Queen Nzinga Lecture Series  5/12   

Black Women in Academia: Success, Secrets and Coping Strategies

Part Two  

Saturday 23rd  March  6pm to 9.30pm

Tube:Russell Square  

The Nzinga lecture series  provides a regular platform for women of African descent to highlight important issues in  an academic setting. This lecture is a continuation of the previously over-subscribed Black Women in Academia event where a desire for further talks was expressed as well as the need for a Black Women in Academia Support Group. 

This weeks guests will also speak about their experiences in academia and do an extended Q and A. There will also be an update from Dr Michelle Asantewa on the Support Group. Entry is free but must book via Eventbrite Donations accepted on the day.

Speakers include:

Ekua Agha Phd Candidate and lecturer at Birkbeck . Her first degree was in Political Science, she then did an MA in French and Francophone Studies at Westminster. Her doctoral thesis is on Post Colonial Studies and the representations of gender and the past and present 'invention' of Africa.She has previously worked as a researcher on the award-winning Law and Order TV series and is currently producing a documentary titled Chocolate Matters: Ghana Cocoa and British Bars

Veronica Mason,  is a Senior Lecturer and the Degree Course Leader for the BSc Youth Studies Programme within the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at London Metropolitan University.  As a professionally qualified Youth and Community Worker with over 10 years youth work experience, she holds a MA Degree in Applied Anthropology, Community and Youth Work, a BSc Degree in Sociology and Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. Veronica has worked with a range of organisations including Havering's Social Services and Youth Service, Tower Hamlets.

Dr Michelle Asantewa, is an English and Creative writing lecturer at London Met University. She has also curated several black history events  and spoke on womens resistance in 18th century literature at the first Queen Nzinga Lecture in 2012. 

Click  HERE for more info or to book  

The Education of Auma Obama plus Q & A     

Thursday 28th  March 6pm Ritzy, Brixton   

 Images of Black Women (IBW) Film Festival screening to celebrate African Descent Women film-makers,. Nigerian-Welsh director Branwen Okpako lovingly reveals one of the key women living in the shadows of Obama's success - his fascinating, sophisticated Kenyan half-sister, Auma Obama. read more and to book seats 

Request: BHW needs to borrow a projector over the weekend of 16/17 March contact info@blackhistorywalks.co.uk 

Django Unchained or Tarantino Unrestrained ? Movie Breakdown with Dr Lez Henry and Brother Hakim    

Friday 29th  March 3 to 6pm

Venue: Voluntary Action Islington, 200A Pentonville Road, London N1 . Tube: Kings Cross (5 min walk)

£8.00. Over 16's only. Pay on the door, first come, first served     

Django is loved by some and hated by others. We apply a forensic historical and cultural analysis of this controversial film adding in little known facts about the producers, actors and director to answer the following and more questions.

• Is Django a symbol of black male empowerment ?
• What about real stories of rebellious Africans. Do such movies exist ? 

Dr Lez Henry is an author, cultural critic and community activist. Brother Hakim 'the Film Doctor', has been researching Hollywood films and presenting breakdowns for several years . Together these 'Street Surgeons' they will bring an unforgettable session of reasoning which includes you the audience. So bring your minds and make sure thay are open.

African Superheroes Day    

Saturday 30th  March 3 to 6.30pm

Venue: Voluntary Action Islington, 200A Pentonville Road, London N1 . Tube: Kings Cross (5 min walk)

£7.00 adults, £5.00 kids. Pay on the door, first come first served 

Many  artists are making up for the severe lack of positive images of black people in animated films and comics. We will show the history of black people in cartoons and reveal how African/Caribbean culture is essential to many block buster animations. We also expose stereotyping in some of the most popular cartoons from Disney. This animation festival for 6-60 year olds, will feature a variety of African-themed cartoons which tell tales of; Magical Nigerian women warriors, Anansi the West African Folk Hero, The story of Ogun, and other heroic black men and women. Plus examples of new Superhero cartoons/movies  coming soon !

Comments on African Superheroes Day

The African super heroes session today was great !  My two children really, enjoyed it.  They couldn't wait to get home and watch the DVD, which they did more than once .   It's 8.42am and the first thing all of my children are watching is that DVD I bought from you on Sunday (lol) no joke.   My 14 year old daughter, my 7 year old son and my 3 year old daughter are watching as I e-mail you but I need some more !  My children are hooked on the images and the story lines of all of them.

     How to Brainwash the Youth and make them act like Fools !

Bank Holiday Monday 1st April 4pm to 7.30

CAN Mezzanine,32 to 36 Loman Street SE1 OEH

£5 Adults/children. First come, first served. Pay on the door

Repeated in association with the Adefioye Initiative   

Previously sold out and back by popular demand. BHW present this highly rated, in-your-face seminar aimed at children and parents to illustrate how they are conditioned via Hollywood movies, music videos, computer games and advertising to act dumb and love it. This presentation uses  pop and mainstream culture combined with a black history perspective. Twilight, Battle Los Angeles, Scary Movie, Predator, Lil Wayne, Futurama, Disney, 300, Trinidad James, GTA, Eastenders, Nikki Minaj, Ciara, Nelly, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of Caribbean, Transformers, Call of Duty,  all make an appearance

Comments on How to Brainwash..

I have been meaning to write you all week to thank you for the informative and thought-provoking session you held for ACD students last week.  It was tremendous.What was really satisfying is that you held their attention throughout the 3 hour session even in the not ideal situation of being cramped into the foyer space due to the projector being taken by another organisation.  Brenda King, African  Caribbean Diversity Group

I'm a student who is part of the ACDiversity programme and you came in to talk to us about the issue of 'How to brainwash the youth and make them look like idiots'  This was so so powerful and helped shape my view on what the media feeds me. I have a few friends around my age, I'm eighteen by the way, who I believe will truly benefit from this as I think it needs to be seen by A LOT more  youth who are mature enough to take it in and understand. Peter Adefioye

Saturday 6  April  7pm to 9.30pm. Tube: Russell Square

Comedians often use history as part of their material. In this interactive session we piece together a visual tapestry of the best historical comedy from great known and unknown comics from the 1960's to now  We will also place their comical observations on a historical timeline of international struggle for African equality and show how comedy can be educational. Be prepared to laugh your head off and learn about world history at the same time. Presented by  www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk