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

Southwark Saturday 7 February – Saturday 11 April 2026

Deep Azure

Deep Azure is the UK premiere of Chadwick Boseman’s lyrical stage drama, presented in the intimate, candlelit surroundings…

Greenwich Sunday 15 February 2026

Basketmouth: Lord of the Ribs

Africa’s biggest comedy export, Basketmouth, brings his critically acclaimed Lord of the Ribs tour to London for a…

Lambeth Friday 20 February 2026

ZooNation: Hip-Hop Half Term

Celebrate the vibrancy of Black dance culture with ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company at the Southbank Centre. As…

Tower Hamlets Saturday 21 February 2026

Whitney – Queen of the Night

Direct from the West End, the critically acclaimed Whitney – Queen of the Night arrives at the historic…

Greenwich Saturday 28 February 2026

The Drifters

The legendary group The Drifters returns to the capital for a spectacular one-night-only performance at indigo at The…