Black History Walks, Talks & Films
12 Years of Education Through
Film
|
Black History is longer than a month..
21st February 2014
Black Film Revolution at BFI
|
 | | Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions (Trailer) |
UK Premiere: Troop 491 Adventures of the Muddy Lions.
8 March 11am BFI Southbank, Waterloo www.bfi.org.uk
A special event for all mentoring, youth groups, Saturday Schools and Pan African organisations. Q and A with director.
Entry 6 pounds
The name 'Troop 491: The Adventures of The Muddy Lions' was the first of many curious elements for me for this film. Then to see the young African American director grinning proudly after the standing ovation, only added to the novelty. I have to be honest; my expectations were of the usual proliferation of the gangster, inner-city semiotics and iconography that perpetuate films of these young directors. Mr Praheme da Praphet broke that chain of visual archetypes and instead told a tale of choices, loyalty and childhood innocence almost lost, in the juxtapositioning of two distinctly opposing settings. One in the dark streets of the hood and the other in the warm green fresh belly of the forest. This story engages the viewer and pulls them into unchartered territory of boyhood and their passage of life into manhood. One of the most meaningful outcomes from this director is the ability to create a film that a father should be proud to sit with his son to watch. It does not glorify gangsters and the father figure, though incarcerated is a positive role model for his son. The many young actors did a superb job of capturing the innocence of boyhood while at the same time keeping it real as to the dangers of the streets. Young director Praheme managed to deal with some very dark, heavy subjects in a lighthearted but meaningful way. He took a different path to tell a familiar tale. The beauty and tenderness of the forest is an environment that we often don't see in films based in urban America and that was a breath of fresh air (pun intended). He cleverly brought the reality of the streets (which I find personally clichéd and regurgitated to death) in a storyline that was fresh and new to his audience. His young actors performed as if with decades of experience. A talent that can only be brought out by an engaging and inviting director, who is not afraid to break the mold and try new things. Praheme da Praphet should make some room on his mantelpiece.
Reviewed by Camille Selvon Abrahams. Camille is the Founder and Director of Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival and the programme administrator for animation at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She will be speaking at a future Queen Nzingha lecture camille.abrahams@utt.edu.tt |
|
|
 | | Can you explain the thousands of years of black history here ? |
Guided walks on the 3500 years of African history in London
"Is there really any Black History in London ? The Windrush only got here in 1948 ! "
Next Walks in the St Pauls/Bank area : 2pm Saturday March 2nd
In 100 minutes your guide will take you through hundreds of years of the African presence, and contribution, to London's way of life. Discover secret alleyways and enormous buildings all connected to Africa and the Caribbean
in ways which the owners do not want you to know. Find out about black loyalists and African revolutionaries. Uncover the submerged links between racism, trade, religion, slavery and politics which are still evident in the very streets and buildings of the oldest part of London.
Thank you very much for the grand tour of the oldest part of London. That was a tour of a lifetime and most enlightening !Yes, I realise more than ever before how our ancestors and countries contributed
to the wealth, growth and grandeur of the British Empire" Professor Norman Maphosa, Vice Chancellor, Solosi University, Bulawayo
 | | What Black History could there be in Trafalgar square ? |
Walks in Trafalgar Square: 11.30am Sunday 2nd March
Millions of people walk through WC2 (Trafalgar/Leicester Square area) every day and have no idea of the centuries of African history under their feet. In 2 hours your guide will uncover the black presence and influence in the area. African Princes, Generals, Resistance Fighters, Civil Rights Leaders, Pilots, Nurses and Sailors all make an appearance. We highlight the links between Africa, China, India and the Caribbean and explain how history was whitewashed and racism institutionalised. 'Just a few words from the Guild of Walkers WE enjoyed ourselves immensely . What a tour! Having worked in the city for thirty years, walking in and around, passing those landmarks, images, icons, churches, streets..this was one of the most beautiful walks I have ever had'. Glenda Trew, Guild of Walkers
 | | Where in Notting Hill did the Black Panther party have their meetings ?. |
Walks in Notting Hill 2pm Sunday 2nd March
There is much more to Notting Hill than Carnival but even that history is often mis-represented. Find out about pioneering African/Caribbean people who literally fought for equality and laid the foundation for modern multi-cultural London. Why does Portobello road have that name? Where in London is there evidence of 3500 years of African civilisation ? How is Kelso Cochrane connected to Stephen Lawrence? We cover Baron Baker, Jamaican Freedom Fighters, White Defence League, Sus law, Sou-Sou / Partner System, Michael X, Peter Rachman, Claudia Jones, anti-black riots of 1958, Mau Mau, Shebeens and invisible black history.
Dear BHW
Thank you for the tour today, I've had such positive feedback from everyone that participated that we may organise it again.Once again thank you for a fantastic tour I really enjoyed it ! Jeanine Francis, Lifelong Learning UK
Walks in Elephant & Castle: From Wars to Windrush. 11am Saturday March 15
This walk links the Imperial War Museum with the Cumin Museum. Both museums have collections on the black presence in WW2 totally relevant to
the national curriculum and adult education. The Cumin Museum also has ancient Egyptian items. We cover Black mayors, WW2, African troops of the 18th century, Ira Aldridge, Paul Robeson, Queen Victorias favourite black people, black wealth creation, German Africans and more. This walk links two museums and illustrates the black history of more than 200 years in the SE1 area. www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk
 Next Walks in Fitzrovia/Soho: Sunday 12pm 16th March
In an area known for offices and clubs, this special walk delves into an
amazing depth of history which proves and lists: ancient African civilisations, black women broadcasters of the 1940's, civil rights activists who
campaigned for equality in the military, black female entrepenuers/heroines,
Jimi Hendrix, Mary Seacole, African radicals of the 1800's, black classical musicians, Pan African conspiracies, propaganda and spies
" The travel group is back in the States, vacation is over, how sad! But memories will last for ever! I, as well as others in the travel group really enjoyed the Black history tour. When I talk about my trip, I talk about the Black history tour before I lead into other sights that I have seen. Thanks for the history and knowledge that was gained"
Gail Thomas
|
 | | Typical Black Panther duties included feeding children and changing nappies. This aspect of their work was completely ignored by mainstream media |
Exciting talks at intimate Walthamstow venue Narrative Eye the group behind the fantastic new book on Britains Black Tudors wil be hosting a series of Saturday evening lectures (7-9pm) by Black History Walks . Dates and topics are as follows:
15 March. What were Black People doing in World War 1 ?
22 March. The Black Image
26 April. How to Brainwash the Youth and make them Act like Fools !
17 May. Medical Apartheid 400 years of European experiments on African bodies
24 May. The Black History of Comedy
31 May. Ten Black History Walks in Two hours !
For full description of each talk click HERE
Please pass this newsletter on to ten people. |
|
Tim Reid brings Legacy Media Institute to the BFI Southbank
Director/Producer Tim Reid's Legacy Media Institute Announces the Third Filmmaker's Workshop In Association with England's British Film Institute at Southbank
Multi-award winning and acclaimed Actor, Director and Producer Tim Reid will once again present a 2-week intensive filmmakers workshop in partnership with the BFI
Southbank. Reid, best known for his roles in the television series Frank's Place, Sister Sister,and more recently
Tremé,will host the workshop from March 3rd to the 14th, 2014, through his initiative the Legacy Media Institute (LMI).
The LMI workshop, unparalleled amongst the black British filmmaking community, creates a unique exchange where participants collaborate with top Hollywood and UK industry
professionals to refine their filmmaking skills. The participants will culminate the programme by producing their own short narrative film to be screened at the end of the workshop in front of a UK audience.
Under the guidance of Director/Producer, Tim Reid, the participants will be exposed to the expert advice of other established industry professionals such as: award-winning cinematographer John Simmons, ASC, UK's award-winning actor and director, Burt Ceasar, and Ken Roy, a producer and post-production supervisor. Various other UK industry professionals will also join the group to cover directing actors, marketing and promotion.
During this session, LMI will premiere
a film created and directed by an LMI fellow who participated in the 2011 UK workshop. The film, "Troop 491, Adventures of the Muddy Lions," will premiere on at 11am on March 8th at the BFI-Southbank's main theatre.
Tim Reid aims to bring about more interaction amongst filmmakers of African descent globally. Based on the positive feedback of the previous two London-based workshops, for which both LMI and BFI-Southbank agreed to continue their international collaborative, he said;
I am once again excited by the opportunity to expand our mission of promoting excellence and accountability in the industry of media creation by a diverse
international group of filmmakers.
David Somerset, Curator of Adult and Community Education at the BFI also stated;
I welcome this continued partnership with the Legacy Media Institute and BFI Southbank's African
Odysseys, which aims to deliver films by and about the peoples of Africa and its diaspora. Such films, if they are fortunate enough to have been made, and
often through sheer determination and self-financing, regularly fail to reach an audience despite their artistic excellence and potential to extend the knowledge and experience of all humanity.
Press Enquiries: Tim Reid - legacymediaintstitute@me.com or
The BFI is the only mainstream cinema in the country to show African/Caribbean themed films on a monthly basis and has broken records in a number of areas. Click HERE to see programme up to June 2014 |    |
|
