We are hosting a series of Queen Nzinga lectures, and other events, at Birbeck University of London. Below are the next three listings on Academia, Comedy and Resistance. All events are free but must be booked via www.eventbrite.com (just search for event title in London)

Queen Nzinga Lecture series 1 to 12

Queen Nzinga was an African Queen who fought against the European invasion of southern Africa (Congo/Angola). The Queen Nzinga lecture series will feature African female academics / holders of expert knowledge, speaking on topics of their choice on a monthly basis. The Nzinga lecture series will provide a regular platform for women of African descent to highlight important issues in  an academic setting. The next lecture is Black Women in Academia Success, Secrets and Coping Strategies on Sat 23 March 6 to 9pm.This lecture is a continuation of the previously over-subscribed Black Women in Academia event where a desire for further talks was expressed as well as the need for a Black Women in Academia Support Group. Dr Michelle Asantewa will present an update on the group.

This lecture features two more African/Caribbean women who have achieved, or are on their way to achieving, Phd's. They will speak about their experiences in academia as well join an extended Q and A to expand on their revelations.

see sample of previous lecture here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVXL8FACUYc 

Speakers include:

Ekua Agha Phd Candidate at Birkbeck and a lecturer at College of North West London . Her first degree was in Political Science, she then did an MA in French and Francophone Studies at Westminster. Her doctoral thesis is on Post Colonial Studies and the representations of gender and the past and present 'invention' of Africa.She has previously worked as a researcher on the award-winning Law and Order TV series and is currently producing a documentary titled Chocolate Matters: Ghana Cocoa and British Bars

Veronica Mason,  is a Senior Lecturer and the Degree Course Leader for the BSc Youth Studies Programme within the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at London Metropolitan University.  As a professionally qualified Youth and Community Worker with over 10 years youth work experience, she holds a MA Degree in Applied Anthropology, Community and Youth Work, a BSc Degree in Sociology and Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. .  Veronica has worked with a range of organisations including Havering’s Social Services and Youth Service, Tower Hamlets Youth Offending Team & Youth Service and the London East Connexions Partnership.  held roles such as Deputy Manager, Project Co-ordinator, Senior Youth Worker and YISP Preventions Officer (YOT)

Dr Michelle Asantewa, is an English and Creative writing lecturer at London Met University. She has also curated several black history film events at the university and spoke on womens resistance in 18th century literature at the first Queen Nzinga Lecture last year.

 The Black History of Comedy Saturday April 6 at 7pm: Comedians often use history as part of their material. In this interactive session we piece together a visual tapestry of the best historical comedy from great known and unknown comics from the 1960's to now  We will also place their comical observations on a historical timeline of international struggle for African equality and show how comedy can be educational. Be prepared to laugh your head off and learn about world history at the same time. Presented by  www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk  

In association with www.imagesofblackwomen.com we present the premiere of the multi award winning film.. Black Hands: The Sister who burned down Montreal  on Sat April 20th 6.30 to 9pm

Black Hands - Trial of the Arsonist Slave" investigates slavery in Canada through the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history?

A fascinating  documentary that powerfully mixes interviews with historians and theatre re-enactments. Having its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival in the summer of 2010, the film is inspired by a play that was first presented in 2009, during the 275th anniversary of the Black slave Marie-Josèphe Angélique's execution. Tetchena Bellange, who portrayed Angelique in a play that she co-produced, was so touched by the story of this Black woman, she decided to explore the story further. Learning more about the history of Blacks in New France and about the woman who refused her slave status

Admission free but must book via Eventbrite www.eventbrite.com . Donations accepted

Click here for map http://www.bbk.ac.uk/downloads/centrallondon.pdf R

How to Brainwash the Youth and make them Act like Fools !

Presented in association with the Adefioye Trust

Bank Holiday Monday 1st April New Time 12pm to 4pm. Prompt start

CAN Mezzanine

32-36 Loman Street

London SE1 OEH click for map http://www.can-online.org.uk/data/files/pages/Maps/How_to_find_us_-_Loman_Street_Mezz.pdf

Entry £5 adults or children. First come, first served

Tube: Southwark, Borough 

Previously sold out and back by popular demand. BHW present this highly rated, in-your-face seminar aimed at children and parents to illustrate how they are conditioned via Hollywood movies, music videos, computer games and advertising to act dumb and love it. This presentation uses  pop and mainstream culture combined with a black history perspective. Battle Los Angeles, Scary Movie, Predator, Lil Wayne, Futurama, Disney, 300, Trinidad James, GTA, Eastenders, Nikki Minaj, Ciara, Nelly, Etana, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of Caribbean, Transformers Call of Duty, Walking Dead all make an appearance

Comments on How to Brainwash..

I have been meaning to write you all week to thank you for the informative and thought-provoking session you held for ACD students last week.  It was tremendous.What was really satisfying is that you held their attention throughout the 3 hour session even in the not ideal situation of being cramped into the foyer space due to the projector being taken by another organisation.  Brenda King, African Caribbean Diversity Group

'Just to say, once again, thanks for the fabulous presentation yesterday.  It is always great to be around children when they are learning something new and enlightening for them'   Marva Bell Pivot Point Community Project Harrow.

I'm a student who is part of the ACDiversity programme and you came in to talk to us about the issue of 'How to brainwash the youth and make them look like idiots'  This was so so powerful and helped shape my view on what the media feeds me. I have a few friends around my age, I'm eighteen by the way, who I believe will truly benefit from this as I think it needs to be seen by A LOT more  youth who are mature enough to take it in and understand. Peter Adefioye

'I loved the way the speaker would just ask questions and make us find the answers ourselves. This is perfect because what is the point of coming to an event to counter brainwashing, only to have someone else tell you what to think. The speakers way was much better plus filling in the blank yourself means that it is more likely to stay in your head.'

Joe Bloog

Loving black couples, a rare sight on British TV but why ?

Saturday 6 April 3pm to 6pm,

Conference Room, Voluntary Action Islington

200a Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP

Tube: Kings Cross (5 mins walk)

Entry: £7.00 adults, £5 kids. Pay on the door, first come first served.

A very revealing presentation and short films which show how the image of African people has been deliberately altered by Europeans to show negativity. In the 15th century African people were portrayed in European art as noble, sophisticated and dignified. With the rise of Empire these images were thrown out and replaced with demeaning stereotypes which still inform public opinion via children’s books, Hollywood movies and tv adverts. Previously held at the National Portrait Gallery and Imperial War museum in 2008 to full houses