the event so parents, grandparents and children can collaborate on building their family trees. The event is open to 10 local families. Ring 0121 303 7171 to reserve a place.
But there is loads more going on in Birmingham, so to find out more information visit the Birmingham Black History Month website.
Over in Leicester there are dozens of events happening across the city and this year’s Liberation theme marks the 10th anniversary of the ending of apartheid in South Africa.
Sacred Spaces, a text installation at Poets Corner, 108 Evington Place in Highfields, forms part of the citywide Cultural Mapping Public Art Programme.
Sacred Spaces is part of an ongoing scheme for Highfields involving commissioned artists Said Adrus and Bhajan Hunjan. Central to the installation is an LED display that aims to raise awareness of and about intercultural and cross-cultural communities, interwoven within the theme of peace.
Throughout Black History Season the LED display will feature a series of short poems, quotes and messages from established African and African Caribbean Speakers – again exploring this year’s theme of Liberation.
Phoenix Arts Centre will be showing a number of films to celebrate Black History Season - for more details visit their website at www.phoenix.org.uk The cinema and arts venue will also be playing host to CRANKED - a film installation by Lizzie Jimoh-si Willsher between 13 September - 15 November.
Shot on location in Leicester’s Town Hall the installation looks at some of the issues raised in the depiction of black women in rap videos. The artist’s award winning super 8 films and ‘Cranked Revealed’ - another film installation - can also be seen at The City Gallery during this time.
The Black History Season in Leicester also features a series of lectures. The horror of slavery is brought to life through re-enactment and oral history in Abolition! – a free lecture at Belgrave Hall and Gardens on Thursday October 14.
A series of interactive half-day citizenship workshops entitled Seeing People as People is running from Tuesday 2 until Friday November 12. Exploring key scenes from the play Colour of Justice by Richard Norton-Taylor, the workshops examine the transcripts of the1998 public enquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence.
There is of course much more happening in Leicester during the Black History Season, so check out www.leicesterblackhistory.co.uk for the latest information.
Across in East Anglia, Black History is being celebrated across Norfolk under this year's chosen theme of Dreams and Aspirations.
Did you know the first British black circus owner, Pablo Fanque, was born in Norwich in 1798? Or that traffic lights, peanut butter and open-heart surgery were all invented by black men?
There are over thirty events already planned in Norwich that explore these roots and traditions. The Norfolk African Community Association has set up a series of talks, shows and events that celebrate black British heritage in the region.
One of the theatre highlights includes the snappily titled, I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document Given To Me By A Young Lady From Rwanda – a powerful play about the Rwandan genocide that garnered rave reviews during its recent stint at the Finborough Theatre in London. You can see it at Norwich Arts Centre on Saturday October 9.
Ghanian storyteller Teddy Akrofi will also be in the county throughout October with a series of storytelling workshops for children aged eight and above.
Taking in libararies and community centres in Wroxham, Thetford, Norwich and Great Yarmouth, Teddy will be weaving tales and proverbs that are funny and informative. The stories are designed to help younger listeners to understand difference in cultures whilst supporting learning, development and awareness.
The month closes with an eclectic showcase of black arts and music at The Waterfront, King St, Norwich on Thursday November 4.
There is of course much more happening in Norwich so to find out more about the full range of events visit the NEAD Black History Month Website.
