Media News

The screening of the BBC’s film, Shoot the Messenger predictably stirred strong opinion. As a result of its hackneyed “Eastenders on steroids” content we received numerous complaints about what many people saw as a one-dimensional, offensive and unrealistic portrayal of the African British community.

The film is merely the latest in the BBC’s long and historic catalogue of myopic programming supposedly representing African people in Britain and has revived the campaign for boycotting the BBC licence fee until (or if) they decide to seriously address the lack of quality and quantity programming for our community. Incidentally, the BBC’s ethnic bias extends to its online news site where they attempted to exclude African people from their ‘urban’ representation of the Notting Hill Carnival, not to mention deliberately misquoting Ligali to promote their own agenda. Thankfully, the BBC generated media hype on Shoot the Messenger has dissipated. However, despite its redundant impact on our community we will have to repair the damage done to those of our aspiring young people who felt demonised by the film and the morale of those who felt insulted by its exclusion of the substantial amount of progressive work undertaken in the community.

Another mess that had the BBC written all over it was the ever increasingly redundant MOBO awards. Anyone who watched the 2006 event will no doubt be questioning whether there is a need for this pseudo award show that seeks to present awards to African American artists that cannot be bothered to attend. Having isolated and marginalised the community who helped support the MOBO’s when it was first getting off the ground, musical inconsistency and general ineptitude has led to Kanya King, organiser of the Award show, virtually all but officially killing off her own product. During this years event things were so bad that during the televised repeat of the show the BBC edited out the loud chorus of boos from the audience when artist Beyonce Knowles was given her third award of the evening for best international female. Embarrassingly for the organisers, Knowles who was in London at the time had not confirmed she was attending and apparently snubbed the awards so she could attend an Armani party the next day.

As with the EMMA awards, the MOBO’s have been descending from embarrassingly uncomfortable to watch to utterly dire and redundant for several years following its penchant for marginalising African British artists, attacking reggae music, blatant soul ignoring urbanisation agenda and its endorsement of African American artists who use the n-word and propagate the murder of Africans and rampant misogyny. This year, to its credit the British representation was much better however the organisation continued with its confused ‘black’ origin music agenda and chose to drop the award for best jazz artist because they claimed there wasn’t sufficient talent around. Perhaps once we consider previous winners of the category has also included Jamie Cullum and Norah Jones then we can understand how Mick Hucknall was once also able to win a MOBO award for outstanding achievement. This year MOBO organisers lost all integrity when they announced The Streets were being nominated for best group and the Soul artist, Anthony Hamilton, had ludicrously been placed into the best reggae act category.

And if that wasn’t proof enough of just how far the event has distanced from its initial intentions, you know you have problems when the exploitation DJ, Tim Westwood, who has previously received the award for best DJ, claims that ‘MOBO has always reflected the true essence of black music… The most important award show in the UK’. This is despite the fact that the MOBO awards have never in its entire history had an award for Soul music. Is it any surprise that MOBO organisers selected the CRE’s Trevor Philips to present a european organisation which has an annual income of over a million pounds with its inaugural ‘grass roots/community’ BeMOBO award for anti-slavery work in support of the governments Wilberforce Abolition 2007 commemorations.

Kanya King said: "Given that 2007 is the two hundredth anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade, MOBO wanted to ensure that this incredibly important issue is given the profile it deserves."

How low can MOBO go?

The n word debate

In response to a Ligali complaint, Ian Parkinson, the BBC’s Head of 1Xtra and Specialist Music for Radio 1 justified the use of the n word by claiming that the BBC "and the overwhelming majority of [its] audience" did not interpret the n word as racist. Unsurprisingly, the police are dragging their feet on their investigation into our complaint regarding the BBC’s broadcast of anti-African language.

The Future of African History Month

We can not fail to mention the plight of African History Month in the UK which has been marked annually in October for several decades. Unfortunately, the government have earmarked AHM for its ritualistic ‘melting pot’ agenda which essentially seeks to undermine the original focus of the season and turn it into a multicultural awareness month. From the rebranding of AHM to ‘black and asian history month’ by Bexley council to the decrease in funding for African History events nationally the agenda is clear. There is a distinct long term agenda to eradicate all evidence of multiculturalism, and impose a dominant assimilated British identity upon the current and next generation of Africans growing up in Britain. As ever we are urging for community wide endorsement of African (not ‘black’) History Month in February to coincide with the international efforts of Africans across the globe and simultaneously avoid the contamination with other agendas. We have lost The Voice newspaper, Choice FM and now Carnival to urbanitis. AHM could go the same way if we don’t take uncompromised ownership and set the agenda for our cultural resources.

Bro Hakim

Independent Africentric Media

We have long been advocates for independent media within our community. It is integral to our self determination and an important means of disseminating culturally empowering information. Unfortunately, there is often a conflict between our need to control our own media and the agenda of those in government and state institutions who aggressively attempt to suppress any such initiatives. The forced introduction of expensive broadcasting technology such as DAB is designed to limit our ability to communicate across the airwaves, and divide its bandwidth between predominantly commercial and politically compromised community entities. Sweet FM, a community radio station which hosts music but also has several informative and educative debate shows, became the latest target of this war against Africans when they were raided by the DTI on numerous occasions. The substantial number of raids coincidentally followed an announcement by community activist and former Sweet FM presenter, Bro. Hakim to establish various youth focused empowerment initiatives on his popular Reality Talks show. As a result, the station was forced to cancel their interactive talk shows from their schedules. Suddenly, the raids stopped. This revolutionary programme, if it had been allowed to launch, would have given a real platform to young disaffected Africans with its genuine commitment to socially responsible and empowering content. Thankfully the station owners have stood up and relaunched the Sunday empowerment show with a debate featuring Des Robinson, Kimani Nehusi and author Robin Walker tackling effects of the deliberate urbanisation of African History Month. This is a great step forward and we now await the reinstating of the Reality Talks show.

This Month’s Recommended Media

When We Ruled by Robin Walker
Sable Magazine feat Chinua Achebe
Can I Be Me by Esther Armah
The Destruction of Black Civilisation by Chancellor Williams
Nubiart (Wed @ 5pm and Fri @ 10pm) on www.soundradio.info
BackChat (Mon – Fri, 6pm- 9pm) on www.colourfulradio.com and Sky Channel 194
The Whirlwind newspaper (Available at most African bookshops)

Finally, please remember that if we don’t want the continuation of the selected politically compromised ‘black’ voices who have consistently let us down in the past, speaking on our behalf then we must support our own media by sponsoring, listening and contributing to them.

Youth Empowerment

On a particularly positive note, Friday 15th September saw the launch of the Rochelle Angel Foundation set up in memory of the young school girl, Rochelle Holness who was tragically murdered in Catford, South East London in September 2005. The Foundation, which aims to generate and promote safe environments, activities and creative opportunities for young people, was launched at a talent show tribute featuring an abundance of young talent. A year after this young girl was taken from her family, we can only pay tribute to the determination and strength of her family and friends who have worked towards creating something constructive for young people.

By Any Means Necessary: The Crisis of mental wealth in the African British community

The issue of African British mental health is increasingly being recognised as one of the most critical issues facing our community in Britain today. African people suffer from the highest rate of sectioning under the 1983 Mental Health Act.

BMH UK allows supporters to send a pro forma letter to their MP at the click of a mouse. Without taking this action, our community will continue to be denied the right to have any meaningful say in how the 1983 Mental Health Act should be amended. With the plans to send changes to the 1983 Act to parliament by November, the urgency of supporting this campaign has now become critical. We would urge you to take the 5 minutes required to Ligali has recently joined the widespread support for BMH UK alongside community organisations like 100 Black Men and the Afyia Trust and church groups not normally associated with campaigning like the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance and the Council of Black Led Churches. To add your support for this campaign for justice in mental health services go to www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk

Truth 2007
Reconstructing African History: The moral pretence - From evil slavers to anti-slavery colonialists

The government has recently announced that in 2007, it may issue an ‘expression of regret’ about the role of the British in the enslavement of Africa and African people. The statement is set to coincide with their tainted plans to celebrate their parliamentary Act citing the abolition of enslavement. The Telegraph newspaper claims “Although such a declaration is said in Whitehall to fall short of the formal apology demanded by some campaigners, it would nevertheless be seen as one.” It is time to set the record straight and be clear about this insincere apology that some people are trying to demand. Firstly, the process of enslavement or the Maafa as it is known to many Africans continues to this very day. Therefore, we in the Diaspora have no right to accept an apology from the British government whilst our brothers and sisters on the Continent remain enslaved by european, arab and most recently, east asian nations. Enslavement did not end, it merely transformed itself. For the British to be sincere about an apology, they would first have to stop doing the very act that they claim to be apologising for. Secondly, the British media’s relentless and infantile racist jibes aimed at provoking Muslim communities into a ‘justified’ fight, exposes the fact that Britain remains too emotionally and culturally immature as a nation to make a sincere and genuine apology. With childish defences such as ‘I never enslaved anyone so I’m not apologising’ and ‘with regard to the slave trade – it happened – get over it’ , it is clear that there is a lack of understanding about the Maafa, its continued effects upon African people and the role of Britain’s ethnic majority in rectifying the devastating legacy caused by their nation. Until the public and those in positions of political power in this country get past these immature arguments, an apology would be nothing more than lip service. And Africans do not appreciate empty words.

For more details please check operationtruth2007.co.uk

Crime and Justice

As the defensive and uneducated ideology of european ethnic dominance gains ground in Britain, the physical and verbal assaults against African people will undoubtedly continue. In the same month that five men were charged with the ethnically motivated murder of 18 year old Christopher Alaneme in Kent in April this year, another African Briton, Richard Peterkin, was violently attacked in Coventry by a gang of racist thugs who told him to ‘go back to Africa’. An African man was also violently assaulted in New Cross by a gang of up to seven european men. During the altercation, through which the victim sustained a fractured jaw and a broken thumb, the victim’s ear was also split after being bitten by one of the assailants. The attack is said to have been motivated by the victim’s African ethnicity.

We are also pleased to report that Hassan Akhtar, Mubashir Akthar and Nasira Akhtar of 16 Woodfield Avenue, London SW16 1LG from Ace Afro Hair and Beauty shop in Brixton appeared in court this week and pleaded guilty to selling and supplying unlicensed steroid skin products which pose a risk to the health of African women. However, this parasitic, amoral gang had previous convictions for similar offences. We can only hope that their sentencing on 25 October 2006 at Inner London Crown Court will reflect their flagrant disregard for the welfare of their customers and the callous and indifferent manner in which they continued to exploit their market for profit. Unfortunately, this case is merely the tip of the iceberg. We are therefore asking anyone who knows of any ‘Afro’ businesses that sell unlicensed, illegal ‘beauty’ products such as skin whitening/bleaching creams targeted at African people? If so please send us their details at mail@ligali.org and we will endeavour to ensure that these individuals are exposed.

Ligali recently received reports about an incident which took place in Lancaster earlier this month involving suspected terrorist activity being undertaken by BNP supporters. According to the North West Evening Mail, 62 year old David Bolais Jackson, a retired dentist, is accused of being involved in a bomb plot following the discovery of a record number of explosives. Police found rocket launchers, chemicals, British National Party literature and a nuclear or biological suit at his home. Robert Cottage, an alleged accomplice and former BNP election candidate was also found to have 22 chemical components in his home. He has since been arrested under the Explosives Act on suspicion of possessing chemicals that may be capable of making an explosion. The discovery has been described as the largest ever found at a house in Britain.

Baring in mind the heavy focus on illuminating terrorist activity in Britain, it is certainly surprising that coverage of such a significant and disturbing incident has been notably absent from the mainstream media. It goes without saying that had these individuals been African, this would have been front page news when the story first appeared last Friday. For those who remember the racist Brixton bomber, this will be seen as a very worrying development in an increasingly intolerant British society. We contacted Lancashire police to verify the story and received a somewhat vague response from their press office. The full story can be read online.

Urgent news: Mystery Plague Affects Africans Worldwide

An article by Mogho Naaba
There has been a sudden and strange and incurable plague scientists have named ‘Panafricanitis’ that has struck black people all over the globe in the last few weeks.

“This is a very strange thing that has occurred – totally unprecedented in mankind’s history” said a White House representative. “Never has such a phenomena happened where an entire group of over a billion people have suddenly changed their collective ideology”.

In Africa, civil wars have ceased. While the AIDS rate is still pandemic, numerous African scientists from the Continent, as well as America, Europe and Cuba have designed a herbal cure that eradicates the illness almost immediately.

Leaders have come together to discuss numerous and drastic changes to improve the quality of life on the Continent in terms of leadership, political structure, education, technology, health services and agriculture. “The decisions made for our Continent that has suffered centuries of exploitation and colonialism will be made solely by Africans for Africans”, stated Gertrude Mongella, President of the African Union parliament. “We will not allow any input from non Africans to dictate to us how we should run our continent. Soon, the problems that have ravaged this Continent will be a thing of the past”.

In the western world, particularly North America, the African murder rates in the urban inner cities have plummeted. Robberies, rapes and other forms of crime have halted as many street kids have left their bad ways behind. Gang members such as the Bloods and Crips in Los Angeles have called a truce. While they have kept their firearms, they have participated in the cleaning up of their neighbourhoods. They have also used all the money gained from drug proceeds and other criminal activities to build youth centres, anti drug programs and Africentric schools. Many fathers estranged from their children for many years have come into contact with their offspring and have now formed close bonds.

Rappers have held meetings in order to quash their disputes and discuss wealth distribution. "I used to brag a lot about all the diamonds and money I had", stated Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, "but I've realised that my perpetual ignorance has done nothing but caused harm in communities not only in America, but worldwide. There are kids in Africa who have died for the luxuries myself and many other rappers have enjoyed. We've all decided to sell all our gold and diamonds and put all the money back into the Motherland, know what I'm sayin'?" Other rappers have vowed to only write lyrics to uplift their women and their communities. "Never will I disrespect my African Queens again" stated Luther Campbell, former member of the 2 Live Crew…

Read the full story online

Terminology: Political correctness or culturally respectful?

Not too long ago the disabled were labelled ‘spastics’, anyone who wasn’t european was deemed ‘coloured’, history books claimed that ‘black’ history began with slavery and schools taught our children that Africans were subhuman cannibals who lived solely in mud huts, ate bananas in trees and came from an uncivilised, savage place called the 'dark' Continent.

We do not refer to the Chinese as yellow people of Chinese descent, we do not refer to eurorpean as white or pink people of european descent, therefore do not refer to African people as black people of African descent.

Africans with dual heritage or a ‘mixed race’ threat?

Talking Point: 'Other', 'mixed', 'creole', 'mulatto', 'half-caste', 'bi-racial', 'earthling', 'milk chocolate', 'Eurafrican', 'Afripean', 'Anglo-Afrikan', 'Afro-european', 'tanned', 'coloured' - these are just some of the labels given to Africans with dual heritage. Has the time now come for the media to exercise some common sense and use a single definition?

There has been much talk in the media about the exponential growth of the ‘mixed race’ community. Typically portrayed as the acceptable face of docile exotica or presented as the logical assimilated future of all Africans, we are told that we may as well reject our ethnic identity, and become neither ‘black’ or ‘white’ but instead simply human. These assertions did not originate from the African community but in from Britain’s ethnic majority. In a similar way to the African community’s argument for the cultural-linguistic annihilation of the n word, the denigratory word ‘mulatto’ is both embraced and rejected by dual heritage Africans seeking an identity which describes the totality of what they have been told is their ethnic reality.

AFRIcons of African History

Nwanyeruwa, Mary Okezie, Ihejilemebi Ibe and Adiaha Edem

In 1929 Nwanyeruwa, Mary Okezie, Ihejilemebi Ibe and Adiaha Edem helped organise and lead the rural women of Owerri and Calabar Provinces, Igboland, Nigeria in a revolt against the corrupt institutions and symbols of British colonialism. Marching in their thousands they destroyed British factories and courts set up for warrant chiefs during colonial oppression.

Sources
Igbo Women from 1929-1960 - West Africa Review
1929 Women Riot Centre - Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

The BTWSC in partnership with Ligali will be hosting a debate on the use of the n word during African History Month

As part of its African History Month programme, BTWSC and BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, are organising a debate which puts the use of the n word within a historical context, by examining its beginnings in 17th century America and questioning the appropriateness of its use in the 21st century England.

The event which will be chaired by Kwaku of the Black Music Congress will also explore the effects of the n word in and outside hip hop culture and discuss its role in the manifestation of insidious racism.

Director, Bhavna Malkani will be on the panel screening and defending her short film 'Guilty Or Innocent Of Using The N Word', a sympathetic documentary on the use of the N-word among the hip-hop community filmed in Delaware, Philadelphia and New York City and featuring contributions from M1 from Dead Prez, Grouchy Greg CEO of Allhiphop.com, the Last Emperor and Delaware rapper and music producer, Marchitect.

Other panel contributors include Toyin Agbetu from the Ligali Organisation, the former 57th Dynasty front man ‘Paradise’(now of The Good Samaritan Music Project) and Onyeka of Narrative Eye. Youths aged 13-17 are also welcome to enter the N-Word competition. All short-listed entrants and their parents/guardians will be invited to an award ceremony which will precede the debate.

Contact information
Tel: 020 8450 5987
To book email info@btwsc.com with the subject line; Booking N Word Debate
Website: www.btwsc.com/ndebate.htm

Operation Truth 2007

Date: Wednesday 25th October 2006
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Venue: Black Development Agency, Russell Town Avenue (Opposite the City Academy Bristol)

A public debate challenging the British government’s Wilberforce Abolition commemoration plans for 2007 is to be held in Bristol. Toyin Agbetu from Ligali and Esther Stanford from the Campaign for Reparations will be taking part in a crucial debate in Bristol as part of the Operation Truth 2007 campaign. The event is organised by the Consortium of Black Groups (COBG).

Operation TRUTH 2007 is a Bristol based campaign with national links aiming to put an African perspective on local and national government plans to commemorate 200 years since the slavery Abolition act of 1807.

Contact information
Email: operationtruth2007@hotmail.co.uk

The Word Temple; r:evolution Tour 2006

Dates: Thursday 19th October - Saturday 18th November 2006
Venue: Various

The Word Temple (WT) is a Spectacular Theatrical Evolution of the Spoken Word, with an all star cast that features the reggae influenced sound of El Crisis, the UK equivalent to Mos Def shortMAN and the poetry troupe Best Kept Secret fresh from taking the poetry world by storm with their political satire Tuggs.t.a.r for President. Word Temple merges diverse artists in a spectacular presentation of social commentary from the best artists the African-Caribbean spoken word community has to offer.

It’s not a poetry night, nor a cabaret evening, yet it uses these elements along with film, video and sound to present arguably the freshest cocktail of artistic fusion this century. Director Amani says “It’s a new genre without a box to put it in. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to watching an LP come to life.” With different themes tackled while conveying an underlying message of freedom in an insane world.

From the dance moves of award winning chorographer Sheron Wray to the hip hop hero DJ Scratch professor to the vocals of American Def Poetry Jam artists Ugochi, WT produces a level of creativity that will drop the jaws of their theatrical and poetical peers the world over. Davey J, former hip hop battle king (whose gone toe to toe with former NYC lyricist Canibus) who starred in last years shows and is back for 2006 says: “It’s been a learning experience in what can be achieved when people come together.” With Kat Francois (winner of BBC 3 slam and the 2005/6 world slam champion) confirmed too; this year promises to be the most explosive ever. For those who think the UK do not have their own Gill Scott Herons, Saul Williams’ or Maya Angelou’s think again.

The WT produced by Creative Origins first hit the stage in 2003, as a response to legendary director Amani Naphtali’s meeting with The Last Poets. He became inspired to seek poets of the British environment and push them to the forefront of the artistic arena. Having already directed the ground breaking video for Omar (There’s Nothing Like This) as well as the pioneering theatre play Raggamuffin, he concentrated on the spoken word, hence Word Temple.

For years the spoken word community has raised the creative bar, outside the arts world. Word Temple welcomes back the poet-bards for a tour of their ancestral home: the seat of creativity the theatre/performance space.

Contact information
Andrew Togobo: 07702 784 246
Website: www.creativeorigins.co.uk
Email: info@creativeorigins.co.uk

Word Temple Schedule 2006:

Hackney Empire, London Thu Oct 19- Sat 21
Huddersfield Town hall, Huddersfield- Oct 22
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Tue Oct 24- Wed 25
Tobacco Factory, Bristol - Fri Oct 27- Sat 28
Zion Arts, Manchester- Thur Nov 2- Sat 4
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham- Sun Nov 5
The Grand, Wolverhampton- Fri Nov 10
The Albany, London - Fri Nov 17- Sat 18

Brent Black Music History Discussion

Date: Friday 20th October 2006
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: The Open Space, Willesden Green Library, 95 High Rd, Willesden, NW10 2SF
Admission: £Free

As part of Brent's Black History Month programme, Brent resident and Black Music Congress founder Kwaku presents 'Brent Black Music Discussion'. This programme acts a precursor to the Brent Black Music History Project DVD and booklet launch in January 2007.

The event consists of an audio-visual presentation, interview with special guests, and a question and answer session with the audience.

Come and discover a few things about the London borough with one of the longest and varied black music connections. The biggest reggae distributor Jet Star is based in Brent. So too was the one-time world's biggest independent music company Zomba (jive Records etc). The likes of Osibisa (African), Aswad (reggae), Delroy Washington (reggae), Root Jackson (R&B), Courtney Pine (jazz), Doc Brown (hip hop), Choong Family (hip hop) have laid roots in Brent at some time....

If you have a story to share about a person, be it an artist, producer, promoter, comunity radio operator, record shop owner, or know of any buildings with a black music connection between 1966 and 2006, then attend this discussion and share your historical knowledge or else contact Brent Black Music History Project on 020 8450 5987 or info@btwsc.com

This is a family friendly event

Contact information
Tel: 020 8450 5987
E mail: editor@britishblackmusic.com
Web: www.britishblackmusic.com

The Ones We Left Behind

Date: Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th October 2006
Time: 2pm & 7.30pm (Monday) 2pm & 7.15pm (Tuesday)
Venue: Church Of God Of Prophecy, Aberdeen Street, Winson Green Birmingham
Admission: £10 adults- £ 7 children, students senior citizens- £25 (2 adults +children)

African Women Resistance Fighters

Date: Friday 13th October
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Polka Theatre, 240 the Broadway Wimbledon SW19
Admission: £Free

The Director of Education, of the 100 Black Men will give a presentation on African women whose lives have made them everyday heroines to inspire us all. Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Queen Nzinga, Claudia Jones, May Jemison, Zenait Mehari, Dame Joceyln Barrow, Una Marson, Althea Gibson, Lt Sanite Belair, Waris Dirie, Edna Ismail, and many more make an appearance

There will be 50 tickets available on the door for those who are really keen to see this fantastic show

Contact information
Website: www.100bmol.org.uk or www.polkatheatre.com

A groundbreaking work of Black British cinema that chronicles the dilemma of being young, Black, and British in 70s Notting Hill. Caught between cultures, our protagonist negotiates his way through unsuccessful job interviews, family pressure and encounters with the law. An awareness of who he is and where he comes from gradually dawns.

Contact information
Website: www.haringey.org.uk/hic

Stop Blaming The Children!

Date: Saturday 14th October 2006
Time: 9.30 am - 5 pm
Venue: Croydon Town Hall: Taberner House Park Lane Croydon

Welcome to the National Independent Education Coalition. A forum for organisations and individuals established to address, through discussion and constructive action, the educational challenges faced by black and ethnic minority children and adults. The forum works towards empowering students, parents, teachers and other professionals in the sphere of education with practical educational resources to achieve their objectives. Raising Achievement Through Partnership - Parent, Teacher and Child

A 1-day conference for teachers and professionals in Education

Contact information
Website: liftcommunity.org.uk

Adikamfo/ Generations Seminar

Date: Saturday 14th October 2006
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: The Nub, 25 Clarendon Road, Walthamstow, London E17

Adikamfo/ Generations will be presenting a seminar at The Nub with the purpose of inviting like minded individuals to become members. Generations is an organisation that concerns itself with the people and more importantly the land that is known as 'Africa'.

Our knowledge is not new... yet is not old and has been in existence since before time. The concepts of the organisation and our African worldview has been handed down through the generations, in order that our people at this time, past and future know who and what they are. We look forward to seeing you at the seminar.

Contact information
Tel: 07903 326 944

Mashufaa Martial Arts: Self-Defence, Self-Knowledge, Self-Confidence

Date: Mon 25 September 2006 - Mon 30 October 2006 (Twice a Week: Monday and Friday only)
Time: 7pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Lord Morrison Hall, Scales Road, London, N17
Admission: First Lesson Free/ £4.50 Thereafter /£2 for members

Mashufaa classes run approximately two and half-hours, consisting of fitness, with defensive and offensive techniques. The anaerobic exercise throughout the class assist in losing fat and the normalization of body weight, creating a trim and healthy body with increased personal confidence.

Qualified instructors with many years’ experience teach classes. Like many other Martial art schools, Wanafunzi (students) are awarded on their completion of each grade with coloured belts, designating their proficiency at that level. But the Mashufaa method of teaching assures demarcation of grade does not limit what the Wanafunzi can learn. By assuring regular attendance and attention to the demonstrations of the Mwalimu (instructors), each Wanafunzi will be taught varied techniques above and beyond the prior stages of Mashufaa.

Martial arts are perceived by many to be purely about fighting but it embodies so much more. Martial arts/Mashufaa gives you greater insight into your physical and spiritual self. Like all successful physical training, Mashufaa is challenging, enjoyable and highly rewarding. You will learn to excel through determination and persistence, converting your unrealised physical and mental ability into a total system of self-protection and development.

Contact information
Telephone: 07956 337 391/ 07715 942 734
Website: www.mashufaa.co.uk

Photography Exhibition: Ifeoma Onyefulu - Love of Africa

Date: Mon 16 October 2006 - Sun 29 October 2006
Time: 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Venue: Wood Green Central Library Gallery, High Road, London, N22 6XD
Admission: £Free

Photographer Ifeoma Onyefulu is also noted for her highly acclaimed children’s books with their insightful and delicate understanding of traditional African village life. Published by Frances Lincoln. On Wednesday 18 October from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, the artist will be present in the gallery to talk about her work.

Contact information
Tel: 020 8489 2780

The African Abolitionists

Date: Thursday 19 October 2006
Time: 7.30pm (doors open at 7.00pm for refreshments)
Venue: Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, London, N17 8NU
Admission: £Free

Enjoying cult status normally reserved for rock stars, Dr Hakim Adi returns to the museum to deliver his annual lecture for African History Month. With occasional wry humour and ease of pace, Dr Adi guides us gently towards an informed view of the road to abolition. You may ask yourself, where was Dr Adi when I was at school?

Contact information
Tel: 020 8808 8772

Kalabash: African awareness through documentary films and music

Date: Thursday 19 October 2006
Time: 7.00pm - 2.00am
Venue: The Salmon and Compass, 58 Penton Street, Corner of Chapel Market, London, Angel, Islington, N1
Admission: £Free

Free evening of documentary films and music from Africa
UPSTAIRS: (7-10pm)
Documentary films by independent film makers and organisations that seek to promote African awareness. This month films focusing on Somalia

Including: 4REAL Kenya +Q&A with director Sol Guy (www.directcurrentmedia.com).

Somali refugee, poet and MC, K’naan – ‘The Dusty Foot Philosopher’ returns to Africa to film his first music video for his song Soobax, a protest song against the warlords of Somalia.

Paradise Destroyed (Horn Heritage) + speaker
A documentary film which looks at the background to the Somali conflict and its causes with special emphasis on events after 1960 until the UN intervention in 1994.

DOWNSTAIRS:
Music of many colours from Africa & it's Diaspora
Afro-beats and grooves hosted by DJs Supa Scion & Springfield & special guests.
Live musicians, singers, MCs and dancers.

Contact information
Email: kate@kalabashworld.com

The Blood - Building Our Future

Date: Friday 20 October 2006
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Venue: Yaa Asantewa Arts Centre, 1 Chippenham Mews, London, W9 2AN
Admission: £Free

African people were bought and sold like fax machines, cars and mobile phones, as if we were being traded on eBay. Given our history of enslavement, how can we as artists of African heritage can uplift and inspire our community?

Plus launch of the Kuumba-Survivors website.

Contact information
Telephone: 0207 286 1656
Email: admin@yaaasantewaa.com
Website: http://www.kuumba-survivors.com/thebloodevent.htm

Africa Heritage Arts days

Date: Saturday 21 October 2006
Time: 12.00pm - 8.00pm
Venue: Victoria Square, Birmingham City Centre, London, B1 1BD

CAASS UK will be testing out new, innovative arts activities to break down barriers by encouraging Africans and other communities in Birmingham to explore different African medium of self-expression to improve the well being of the people in Birmingham.

CAASS UK, Registered in England and Wales, Charity Number: 1104841

Contact information
Telephone: 0121 2497755/ 07720431026
Email: caassuk@yahoo.co.uk

Ajamu African History Month Special

Date: Saturday 21st October 2006
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Venue: Chestnuts Community Centre, St Ann’s Road,Tottenham, N15 (nearest tube: Seven Sisters - Victoria Line)
Admission: £Free

30 years on from the Soweto Uprising, Ali Hlongwane, Chief Curator of the Hector Pieterson Museum (set up in tribute to the first African student to be killed during the uprising) in Soweto, Johannesburg, Azania will talk about his unique experience as someone who has been in the struggle for over 30 years. Hear first hand his views of the current realities in South Africa (crime, education, housing, HIV etc), particularly the hopes and aspirations of the youth. We will reflect on our progress since the end of Apartied. Come & discuss the way forward and how they help us with our struggles here, in England.

(June 16th 1976 – now Youth Day)
When 100s of African students rose up against the Apartied education system & were brutally shot down by the South African regime.

Contact information
Tel: 07852 937 981 or 020 8523.7381
Email: contactajamu@yahoo.co.uk

The Lost Civilisation of the African Interior

Date: Mon 23 October 2006
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Centre, 1 Phillip Lane, London, N15 4JA
Admission: £Free

What did European explorers really find when they trekked across Africa 500 years ago? This presentation is given by historian Robin Walker, addressing the questions posed in his new book, When We Ruled.

Contact information
Telephone: 020 8489 5309

Numbi Festival

Date: Thursday 26 October 2006
Time: 7.00pm - 11.00pm
Venue: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ
Admission: £20

This is the biggest celebration of Somali culture and music in London.
Numbi showcases a culturally and musically rich and vibrant edutainment for all. A group of famous artists, traditional and modern dancers will share their unique performances with you.

Black Youths Speak out

Date: Friday 27th October 2006
Time: 6pm - 10pm
Venue: Pyramid Youth Development Project, 55 Wellington Road, Stockwell, SW9
Admission: £Free (£4 Donation)

The Pan Afrikan Youth Organisation and Pyramid Youth Development Project present 'Black Youths Speak Out' on who we are, what is our future in this country and where do you stand?

Cultural performances: Singing, Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, Dancing, Stalls and refreshments.

Question and answer session - Invited panel of speaker from youth organisations:

From the streets to the suites: Building black power - A Hip Hop perspective by Hip Hop Generation
Garveyite perspective on multiculturalism by AWF
Revolutionary Culture by Ajamu
Back to Africa by African Hebrew Israelites
Is Street Life the life? by Pyramid Arts

Elders welcome as observers

Supported by APLO, Afuika Bantu Saturday School and Galaxy 99.5FM (Fri-Mon)

Contact information
Tel: 07960 527 302 and 020 8771 0897

The Psychological War on Hip Hop

Date: Monday 16 October 2006
Time: 7.00pm - 10.00pm
Venue: Harriet Tubman House, 136-142 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, E5 (Next to Hackney Housing)
Admission: £Free

Public Enemy's Professor Griff speaks on the Psychological War on Hip Hop.

Contact information
Tel: 07956 134370 / 079325 83982

Powerful Spoken Word: with Jackie Kay, Courttia Newland and Leeds Young Authors

Date: Tue 31 October 2006
Time: Doors 7pm - Start 7.30pm
Venue: Carriageworks Theatre, Millennium Square, Leeds, London, LS1
Admission: £5.50/ £4 (conc)

The culmination of Leeds City Council Black History Month event is a powerful and exciting literary event with some of Britain's internationally renowned writers and performers. The evening kicks off with the locally talented and dynamic Leeds Young Authors, followed by the acclaimed novelist and playwright, Courttia Newland, reading from his new book, Music for the Off Key; Twelve Macabre Short Stories and the award winning poet and novelist, Jackie Kay, reading from her new collection of short stories.

African Black British and Caribbean books and arts and craft will be available for sale on the night. Arts and craftwork by Seyi Ogunjobi will be on display and available. Seyi is a renowned international Storyteller, Musician, Painter and textile artist from Nigeria. Listen, look and take home a little bit of culture as a souvenir.


Contact information
Telephone: 0113 224 380
Email: tanja.thomson@leeds.gov.uk

Supporting Ligali

Ligali Organisation Updates

Despite our consistent stance on African community affairs over the last six years some people still remain confused as to what Ligali stands for. Let us set the record straight. Whilst we are well known for our authoritative work in challenging anti-African material in the British media, the best way to view Ligali is as a grass roots Pan African Human Rights organisation.

We are not just a think tank, we are not pacifists, we don’t just write letters, and we certainly don’t subscribe to the coconut class ideology that is indicative of an emerging coconut class of leadership. Simply put, and to paraphrase Martin Luther King, we are “apostles of militant activism” seeking unity, equality, justice and self determination for all African people. To paraphrase Omowale Malcolm X, we intend to reach our objectives “by any means necessary”.

Remember, Ligali is your organisation if you are an African writer, journalist or organisation with community news to share, then feel free to submit your Africentric articles, press releases, events or business directory listings for publication throughout the Ligali Media Network (LMN).

Please go to http://www.ligali.org/ujamaa/

Remember we can’t continue to be successful without your ongoing support.

Submit Your Events

AFRicons: Yaa Asantewa, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, Olaudah Equiano

African History Month is an website developed for our community by our community. It is maintained and funded entirely by volunteers. If you are organising an event for our community and would like to submit its details to the AfricanHistoryMonth.org website then please use the 'Submit Event' link at;

http://www.ligali.org/submit/

Our African internet forum goes from strength to strength. Raw, direct but always from the heart, sign up and don’t be afraid to say what you feel, remember you are not alone.

http://www.ligali.org/forums/