BLACK HISTORY MONTH

We welcome the arrival of Black History Month and want to take this opportunity shine a spotlight on important figures, events and aspects of our history

ALL our history will be explored, after all slavery and colonialism are not the sum total of our history; the continent existed long before these events.Even out of these periods of hardship still came brilliance in the form of poetry, music, dance and other forms.

We must recognise influential individuals such as Queen Nzinga who strongly resisted Portuguese imperialism and their expanding slave trade within Angola, to Toussaint L’Ouverture on the Island on Haiti the leader of the only slave revolt which led to the founding of a state.  Marcus Garvey from Jamaica an important figure in the civil rights movement.  To the various champions of independence across the African continent such as Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Nelson Mandela.                                             

Queen Nzinga

Nkrumah

Nelson Mandela

L'ouverture

We must know the contributions people of African Caribbean descent have made to architecture, education and arts. Like the wonder of the Egyptian Pyramids created over 4000 thousand years ago by the people of Kemet as they called it (The Black Land).  The world’s first university was established in Africa, the University of Timbuktu in Mali.  Also the oldest existing, and continually operating educational institution in the world is the University of Karueein, in Morocco.  Democracy also existed in Africa long before colonisation for example the Igbo tribes who elected to have no kings the main credo of Igbo culture is the emphasis placed on individual achievement and initiatives, prestige and egalitarian leadership.

There is so much to African-Caribbean history and our culture that this post barely scratches the surface.  Hopefully you are inspired to go away and research what aspect of this rich and varied history most intrigues you.

CITI BANK CHALLENGE

The society is involved in a competition with Citi bank in a bid to win external money to help our development. To win what we need are online votes.

Click to Vote

Things to expect this Black History Month

BARONESS FLOELLA BENJAMIN TALK – 2:30 PM, FRIDAY 3^RD OCTOBER 2014 

Newman Purple in the Peter Chalk Centre.

BLACK HISTORY FILM FESTIVAL –12-13^TH OF OCTOBER 2014

At the Exeter Phoenix- £5.50 a film

CULTURE SHOW- 6:30 PM, THURSDAY 23^RD OCTOBER

Exhibition on Art, Literature, Dance and Fashion from African Caribbean cultures.

Location: to be disclosed later.