Wales Millennium Centre will play host to the Black History Month celebrations for the fifth year running on October 19th 2013. Inspired by the rich and diverse music history of the African Diaspora, this year’s celebrations will showcase local and national talent across a wide range of musical forms including soul, ska, reggae, hip hop and RnB. A full programme of workshops, seminars and screenings will also run throughout the day, enabling visitors to discover more about the history and culture of the African Diaspora.
Opening performances on the Glanfa stage, Wonderbrass featuring Claude Deppa, will be offering up their diverse rhythms, an impressive mix of soul, funk, ska, latin and jazz. The Centre’s very own vocal urban choir, Hard Côr, will be presenting their distinctive mix of traditional choral music and hip hop, and of Rice Krispies television advert fame, Britain’s best know Isicathamiya (capella) ensemble will be joining forces with the South African Male Voice Choir on the stage. Rounding things off, Soweto Kinch perform The Legend of Mike Smith, a tale of a young Em-cee caught in a modern world of temptation.
To keep the children entertained, the African Community Centre will be offering a morning filled with African and Caribbean inspired arts and crafts activities. Get toe-tapping and hip-shaking as you learn how to play the steel drums in a carnival inspired workshop. Or for those keen to broaden their knowledge, the Rhythm of the Diaspora seminar will discuss the music of African origin, while the Black history seminar will cover a whole host of topics from multicultural education in the current curriculum to post-traumatic slave syndrome.
A traditional Caribbean menu, devised especially for the Celebration day, will also be on offer in ffresh bar.
Community Engagement Officer, Hannah Wynn Jones said: ‘We’re delighted to once again host the Black History Month Wales Showcase Celebration, which will commemorate the fifth year of the ever strengthening partnership between Wales Millennium Centre and the Black History Month Wales Steering Committee. This year’s showcase promises to be a wonderfully inspiring and enjoyable event – a true celebration of the diverse music of the Diaspora in Wales’.
The Celebration day at Wales Millennium Centre forms the pinnacle event of Black History Month Wales, which each year seeks to acknowledge the contributions made by members of the African Diaspora to local, national and world history through an informative, educational and celebratory programme. The origins of Black History Month stretch back to 1926 when Carter G Woodson established African Caribbean celebrations in America. The first Black History Month activities to take place in Wales can be traced back to trips, class assemblies and workshops organised by Betty Campbell MBE in Cardiff’s Butetown from 1973.
LISTINGS
Glanfa Programme:
Wonderbrass featuring Claude Deppa| 12:30pm
An internationally acclaimed Soul, Funk, Ska, Latin, Jazz juggernaut, Wonderbrass are the perfect kick start to the celebrations. Expect an unmissable wall of sound, an irrepressible hurricane of horns and a whirlwind of irresistible rhythms to tickle your dancing feet.
The next generation with Sound Progression | 1:45pm
The Sound Progression project studio is based in the Butetown Youth Pavilion. New tracks are constantly in production from the best of Cardiff's new upcoming talent who perform hard hitting hip-hop, nu-house, soul and RnB.
Jamaican Folk Songs with Tan Teddy | 2.30pm
Proud Jamaicans living in Bristol united in their love for Jamaican folk culture; it’s this passion and desire that led to the formation of the group Tan Teddy. Tan Teddy aims to restore the memory of Jamaican folk culture in the hearts of those living away from home. Their lively performances cover a wide range of folk songs, reggae in folk style, kumina, quadrille, poetry and drama.
!” Leigh Bailey
Urban Choir with Hard Côr | 3.15pm
Hard Côr, the Centre’s very own all vocal urban choir, seamlessly blend traditional choral music with the hip-hop elements of beat-boxing and Emceeing to create a distinctive and unique sound.
Reggae Rhythms with the Reggae Orchestra | 4pm
Bristol Reggae Orchesrta is one of the UK’s most unique, inspiring and uplifting community projects. Set up in early 2010, this collective of 40 local musicians are already building a reputation as ones to watch and they will perform some of their original songs as well as reggae and ska classics.
Afro beat, funk and hip-hop with Afro Cluster | 4.45pm
This 8-piece outfit from Cardiff bring their infectious, funky, afro-beat, hip-hop fusion to the party. Enjoy a high-energy fusion of funk, jazz, and other contemporary African American sounds with the more traditional native African rhythms.
South African Male Voice Choir with Amabutho | 5.30pm
Named as a tribute to Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s debut album, Amabutho is Britain’s best known Isicathamiya (a cappella) ensemble. Having recently featured in a nationwide Rice Krispies television advert, they will join forces with the South African Male Voice Choir.
The Legend of Mike Smith with Soweto Kinch | 6.20pm
Telling the tale of a young Em-cee caught in a modern world of temptation, the Legend of Mike Smith sees Soweto Kinch presenting new material in anticipation of their new album of the same name. The performance draws on Dante and The Seven Deadly Sins – a subject matter which allows Kinch to explore the full breadth of human emotion in hip hop and jazz form – and features a core trio including bassist Karl Rasheed Abel and drummer Shaney Forbes.
Workshops, Seminars & Screenings:
Film Screenings | Angorfa Wall & Tourist Information Shop Annex | All day
A variety of short films and documentaries produced by local community individuals, groups and charitable organisations
Rhythm of the Diaspora Seminar | Victor Salvi Room | 10am – 12:30pm
A dynamic series of panel and audience discussions looking at music of African origin and the lack of recognition in mainstream media
Diaspora Music with Wahda | Weston Studio | 10am & 11:30am
Join Wahda for a toe tapping, hip shaking, carnival inspired workshop in the art of Caribbean steel pan playing
Diaspora Arts & Crafts with the African Community Centre | Room 6 | 10am & 11:30am
Join ACC for a morning of African and Caribbean inspired arts & crafts activities for children
Prayer Room/Quiet Space | Japan Room | All day
If you need to pray or spend a moment away from all of the excitement, an assistant will show you to our designated area
Storytelling with Cardiff Library | Seligman Room | 10am & 11:30am
Let Cardiff Library take you on a fantastical journey through the wonders of storytelling, celebrating Wales’ wonderful libraries
Objects & History with The People’s Collection | Awen Bar | 10am & 11:30am
Join the People’s Collection with your family items and stories and enjoy group discussions taking you on a journey back in time
Black History with Abu-Bakr Madden Al-Shabazz | Sony Room | 10am & 11:30am
Join Abu-Bakr for in depth presentations and groups discussions on topics such as multicultural education in the current curriculum and post-traumatic slave syndrome
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