Black History Walks – Events & Screenings
Films & Talks this January & February
Black Mans Land, White Mans Country 23.1.10
Saturday School Careers Day 30.1.10
Why Fight for Britain ? Black Troops 1790′s to 1948 31.1.10
Small Island Repeat plus Q and A with producer 7.2.10
Namimbia: The Fight for liberation 20.2.10
Outside the law , Stories from Guantanamo 27.2.10
Kenya and the Mau Mau 28.2.10
Black Mans Land, White Mans Country
Sat 23rd January 2-5pm
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road SE1
Tube: Waterloo
Admission 5 pounds. Bookings 928 3232
www.bfi.org.uk
This venue has a strict time policy. If you are late you may not be allowed in
A history of Kenya from a Kenyan perspective with two rare films made in the 1970′s. They detail how the British initially appeared as traders in East Africa before moving on to massacre numerous ethnic groups including Somalis, and Masai. Resistance leaders were killed, imprisoned or disappeared and replaced with quislings. The best land was stolen and given to British immigrants such as Lord Delamere. Schools and rites of passage customs were destroyed or disrupted and replaced with mission schools which only a few could attend. The Land and Freedom army was formed by ex WW2 veterans but the British refused to use their name and invented a new name, The Mau Mau. With extensive archive footage and extended interviews with the African resistance movement these unique films have eerie parallels with the modern day ‘war on terror’ and put a context on recent political and racial problems in Kenya.
Sunday 31st January 1.30-5.00pm.
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth road. SE1
Tube: Lambeth North. Free Entry: First Come, First served.
Bring pen and pad and be on time
An investigation of loyalty within the British Empire to explain why black troops would want to fight and die for Britain, a country that had enslaved their ancestors .This interactive talk will use film clips, commentary and music to show what life was like in the Caribbean and how that population got to be there in the first place in addition to detailing the exploits of African/Caribbean troops and the wars they fought from 1790′s to the Gulf War. Special guests include Jamaican World War 2 veteran Alan Wilmott plus extremely rare footage of black fighter and bomber pilots and pioneers such as:
African Victoria Cross winners of the 1800′s
Sqn Ldr Ulric Cross (Trinidad) highest ranking and most decorated black officer in the RAF
Connie Marks founder (Jamaica) of We Were There and chair of Mary Seacole campaign
Billy Strachan Bomber pilot and civil rights activist
Irwin Everlsy (St Lucia)who fought in Falklands war but was then denied a british passport
John Smith (Sierra Leone) World War 1 veteran
Gershon Brown (Barbados) World War 1 Veteran
Small Island (Repeat) with Q and A with Producer - Sat 7 February
By popular demand we will be repeating the film Small Island and having a interactive session with the producer Vicky Licorish to find out what it took, and what it was like to make this period drama set in the Caribbean and England.
When screened on the BBC it pulled in 5 million viewers beating Batman on ITV. Those who packed the first screening demanded another chance to see and discuss the film with friends and family as the atmosphere was so unique. Our repeat screening will take place on Saturday 7th February from 11.00am onward. We will reveal the venue in the next 10 days. So check our site or add yourself to the mail list to be part of this special event.
FILMS FOR HAITI
Two films in recognition of the heroic African freedom fighters who from 22 August 1791, inspired by Boukman Dutty, fought and beat the British, Spanish and French racists and abolished slavery in 1804. (these films were originally screened at the BFI in August 2009, we wil endeavour to repeat them soon)
Passion for a Country
This exploration of Haitian society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries focuses on the tormented life of one of Haiti’s most important authors and prominent political figures, Jacques Roumain. His perceptive writings, similar to Fanon and Cesaire, illuminated issues still relevant today. If you misssed or saw “The Future is Elsewhere” (Les avenirs est Ailleurs) you will really appreciate this film.
The Agronomist
Is about Jean Leopold Dominique who hosted Radio Haiti, the first independent radio station in Haiti. Director Jonathan Demme uses historical footage and interviews. The result is a serious recount of Haiti during its numerous regime changes. US military/political interference and poverty-creation is exposed in detail.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
