International Year for People of African Descent
Click HERE to view Programme for the day
Once again the Black Voluntary Sector Network welcomes absolutely everyone to join in the celebrations for this years’ Black History Month. In tandem with the launch year of the beautifully refurbished Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, BHM Wales started off with a bang on Friday 30th September in the Dora Stoutzker Hall with the Launch, which included a tour of the building and featured Celtic African and Caribbean Music and Drama. The line up includ breath-taking performances by Wales’ premier African Dance Theatre Company – Ballet Nimba and the ‘Cymru Ddu’ monologues from extracts of a new play commissioned by BVSNW.
Wales commemorates the International Year for People of African Descent* with a spectacular Black History Month programme
Throughout October the Wales Millennium Centre is throwing open its doors to the public extending a warm welcome, inviting revellers to feast on a showcase of local and National African Diaspora talent. Audiences can expect free shows from Enigma Dance, Cardiff Capoeira, Beverley Lennon and Brothahood as well as choir performances from local school children. And the Weston Studio’s ‘Woyzech on the Highveld’ is a magical puppet adaptation not to be missed.
Following last year’s tremendous success, over 10,000 people are anticipated to attend the events of the 4th pan-Wales Black History Month season which concludes with a grand finale at the Wales Millennium Centre. The 29th October 12pm – 6pm FREE spectacular will feature a host of entertainers, performers, market stalls and participatory workshops reflecting the jewels of Wales’ African Diaspora communities. Performers include SWICA’s Maracatu Brazilian Carnival Dancers, world class award-winning hip-hop dance troupe Jukebox Juniors and Bob Marley Tribute Band – Bob Bailey and the Jailers singing all the classics along with a special selection translated into Welsh. And very special guest speaker and advocate for enslaved children Jean-Robert Cadet of Haiti’s Restavek.
Take a look at the Wales Millennium Centre October listings for details on foyer performances and keep posted by logging on to www.bvsnw.org.uk for regular updates on the All-Wales programme taking place across Bangor, Wrexham, Llanelli, Powys, Swansea, Newport and Cardiff. To book your place at next Friday’s Launch please call 02920 450068 or e-mail info@bvsnw.org.uk
“This International Year offers a unique opportunity to redouble our efforts to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect people of African descent everywhere”. Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
BHM Wales
Black History Month Wales is co-ordinated by the Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW) and is supported by a network of volunteers, a steering committee, Wales Race Equality Networks and community groups as well as the Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff Council and the Wales Millennium Centre. BHM Wales has been taking place annually for the past four years with audiences, support and scope steadily increasing. Last year over 7,000 people took part in the pan-Wales programme of workshops, exhibitions, lectures and special events.
BHM UK
The UK celebrates Black History Month every October which began in 80s’ London with Akyaaba Addai Sebbo co-ordinator of Special Projects at the Greater London Council establishing the very the first event. Since then BHM has grown to over 6,000 lectures, conferences, concerts and specialist programmes in community centres, schools, libraries and museums which highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions that Black people have made to the development of British society, technology, economy and arts & culture.
Principle Funders/Partners
Arts Council of Wales
Cardiff Council
Wales Millennium Centre
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
National Theatre Wales
BBC Wales
Sponsors
South Wales Fire Service
Cyfanfyd
EMC Communities First Cardiff
Voluntary Action Cardiff
Barnardo’s Cymru
Kemi’s Café
Big Lottery Fund/Heritage Lottery Fund
Steering Committee
African Community Centre, Swansea
Learning Links International, North Wales
Arts Connection, Powys
Llanelli Multicultural Network, Carmarthenshire
South Wales Regional Equality Council, Newport
East Cardiff Multicultural Network
Voluntary Action Cardiff
EMC Communities First, Cardiff
National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
African and Caribbean Elder Sisters, Cardiff
The Wallich, Cardiff
Sport Wales, Cardiff
Butetown Bay Jazz Heritage Festival, Cardiff
Young Black Achievers Project, Cardiff
Radio Cardiff
Butetown History and Arts Centre
Show Racism the Red Card
Cyfanfyd
About the Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales
BVSNW is an umbrella organisation that actively represents, supports and promotes the interests of the BME Communities and the BME Voluntary Sector in Wales. BVSNW’s vision is to enhance the profile of the Black Voluntary Sector and Communities by providing and infrastructure through a needs driven service, underpinned by equality and justice, to promote and support our common aspirations. BVSNW is a registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales, Company Number: 4067687, Charity Number: 1087638.
To find out more about BVSNW and what we do please click here <http://www.bvsnw.org.uk/>
How you can support
Black History Month Wales 2011
Sponsor an exhibition
Exhibition at Pier head Building £500
Sponsor a workshop
1 workshop £250
Brochure Adverts
Full Page £250
Half Page £150
Quarter Page £100
Stall at finale event in the
Wales Millennium Centre
Corporate & Statutory Sector £100
Voluntary Sector & Charity £50
Local Groups £15
About Black History Month
Black History Month is the month in which African history and heritage is celebrated throughout the UK. Such celebrations are owed to Dr Carter G Woodson, an American black scholar, who noticed from his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population. After establishing the Association for the study of Negro Life and History and founding the journal of Negro History, Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926. This aimed to bring national attention to the contributions of black people through American History.
This history week was chosen to be the second week in February by Woodson as it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly impacted on the American black population: Frederick Douglas an American abolitionist who worked to end slavery and Abraham Lincoln, the American President who freed slaves during the civil war.
In the UK BHM emerged as part of the African Jubilee Year for Marcus Garvey Centenary celebrations in America. Akyaaba Addai Sebbo coordinator of Special Projects at the Greater London Council (GLC) is acknowledged as the originator in the UK, with the first event in 1987. Since then BHM has grown to over 6,000 events being celebrated across the UK every October with activities such as lectures, conferences, concerts and specialist programmes in community centers, schools, libraries and museums which highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions that Black people have made to the development of British society, technology, economy and culture.
Useful links...
Black History Month in Wales
BHM Wales engages, educates and empowers individuals, community groups and Wales-wide communities in recognising the contribution that the African Diaspora has made in the history of Wales’ economic and cultural development. It also allows the wider community to take part, learn and celebrate together to promote understanding and share our global history.
Wales arguably hosts one of the first truly multi-cultural cities in the world where numerous races have lived side-by-side in harmony for many decades. Wales remains aware and proud of its diversity and rich past and it celebrates a great tradition of sharing stories and welcoming visitors from around the world.