Great Britain has a unique, dynamic culture that gets its life from the rich mix of people who live here. For the fifth year running, October heralds the start of one of the key cultural events in the UK arts calendar that perfectly exemplified this – the highly anticipated Black History Month.
A celebration of the diversity of black society in the UK, the month long series of events highlights the myriad contributions black men and women have made to the development of British society, technology, economy and culture over the decades.
A relatively new event in the UK, the origins of BHM can be traced back to American icon Carter G. Woodson, popularly known as the father of black history and the editor of the highly influential Journal of Negro History, who, in 1926, established a tradition of celebrating African Caribbean culture in America.
Still celebrated in a series of events in February each year, its British counterpart has grown since inception to encompass over 1400 events each year, and shows no signs of slowing down.
The aims behind the creation of black history month are threefold: to promote knowledge of Black History and experience; to disseminate information on positive Black contributions to British Society; and to heighten the confidence and awareness of Black people in their cultural heritage and history.
These goals are clearly exemplified by the range of cultural fare on offer to UK audiences during this years celebrations.
With so many events to choose from in this year’s celebration, British arts and culture enthusiasts of all stripes are indeed spoilt for choice.
One of the key literary events kicking off Black History Month was the opening of this years Durham Literature Festival by award-winning Trinidad-born writer Anthony Joseph. Joseph read extracts from his accomplished first novel The African Origins of UFOs, an experimental work of metafiction, myth and science fiction, to a spellbound audience.
Widely recognised as one of this countries most creative and forward thinking writers and performance poets, Joseph said he hoped audiences would be able to appreciate “the multifaceted nature of British writing and open their minds to new voices and new ways of using language.”
Other eagerly anticipated literary events include public readings by celebrated author Courttia Newland, who will be discussing his book The Dying Wish, published this year as part of the BBC RaW Quick Reads Series; and an evening with noted rap poet Benjamin Zephaniah whose childrens book, J Is for Jamaica (which “introduces young readers to the sights, sounds, and tastes of Jamaica”), has gained rave reviews since its recent publication.
Still on theme, but shifting form, UK audiences are encouraged to embrace the eagerly anticipated photography exhibition Black Dance in Britain, 1930s to 1990s: ‘Moments’.
Mounted at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden by the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD), the exhibit aims to rouse public attention to the “enormous contribution made to theatrical dance by Black practitioners.”
Through the mediums of photography and video the exhibition aims to document the myriad untold stories of a number of highly influential Black dance artists who worked in Britain between the 1930s and 1990s, such as Namron, Cathy Lewis, and Kenneth Tharpe.
The exhibit also highlights the work of leading photographers such as Roger Wood and Baron, Dee Conway and Chris Nash, as well as works from the archives of the Laban, National Resource Centre for Dance and the New York Public Library, many previously unseen by modern audiences.
So to, the debut on UK shores of Master Juba. Based on the real life story of William Henry Lane, a young dancer of slave heritage brought to London in 1848 to dance under the name ‘Master Juba’ for Queen Victoria, this theatre production looks to be one of the most talked about cultural events of Black History Month.
A co-production between theatre is, the new organisation developing and delivering theatre for young people in the east of England, and Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre, Master Juba highlights the life and history of a man heralded as “the greatest dancer of all time” by American and European writers of his time. It stands as an important chronicle of a man who championed black rights and culture at a time when such sentiments were far from gaining widespread support.
Another key theatrical event is Caroline or Change a new musical penned by award winning American author Tony Kushner of Angels In America fame. The New York success brings to UK shores the tale of Caroline, a black maid who befriends the young son of a Southern Jewish family in the immediate aftermath of the Kennedy assassination.
Billed by New York Times as “an extraordinary new musical”, and featuring the talents of Tonya Pinkins, who received huge critical acclaim for her portrayal of Caroline in the show’s award winning Broadway run, the production brings to light a key time in the history of black rights and the struggle still being faced today by many in the fight for equality and acceptance.
While these and other events make for undeniably entertaining fare, the real cultural imperative of Black History Month is articulated by Woodson: “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”
With Black History Month fanning the flames of black history and achievement in Britain’s cultural consciousness, the inspiration and the desire to create new legacies seems an equal imperative.
For more information, visit www.black-history-month.co.uk
