British History, Black Music, Racism & The Music Industry 1507-2020

Saturday July 31 2021, 6-9pm

Final version of video covering an epic 500-plus year tour of British black music and Africans’ engagement with racism.

“Allyship includes understanding the history of the people and their history with racism. Forget the US, get a UK context.” RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry)

UPDATE: At last, the final version of this epic mashup video and a new title name.

This family-friendly Zoom meeting is inclusive and open to anyone – from music fans, musicians, history and cultural studies students and educators, to music industry practitioners – interested in the history of black music and Africans in Britain, and the interaction of racism. This video provides a comprehensive background. Also, the image above touches on some of the areas/topics covered.

Programme

6-8pm video & remarks

8-9pm Q&A/Discussion

Music industry and history consultant Kwaku presents a video-assisted presentation mapping out a complex and surprising 500+ year history of the interaction between black music and African musicians, and racism in Britain. Based mainly on documented facts with anecdotal and assumptive asides, it covers from the wicked consequences, the surprising, the resilience, the conquering, the I-didn’t-know-that to the fancy-that, and lots more in between! An unmissable learning forum with space for you to have your say.

This event closes British Black Music Month 2021. Early bird £5 extended to July 23 2021: www.BBM.eventbrite.com

Click here to read the RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report, and here to read the BARRE Register of race/ethnicity and racism links press release.

Produced by BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) in association with BTWSC/African Histories Revisited, RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry), and TAOBQ (The African Or Black Question).

More Events in Greater London Listings MORE

Brent June 1 2026, 4pm to Oct. 31 2026, 6pm

The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition 2026

BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com /Black Music Congress) presents in association with BTWSC/African Histories Revisited and Brent Museum and Archives: The…

Lambeth Thursday 27 August to Saturday 24 October 2026

The Story

A gripping newsroom drama by Tracey Scott Wilson, The Story makes its UK premiere at the National Theatre,…

Camden Saturday 26 September to Saturday 12 December 2026

Seeing the Potential

Seeing the Potential, an exhibition by artist Matthew Small, explores the importance of looking beyond appearances and present…

Wandsworth Tuesday 29th September – Tuesday 27th October 2026

Pan Wandsworth – Steel Pan Workshops

Pan Wandsworth invites local residents to discover the history, sound and cultural significance of the steel pan through…

Richmond upon Thames Thursday 1st October 2026 to Sunday 28th February 2027

Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life

This major exhibition brings the work of Jamaican-born, West London-based sculptor Ronald Moody back to the city where…

Southwark Thursday 1st to Saturday 31st October 2026

All Our Histories Exhibition

Discover Black history in Camberwell and Southwark through local research, contemporary art and creative work produced by young…

Lewisham Sunday 4th, Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October 2026

The Frog Princess

Hop into a magical family adventure filled with Bollywood-inspired music, Indian dance, comedy, puppetry and plenty of surprises….