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Camden Black History Month events 2008

Camden Black History Month

Tommie Smith kicks off Camden's Black History season

What: Launch of B68:08, Camden's Black History Season
Who: Tommie Smith, Bonnie Greer
When: 6.30pm, Tuesday 7 October
Where: British Library

Tommie Smith, the Olympic champion famous for making the black power salute on the medal podium in the 1968 Mexico City Games, is to launch B68:08, Camden Council's Black History Season 2008.

The programme includes a series of reflective and thought provoking events to explore the achievements, successes and histories of Black African and Caribbean communities. It focuses on the histories of Camden's newly emerging communities - Congolese, Somalis and Nigerians - and aims to raise awareness and understanding of the experiences of black people from 1968 to 2008 through music, film, lectures, poetry and debate.

Tommie Smith, who also held the 200m World Record for 20 years, will launch the programme at the British Library on Tuesday 7 October. He will join Bonnie Greer to discuss the major events of 1968 and their effect on Black history. Tickets for the event are free but limited and must be booked in advance by emailing arts.tourism@camden.gov.uk.

Events taking place during the two month programme include: Hymns to Hip Hop, a lively musical following the history of Gospel music from slavery to the present day; Heated Exchange: Hip hop vs rap, featuring hip hop artiste Jonzi'D; and a screening of 'Naij', a Nigerian documentary, followed by a panel discussion.

The programme covers the length and breadth of the borough and involves many local groups and organisations, ranging from the British Museum, Camden libraries, the Petrie Museum, the Renoir and the London College of Fashion. There will also be discussions, film screenings, poetry, performances and exhibitions in museums across the borough.

Cllr Flick Rea, Executive Member for Culture, said: "Black History Season is an opportunity for all Camden communities, young and old, to come together and examine black culture. Our programme focuses on the historical events of 1968 and will give a valuable insight into how they helped shape the Camden we know and love today."

Most events are free or low cost. To find out visit the website formore details.

Camden Black History Season listings Events Programme - Black History Season 1968:08 - 40 years of local and international history A reflection of the political, social and cultural changes that swept the world from a black perspective.

All events are free unless stated but must be booked in advance. Please see individual listings for more information.

September

From Hymns to Hip Hop
Shaw Theatre
26 September, 7.30pm; 27 September, 2.30pm & 7.15pm
A lively musical following the history of gospel music from slavery to modern day, performed by the award winning community choir group from south London - the Millennium Action Group.
Admission: £13 - £15

SERTUC Film Club in Association with Beaquarr Productions present:
Legacy in the Dust 'The Four Aces Story'
Congress House
30 September, 6.30pm - 9.30pm
A feature on East London's 'Four Aces Club', founded in the 60s which for some 33 years was home to the most influential black music and musicians to date. The club showcased new music genres like Bluebeat, Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Jazz and Soul performed at the time by artists like Alton Ellis, Desmond Decker, Jimmy Cliff, Count Shelly, Ann Peebles, Percy Sledge, Ben E King, Billy Ocean, Cimarons, Aswad, Black Slate, Matumbi and many others. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.

October

Studio One Love
Swiss Cottage Library
1 - 29 October
An exhibition featuring photography by Ron Vester - the official photographer of the legendary Studio One. Also among Ron's clients were the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. The exhibition includes images of Coxsone Dodd, Lee Scratch Perry, Theo Beckford, King Stitt and The Silvertones.

Faisal Abdullah
Swiss Cottage Gallery
4 October - 26 November
An installation by acclaimed artist Faisal Abdullah, the work is personal homage to the invaluable space provided by a library for personal development. Faisal's work is informed by his ongoing dialogues with many of the leading artists, critics and theorists who have shaped the cultural politics of Britain since 1968. The installation will include contributions by Stuart Hall, Bonnie Greer and Keith Piper.

Camden B68 Official Launch
Conference Centre, British Library
7 October, 6.30pm
A highlight of this year's programme, this joint event bought to you by the British Library and Camden's Black History Forum will highlight the scope of this year's Black History Season. Key note speakers will reflect on major events that led up to and shaped 1968 and the legacy of this momentous year. The event will include special guests Tommie Smith and Bonnie Greer.
Supported by The Eccles Centre for American Studies, The British Library and London Active Communities.

Black Power Salute with Q&A
British Library
8 October, 7pm - 9pm
A film about one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, the moment in which the radical spirit of the sixties upstaged the greatest sporting event in the world. At the 1968 Olympic Games, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved clenched fists in support of the Black Panther movement after receiving gold and bronze medals in the 200m sprint. What inspired them to make their protest? Why did it carry such a powerful message? And what happened to the unlikely revolutionaries following the Games? The screening will be followed by a question and answer session, and will include a special guest appearance by Tommie Smith.
Admission: £7.50

SERTUC Black History Celebration 2008
Congress House
8 October, 6.30pm - 9.30pm
A chance to learn about the career of Bonnie Greer - playwright, poet and critic.

Heated Exchange: Hip Hop vs Rap
The Camden Centre
10 October, 7pm
A contemporary analysis of hip hop and rap music and its links to black history led by Wayne B Chandler. Rap music - a socially destructive force? Hip Hop - the real voice of youth? Chandler will argue that rap is an modern cultural weapon used to weaken the inner spiritual force of black youths and keep violence common in the global black community. The discussion will also trace hip hops roots to Africa and offer ways to reclaim, re-educate and redirect the flow of the Black music, so that youths choose their musical direction wisely. The event will be hosted Jonzi'D, and feature a poetry performance from M.K. Asante, Jr., a hip hop performance from Young Rootz and a dance performance by London street crew, Manic Boiz.
Admission: from £10 plus booking fee

Black Butterfly
Conway Hall
11 October, 8pm
A Jamboree of performance, education and networking, this event will encompass a creative journey through black culture. You will have the opportunity to enjoy an exciting mix of music, cultural dance, comedy, drama sketches, poetry and a number of fashion designers on show as well as a 'Stars in Their Eyes' style contest.
Admission: £12.50

Days of Glory (Indigenes)
Renoir Cinema
12 October, 11am
A complex film showing the poor treatment of four North African soldiers enrolled in the French Army when sent to the frontline during World War II. Each soldier has a different personal purpose as they fight their way through the Italian campaign and on to liberate France from the Nazi occupation. One soldier seeks booty; one has joined up to escape poverty; another wants to marry and settle in France; while the fourth - by joining in the fighting - hopes for equality and recognition of the rights of the colonised Algerians. The film looks at the discrimination these soldiers encounter in the army, and depicts an organisation prejudiced in favour of the European French; a wartime injustice which relates directly to continuing modern tensions. Following the screening a discussion will be led by Kunle Olulode, Chair Camden Black History Month Forum.

Martin Luther King Dream or Nightmare
Swiss Cottage Library
12 October, 2pm
A screening and discussion with Tony Warner examines US race relations in comparison to that of the UK. With 2008 marking the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, this timely discussion will consider how - although now revered as a saint - mainstream America once saw him as a troublemaker.

Pictured but Unknown? Black Sitters in UCL Art Collections
University College London (UCL), South Cloisters, Strang Print Room
15 October 5.30pm ' 7.30pm
Dr Gemma Romain presents the results of preliminary research into race and representation in UCL's art collection.

Black as Ink
Room 66 British Library
21 October, 6.30pm ' 8.30pm
A documentary detailing migration of African-American writers to France at the end of World War II, followed by a discussion on leading black writers in modern day Britain.

The Great African Scandal
Council Chamber
22 October, 7pm - 9pm
Camden Fairtrade Network presents the Channel 4 film 'The Great African Scandal', a challenging and thought-provoking documentary about the hidden costs of rice, chocolate and gold.

Calypsos and Wiener Schnitzel: refugees from Nazism in the Caribbean during WW2
Swiss Cottage Library
23 October, 7pm
To mark Black History Season, Dr Joanna Newman, British Library, discusses a little known episode in Caribbean history when refugees from Nazism sought shelter in West Indian Islands. Their arrival resulted in surprising alliances during the second World War and their presence has contributed to the unique mix of culture and ethnicity that make up West Indian Jewish identity today. This is the story of watch makers, tailors, diamond cutters, doctors and dentists who escaped from Europe to a new, completely different world.

Black Civilisations of the Nile Valley
UCL, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
23 October, 6pm - 8pm
Young black British filmmaker Louis Buckley presents his new film on ancient Sudan, archaeology and black heritage.

Black History Film Day: 1968
British Museum WC1B 3DG
25 October
Admission free, booking required 020 7323 8181 2pm - Shirley Chisholm and the US Election While the media focuses on Barak Obama, they forget to mention that the first Black person to run for US president was a woman of Guyanese and Barbadian parentage. This uplifting and inspiring film will both inform and educate and will be followed by a panel discussion that will reflect upon the impact Shirley Chisholm made and upon the significance of this year's presidential race and its media coverage.

5.30pm - James Baldwin and the Civil Rights Movement The event will begin with screening and discussion with archivist and historian Tony Warner, looking at clips of Civil Rights campaigner James Baldwin in action and footage illustrating race relations in London, America and South Africa at that time. This will be followed by a screening of Horace Ové's film 'Baldwin's Nigger', a striking portrait of the writer James Baldwin at his sharp-witted best addressing a group of radical West Indian students in 1960s London. Accompanied by comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, Baldwin discusses black experience and identity in both Britain and America. Impassioned and entertaining, this is a fascinating snapshot of one of America's most powerful novelists and spokesmen for a generation.

British Museum Activities for Black History Month
Swiss Cottage Library
27, 29 & 31 October, 10.30am - 4pm
A family event with storytelling, games and craft activities.

Wall of Words
Swiss Cottage Library
29 October, 11am - 2pm; 30 October, 4pm - 7pm
Contribute your words, phrases, or sentences on 1968 to the Wall of Words and be part of artist Beyonder's poetry as he uses your ideas as inspiration to create pieces of work.

When We Ruled: Angelina Osborne and Robin Walker in Conversation
UCL, Roberts Building, GO6 Sir Ambrose Fleming Lecture Theatre
30 October, 6pm - 8pm
Renowned historian Robin Walker, author of When We Ruled and Roots of Black History, will discuss Egypt's place in the ancient and medieval history of Africa with writer Angelina Osborne, author of Equiano's Daughter.

November

'Naji – a documentary'
Conference Centre British Library
1 November, 2pm - 5.45pm
An in-depth documentary about the troubled political history of Africa's most populous state Nigeria. Using rare footage, the film takes us from the country’s purchase by the UK through independence and civil war, showing the effects a chaotic journey on present day Nigeria. The screening will be in two parts with a panel discussion between sessions. Advance bookings free, entry fee at the door.

Ancient Egypt and Slavery in the USA seminar
UCL, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
4 November, 6pm - 8pm
Academic Magaret Malamud, author of ancient Rome and Modern America (2008), discusses the importance of ancient Egypt in debates over slavery in the USA in the 19th century.

Studio One Love
Kilburn Library
4 - 26 November
An exhibition featuring photography by Ron Vester the official photographer of the legendary Studio One. Also among Ron's clients were the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. The exhibition includes images of Coxsone Dodd, Lee Scratch Perry, Theo Beckford, King Stitt and The Silvertones.

Adoption open evening
Crowndale Centre
6 November, 5.30pm
Four thousand children in the UK are waiting to be adopted. Camden holds open evenings for anyone who would like to find out more.

Lumumba
Kilburn Library
7 November, 7.30pm - 9pm
This award-winning epic dramatises the rise and fall of legendary African leader Patrice Lumumba who became the first Prime Minister of newly independent Congo. Lumumba was soon faced with a brutal power struggle from within and outside of his new country, and the film will highlight external interference on democracy in the developing world.

Hidden Histories Guide Tour: Adornment Ancient and Modern
UCL, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
15 November, 2pm - 4pm
Rashid Elshiekh draws attention to the new light the Hidden Histories project has thrown on adornment in the ancient and modern world.

Lost Boys Documentary
Conference Centre British Library
15 November, 2pm - 4pm
First screened on Al Jazeera for the Witness programme series in June 2008, this powerful documentary by Somali born journalist Rageh Omar investigates the issues facing the Somali community in Camden and other parts of London. A Q&A discussion will also give the audience an opportunity to consider issues raised in the film.

December (events to be confirmed)