African dance and culture has often been appropriated by Europeans and divorced from its roots. This presentation aims to give a general background to African dance and show how movements/styles were borrowed or imitated by various European cultures.Those cultures would then re-name and take credit for the movements or totally pervert them. We will also deal with sexism and racism in the music/fashion and dance business.The presentation covers:

A selection of African civilisations pre or co-existing European invasion
Original purpose of African dance
Weddings, fertility, birthdays, rites of passage
Dance as politics. European censorship and disgust
Popular dances in the West that have African origins/elements 

African beats in the Top Ten but not called African
Zouk, Salsa, Hip Hop, Ventilator,Capoeira,Azonto,Twerking, Kompa
Corruption of image and values

'Yesterday's presentation was brilliant - connecting so many important issues, very entertaining and a great double-act between the two of you. You've got to repeat it !' Anne Braithwaite

'I would just like to say thank you to Black History Walks and Madee for an amazing lecture yesterday. I left feeling educated, inspired and excited. I was also entertained I know that entertainment was not the main purpose of the lecture but I'm a person who does not like to sit still for long periods of time and I was rapt for the entire duration. It didn't even feel like a long lecture but when Is arrived it was daylight and when I left it was dark plus we covered such a large span of history it couldn't have been just a short time. Thanks again and please please repeat this lecture as I know many sisters who would enjoy it, I'd also like to hear it again and learn more about the relationship between "dancehall" dances and specific African movement '

Sian Thebaker Nelson-Baah