There are those that don’t have time for talk, they’re ready for action, for doing. Nevertheless it is important to realise that for things to succeed, be it a revolution, it must start with talking. If only to articulate one’s strategies or to exhort the masses! The Black Music Congress, for example, provides a forum for discussing black music issues. After two years, we’re taking a summer break. When we return in September/October, we will concentrate on workshops, which hopefully will have focused outputs.

For those that like talks programmes, we recommend you check out the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce). They have a great programme all year round. Thankfully, many are not only free, but they are also open to non-members (check www.theRSA.org.)

Earlier this year, I attended the ‘Music And Technology: Policy Frameworks For The Future’ conference. The panels included independent music activist Jenny Toomey, live music supreme Feargal Sharkey, legal scholar David Vaver, and former BPI director general Andrew Yeates. Although the latter made a robust argument for the record industry in the face of illegal internet downloads, Prof. Lawrence Lessig turned the ideas of copyright on its head with some of his radical propositions.

Last week, I attended the TIME Europe-sponsored ‘No More Heroes Anymore…?’ debate. What I picked up was that the concept of heroes isn’t absolute – it shifts over time and locality. However, it would seem military links rank high in the British pantheon. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown suggested that heroes may not necessarily be those we like. As much as we may detest Palestinian suicide bombers, they are heroes to sections of their community.

The panel indicated that celebrities were not necessarily heroes, and therefore brushed that subject away and proceeded to talk about their view of heroes. I raised my hand for the longest time to make a point about celebrities (see BTWSC’s open letter on celebrity), which consumes popular culture – how many of our youth see celebrities as heroes or role models? I did not get called. So I kind of know how it feels like not to have your say at the BMC debates, although our three hour sessions means most people have their say.

Talking about the BMC debates, at the last one, we heard about a plan by Harrow Council to turn Black History Month (BHM) into a Festival Of Cultures. We were told that there was to be a council meeting the following Tuesday to discuss the issue. It seems like the same inclusive nature that has turned an aspect of black music into the all-inclusive ‘urban music’, was being considered to make BHM a celebration of all cultures in the borough.

For those who don’t think much of talking, especially black people who will not engage in local politics, be it elected representatives or observers at council meetings, then they deserve the decisions made for them or on their behalf   Remember, it’s at such meetings that decisions that affect our lives are made.

When we got to the Harrow BHM meeting, there were about 35 people. The majority, about 19, were Asian. This included the chair and key members of the meeting. There were about four blacks, and eight whites. What we found out was that it had been accepted at previous meetings that black was the ‘political black’, which included people of African and Asian and other ethnic minority descent. Very inclusive. Also, a decision had been made to keep BHM as the main banner title, but that a sub-group was charged to with finding a sub-title that would give it a cultural diversity twist within the “Harrow context”.

The contributions from the two black members of the BHM steering group who spoke indicated that they were happy with the “all cultures included” stance. Representing the BMC, I proposed either BHM was left purely as an event for highlighting the history and expression of people of African descent, which was sorely needed to provide pride and knowledge, particularly among black youths; or else, BHM incorporate “all cultures”, and the council does not support other celebrations such as the Irish’s St Patrick’s or Indian’s Diwali (see BHM protest flyer). That got a muted response.

BTWSC’s Ms Serwah said BHM was the only opportunity black people had to focus on their history and contribution to development, and should not be taken over as a celebration of all cultures. Cllr Nana Asante reiterated the point and said that BHM was about black history. The fact that singing and dancing was sometimes used as a vehicle to promote black history did not mean BHM was mainly a cultural activity.

Kienda Hoji made a forceful demand for BHM to be specifically about the African experience, and not just reduced to singing and dancing*. Later on, the black contingent in the room  increased.  It seems our presence and contribution caused a stir, and the Harrow BHM steering group may well consider its position having apparently for the first time heard a forceful pro-African descent argument.

The excuse has been hardly anyone from the Black/African community comes to the meetings. Let’s hope you’d be more inclined to see how you can influence what’s going on in your locality. For example, the Asians may be having things their way because a lot of them attend meetings and have their views heard. Voting on June 10 is just one aspect of our political power. Our presence and voice at those meetings in town halls and community venues should not be ignored.

Kwaku. May 26 2004

* The Black Music Congress will from 2005 declare the month of June as Black Music & History Month (BM&HM). Unlike the American Black Music Month, which mainly celebrates the music with more performances and record releases, BM&HM aims to have as an integral part of its campaign talk programmes highlighting the history of black music in its widest forms, and discussions around black music issues.

Back