Event: Resistance and Remembrance

The British Museum is hosting a day of events to commemmorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade.

Resistance and Remembrance
Sunday, 25th March 2007
14:00 - 18:30
free to all

“Resistance and Remembrance is a day to remember the past, to live in the present, to look toward the future.” Bonnie Greer, Trustee, British Museum


14.00–18.30 Programme
The afternoon will feature a wide range of events and activities including:

• The Brodsky Quartet playing in the BP Lecture Theatre
• Simon Schama reading from his book Rough Crossings
• Romuald Hazoumé talks about his artwork La Bouche du Roi
• Storytelling with Beyonder and H Patten
• Bonnie Greer and Tony Sewell in discussion

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/tradeandidentity/randrprogramme.pdf (PDF file)

There will also be space for the quiet contemplation and remembrance of the achievements of Africans, the African diaspora, and those everywhere, past and present, involved in the resistance against slavery in all its forms.

The day will culminate in a Ceremony of Remembrance, featuring the telecast of a special message from Nelson Mandela. The ceremony will also feature a choral performance, short readings and testimonies from a variety of guest speakers. Hosted by Colin McFarlane, the ceremony will include contributions by among others, Diran Adebayo, Kwame Kwei Armah, Shaheera Asante, Jean Binta Breeze, Bonnie Greer, Fergal Keane, Kofi Mawuli Klu, David Lammy MP, Mike Phillips, Trevor Phillips, Hugh Quarshie, Wole Soyinka and Baroness Lola Young.

In association with the Royal African Society, Rendezvous of Victory, Pan-Afrikan Youth and Students Internationalist Link (PAYSIL) and National Union of Students – Black Students Campaign (NUS-BSC). Film programme in partnership with the London Borough of Camden.



Comments

Ceri said…
There is a film out this Friday (today!) called Amazing Grace about the abolition of the slave trade. It is not supposed to be very good but the most perplexing thing about it is the fact that for a film about the slave trade it only has one Black actor in it! And he has a very very small part in the debates which led up to William Wilberforce's wrangles in Parliment which eventually led to the abolition of Slavery in 1833. I am quite interested in going to see it but I fear it will be quite dull and worthy... what is it with history films sometimes? There is so much scope to do more, the National Maritime Museum has huge archives of material and there are many alternative histories available... are they worried about being labelled PC if they take a more radical approach? The film also fudges history so that it appears slavery was abolished in 1807 which is not the case. Anyway I hope that this event is more interesting than this film promises to be!
The Attic said…
Yeah - although it features the lovely Ioan Gruffudd, I think I shall be giving it a miss. The publicity for the film I saw on the side of the bus yesterday put me off; the slogan - which for the life of me I can't remember, but was something that suggested that Wilberforce single-handedly brought down the slave trade - is patently shite. Another example of Hollywood rewriting history. Plus the trailer I've just watched (http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/amazinggrace/trailer/) is just so schmaltzy. Yuck! Plus the American publicity for the film seems to focus much more on the writing of 'Amazing Grace' than the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, which is - quite frankly - bizarre. Is the subject still taboo in middle America??!!

But then again - Ioan Gruffudd...
Ceri said…
It is almost an entirely British film though and they should be ashamed of themselves! Considering that they have many fine British actors involved as well including yes Ioan Gruffudd and Rufus Sewell (albeit in a dodgy wig) ;)
The Attic said…
That's Rufus Sewell's second appearance on the blog this week Ceri. Indeed, googlers searching for info on the man himself have brought a good few new readers to The Attic this week. ;)
Ceri said…
*Blushes*

What can I say except sincere apologies to anyone who does not think that actors and museums should mix...
The Attic said…
While we're talking about multi-vocal interpretations of history (predominantly in other discussion threads), here's a little BBC Magazine article written by Kwame Kwei-Armah about the impact of the television series 'Roots' on the British black community when it was first shown in the 70s.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6480995.stm
The Attic said…
Mark Kermode was talking about 'Amazing Grace' on 'The Culture Show' (BBC2) this evening - he reckons it's not too bad, better than 'Amistad' anyway.

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