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| Our 2024 Music-Facing Events |
For the at-a-glance hub of our BBMM and IRDUK 2024 and associated events, activities, activities, competitions and recommended book review:
bit.ly/BBMM2024
bbmbmc@gmail.com
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Heads Up: Events in Brent libraries:
10 October, Brent Black Music History Project, The Library at Willesden Green, 6-9pm: Watch the captivating ‘Brent Black Music History Project’ DVD and booklet produced in 2007 by Brent-based voluntary organisation BTWSC, followed by a panel discussion with local music historian Kwaku, rapper Big Zeeks, singer Frenchie King and Cleon Roberts, daughter of Sonny Roberts. Click here to book.
13 October, Becoming Brent: Marking Democratic South Africa @ 30 With Talk, Sound & Vision, The Library at Willesden Green, 3-6pm: As part of the Becoming Brent work on 100 years since the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley, historian Kwaku will lead an afternoon of presentations, videos, music and artworks that highlight the fight against apartheid in the former British dominion of South Africa, including Brent's direct involvement. Click here to book and for more info.
14 October, The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition* Talks & Music Session Monday October 14 2024, 6.30-8.30pm Harlesden Library, Craven Park Rd, Harlesden, London NW10 8SE + Zoom option : https://bit.ly/TalksandMusic.
Plus Kwaku will be delivering a presentation speaking to Brent Council's main African History Month 2024 event theme of 'Reclaiming Narratives', which touches on history and music, on 23 October - see below. |
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BTWSC/African Histories Revisited, BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) and Port Royal co-sponsor free Jamaican patties at our 2024 physical events. |
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Documenting Brent Black Music History
Thursday Oct. 10 2024
6.00-9.00pm
Willesden Green Library
95 High Rd, London NW10 2SF
Click here to be updated
Screening of the Kwaku-directed BTWSC-produced DVD 'Brent Black Music History Project' (BBMHP, 2010), followed by a panel-led discussion with Kwaku (BBM/BMC/moderator), Big Zeeks (recording artist), Cleon Roberts (Sonny Roberts Legacy) and special guests including Frenchie King who will be on the panel and perform.
It's an opportunity for the audience to improve their knowledge of Brent's rich black music history, celebrate especially Harlesden's music history, and also update the BBMHP information, by filling in the gaps since the resources were produced 17 years ago. |
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The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition
Monday July 1-Thursday October 31 2024
Harlesden Library, Craven Park Rd, Harlesden, London NW10 8SE
Free, walk in during library opening hours, except for the launch and talks & music days, when it's advisable to book here.
BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) in association with BTWSC/African Histories Revisited and Brent Museum and Archives, launched this exhibition to mark International Reggae Day.
Curated by historical musicologist Kwaku, the exhibition provides an opportunity to see a range of reggae album covers shot in locations across Brent. During the exhibition, which ends on October 31, there will be monthly in-library evening talks & music sessions, which is an opportunity to hear special guests and also share your local Brent musical memories.
Launch: Monday July 1, 6.30-8.30pm. |
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There will be in-Library talks and music: Monday 6.30-8.30pm Aug. 12, Sep. 2 and Oct. 14.
Special guests on Oct. 14 session include Colin 'CeeBee' Brown, who will be making a presentation on his UKReggaeHistory.com website.
Click here to book.
BTW more Harlesden Library reggae runnings:
There will be an event aimed at parents and children aged 3+ on Saturday June 15 2024, 2.30-4.30pm consisting of playing some records and fun music making on musical instruments! Just turn up - booking not necessary.
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'British History, Black Music, Racism & The Music Industry: 1507-2020'
Tuesday Oct. 15 2024, 6.30-8.30pm
Clapham Library, Mary Seacole Centre
91 Clapham High Street London SW4 7DB
Click here to book physical event
Email bbmbmc@gmail.com for the *Zoom link, which will be sent closer to the event date
Panel: Paul Bradshaw (journalist/publisher), Hakeem Stevens (music marketing/lecturer/PhD candidate), Kwaku (BBM/BMC/moderator)
Screened a couple of times for an audience of music industryites and music fans in the aftermath of the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd during the Covid-19 pandemic, this final version of the video mashup documentary is definitely due for a re-run!
Particularly as we reflect on the music industry's programmes that sprung up to deal with racism and Afriphobia in the aftermath of the George Floyd death, this screening allows us to ponder on whether the music has gone forward or back since 2020?
And whilst we all seem to be in retrospective mood, what with the recent Beyond The Bassline... exhibition and symposium, here's another take on a 500 year British black music history!!
BTW, the items in the above image give an idea of the subjects covered in the mashup documentary.
*Zoom attendees may not be able to participate in post-screening discussions.
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We've committed to organise the Big Up Harlesden - The One Love, Last Hurrah Community Event. We'll arrange to get all the artists*, the stallholders and the other elements that went into last year's event create the fine vibes! So diarise Saturday Oct. 19 2024, 5.00-10.00pm, RSVP via: bbmbmc@gmail.com, and we look forward to meeting you at Tavistock Hall, 25 High St, London NW10 4ND.
This will be our last community event in Harlesden, and will be a free party, especially for all who've engaged with our youth programmes, event planning, African history and music business courses, music, history, fairs and networking events over the years.
*Big Up Harlesden, The One Love, Last Hurrah Community Event UPDATE OF OUR LAST COMMUNITY EVENT: Ciyo, IQ Michael and DJ Brookie Nighlife will unfortunately not be performing due to date clashes. However General Saint will be talking about a fascinating games project and performing, and deck duties will be handled by DJ GeminiMan. Click here to RSVP this Big Up Harlesden community event and our thank you party, which is on Saturday Oct. 19 2024, 5.00-10.00pm. |
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Click here for more info and to select which of these Monday, 6.30-8.30pm (UK) Zoom sessions running from October to December (yes, we've added a Marcus Garvey session on Dec. 2 to round off 2024 and the UN's Decade) you'd like to attend. The music-focused sessions are: Oct. 14 Brent Music (reggae focus); Nov. 4 Brent Music (black music focus) and Nov. 18 2 Thousand Years Of British Black Music! Each session starts with a video that speaks to the subject specially made, or a mash up, by Kwaku.
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Kwaku will be delivering a presentation speaking to Brent Council's main African History Month 2024 event theme of 'Reclaiming Narratives', which will be underscored by Music4Causes Ft Kimba's edutainment performances.
Wednesday Oct. 23 2024
6.00-8.00pm
Grand Hall, Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way, Wembley Park HA9 0FJ
Click here for more info or to book.
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British Black Music Month 2024 Recommended Book: 'Beyond The Bassline: 500 Years Of Black British Music' Paul Bradshaw ed (British Library Publishing)
Review by Kwaku
First of all, it was a no-brainer to make this the 2024 BBMM Recommended Book! So whether you are able to read the rest of this review of not, we simply say if you are interested in British black music or British history, this is certainly a book that needs to be either on your book shelf or in your local library.
Clocking in at nearly 290 pages, it's not quite a tome. It's quite an accessible read, with a great spread of images. Although we have not yet visited the eponymous exhibition at the British Library, we are of the view that this book has an independent life of its own, and isn't meant to serve as an exhibition brochure. Indeed, even if you're not particularly interested in British black music, but are into history, then this is a book you should check out.
It's worth repeating that this book isn't about musicology, it's about music history. And as an independent history researcher and historical musicologist, we found this book fascinating. Because even though we've researched and delivered programmes that cover 500 years of black music in Britain – our 'British History, Black Music, Racism & The Music Industry: 1507-2020' video mashup documentary gets an airing via Zoom on Friday July 19 2024, 6.30-9.00pm (see https://bit.ly/BritishHistoryBlackMusic1507), and we even make a claim of two thousand years of black music on these isles, we discovered several new and some surprising facts.
If one is an avid ready of black music newspapers, then you are bound to have a handle on many of the topics from the mid-to-late 20th century, particularly the abundance of coverage of the last 30-40 years, so we'll not focus on that part of the book. Suffice to say, the genres created or developed in Britain during this period that's had some mainstream impact such as lovers rock, jazz, grime and Afrobeats are well represented.
As the book claims to cover 500 years, it's the early history that many of us lack. Hence our focus will be on mainly representing the early periods up to the 1960s.
Early 16th century trumpeter John Blanke pretty much provides a reasonable marker to start. Also, naturally covered are the likes of 18th century Abolitionist and composer Ignatius Sancho and the 19th century violin virtuoso George Bridgetower.
With such of huge spread to cover, the essays or articles are generalist magazine type coverage in style and depth that give you enough, whilst whetting your appetite, should you wish to delve deeper, by exploring other resources.
British black music here. for the most part, means music created or developed by Brits of genres that have either been brought here, or created in the British isles by artists from particularly the US, and the Caribbean and mainly west Africa.
Talking about west Africa, I like the fact that Ambrose Campbell has his Nigerian name mentioned - Ambrose Adeyoka Campbell, who before Lord Kitchener and his merry Caribbean supporters followed him through the London streets following the West Indies' first victory over the English cricket team in 1951, he and his African merry men made it through the London streets music-making on VE Day May 8 1945, marking the end of World War 2 in Europe.
If we must talk about Windrush, as the Day is fast approaching, then it's worth noting that that ship did not just bring Trinidadians like Lord Kitchener and Lord Beginner who plugged into Britain's calypso scene, but that there was also the young and talented Jamaican Dizzy Reece, who with the likes of emigre Caribbeans like Joe Harriott, refreshed Britain's jazz scene of the 1950s and beyond.
The role of the South Syncopated Orchestra in popularising jazz in Britain after the World War 1 is touched on, as are musicians like Leslie ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson , band leaders like Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson and singers like Evelyn Dove, who were established names on the British music scene during the World War 2 years.
One of the fascinating gems, though not strictly music history, was the mention of a popular London gambling den or frontline at Bell Street, situated off Edgware Road, which was a bustling commercial centre of activity from the early 1950s and provided for the recreational needs of the growing African Caribbean and African population.
Ismail Blagrove covers the better known frontline in Notting Hill. I commend Blagrove for making the point that continental Africans were part of that story, by purposely using the inclusive ''West Indian' and African' or 'Caribbean and African', where necessary. Of course, our view is that except for the need to be geo-specific, one believes that any person of African heritage, irrespective of their antecedents, is African.
There were a few errors. 19th/20th century composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was born in Holborn and not south London, and the Empire Windrush did not arrive at Tilbury dock on June 21, but June 22 1948, hence the date set for marking Windrush Day.
We are glad to note that whilst Claudia Jones is mentioned, it is in connection with the series of Caribbean carnivals she organised from 1959, and that she is in no way connected with the founding of the Notting Hill Carnival, which she’s often erroneously connected with. However, whilst the start of Carnival is contested, and two different years are given in two essays, the corroborative evidence points to 1966.
For one of editor Paul Bradshaw's articles, we just have to say “bravo,” as it is one of the topics we have been researching for a future project!
As mentioned early, there is a tendency to marginalise contributions of continental Africans. Such as the highlighting of West Indians or African Caribbeans as part of the Southern Syncopated Orchestra, but ignoring the fact that the Orchestra also co-opted a number of musicians in Britain of continental African heritage. Also there is no mention of Nigerian percussionist Folunsho 'Ginger' Johnson, who with his African drummers, were part of the inaugural 1966 procession!
It's to be commended that there's been some mitigation of a nearly London-centric history but having some essays centre in the regions, such as Liverpool, Bristol and Manchester.
Perhaps an interesting note to end with is the fact that in 1962 the Welsh-Nigerian singer Shirley Bassey opened a record shop in Hampstead!
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Available in all good book retailers or else via the BL Shop here. This review is also accessible here, and you can access the BBMM (British Black Music Month) and IRDUK (International Reggae Day UK) events/activities here.
Kwaku is an independent history researcher and historical musicologist. |
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Talking Copyright 2024
Monday July 15 2024, 6.30-8.30pm
A109 College Building, City University, 280 St John Street, London EC1V 4PB
Booking closed
A discussion forum on copyright and intellectual property issues have been an integral part of our British Black Music Month offer for several years.
Join facilitators Dr Enrico Bonadio (Reader in Intellectual Property Law, City Law School), Kwaku (BBM/BMC, Entertainment Law LLM) and special guests for the out of the box thinking this year's topic is bound to engender!
Start preparing your thoughts around the topic: "If A.I. Existed When Copyright Law Was First Being Drafted, What Would Have Been Some Of The Fundamental Differences With Today's Copyright Law?"
Delivered by BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) in association with The City Law School and CultureTalkClub. |
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BBMM2024 Music Industry Knowledge-Boosting Masterclass
Saturday July 27 2024, 1.00-5.00pm BST
IDPAD Empowerment Centre, 18-24 Lower Clapton Rd, Hackney, London E5 0PD + Zoom
£40 fee early bird until July 22, after: £50 fee
Click here to book
It's an affordable paid-for accessible half-day short course to empower and drive your music industry plans. Small classes, where you can get answers to your questions, improve your knowledge base and confidence. Led by seasoned music industry tutor Kwaku. He holds MAs in Media and Music Business Management, and LLM in Entertainment Law. His music industry teaching experience covers access level (City University London), HND (City & Islington College), to graduate & post-graduate level (University of Westminster). Course elements culled from BTWSC's ONC level 2 accredited Music Industry Overview course.
This masterclass is open to anyone with an interest in developing a career in the music industry. It's aimed at the unsigned or do-it-yourself artist, musicpreneur, or those who provide artists, songwriters and producers with specialist support. It's an opportunity to help you turn your music industry dreams or plans into reality! It's a sort of 1-2-1 session, with answers geared towards individual's interests.
Are you an aspiring musician? Do you want to work in the music industry?
If you don't know your MU from your PPL, your PRS from your VPL, or your BPI from your AIM, then this masterclass is for you!
If you want to know more about your options for developing a career and income streams for your passion and musical talent - then this masterclass is for you!
This course amalgamates most of our short music industry courses (excluding Preparing A Music Business Plan Workshop). It shows how the music industry works, in order to join the dots by understanding the various careers within the music industry, the functions of the key industry organisations, income streams, and rights.
The course is accessible, and requires no prior music industry experience or qualifications. It covers:
Music Industry Ecosystem
Copyright
Contracts
Music Publishing
Record Label Management
Releasing A Record
Licensing
Trade Bodies & Collection Organisations
Income Streams
Online World
Delivered by BBM/BMC in association with BTWSC/Akoben Awards. |
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BBM/BMC is happy to support, whilst Kwaku BBM looks forward to being part of this event and delivering a presentation on pioneer record producer/retailer Sonny Roberts and the role of Harlesden within British reggae history (1-2pm).
LIN KAM ART PRESENTS BASS TONE REGENERATION HARLESDEN
Saturday June 8 2024, 12noon-4pm
FREE
Harlesden Library, NW10 8SE
Workshops, talks and afternoon tea celebrating the legacy of music producer Sonny Roberts and reggae music in Harlesden, London, U.K...
Booking closed
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STOP PRESS: This Zoom meeting will start at the earlier time of 5.00pm (UK), thus giving an opportunity for those who would like to virtually attend part of the marking of the UN's IDPAD (International Decade for People of African Descent) 2015-24/International Day for People of African Descent at the IDPAD Empowerment Centre in Hackney, led by Bro Hakim and Bro Dr Toyin. Then followed by...
African History Reflection Day 2024 on Saturday Aug. 31 2024, 6.30-9.00pm is via Zoom. Click here to book.
This year, we'll kick off the proceedings by screening the read through performance of the As Long As You're Of African Heritage, You're An African play, which is interspersed with reggae music. It should engender discussions around African history and identity, and the Global African Quad Flag, as a way of marking the upcoming end of UN's IDPAD (International Decade for People of African Descent). Programme also includes Music4Causes Ft Kimba edutainment music. |
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