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Making Black History Now – stars come out at UEL

Friday 10 October 2008

UEL is celebrating Black History Month in style with an exciting programme of events featuring film, fashion, music, performance, comedy, discussions and debates.

Urban music star Kano, comedian Felix Dexter and poet Michelle Marie are among the performers who will be mixing with UEL students on campus and at venues across East London throughout October. Focusing on the theme of ‘Making Black History Now’, UEL’s Black History Month events explore cutting-edge creativity and entrepreneurship. The month kicked off with a spectacular fashion show to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day on 1 October.

East Ham resident ‘Grime’ hero Kano was the star of the UEL Students' Union Ball held at the Troxy nightclub in Limehouse on Wednesday 8th October 2008. Other highlights of the month include a panel discussion on supporting black entrepreneurship on 14 October, presented by Professor Sonny Nwankwo of UEL Black Business Observatory, and on 15 October a Cultural Studies Research symposium on James Brown, as well as a performance from internationally acclaimed musician King Masco with dancers in University Square, Docklands campus.

On 23 October there is a debate on black professionals and the law at Stratford, and the climax to the programme on Thursday 30 October features performance on the many colours of British fashion, and a performance revue starring Felix Dexter of Fast Show and Real McCoy fame alongside spoken word poets shortMAN and Michelle Marie.

Exciting and original film screenings include ‘Hopes on the Horizon’, a documentary directed by Onyekachi Wambu, which chronicles the rise of pro-democracy movements in Benin, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, Mozambique, and South Africa, during the final decade of the twentieth century, and ‘Bare Knuckle Boxer’, ‘the colourful and remarkable story of ex-slave Bill Richmond, the world’s first black boxing star.

Sky La Foucade, Vice-President and Race and Diversity Officer for UEL Students' Union, said: “Black History Month is a chance for our diverse students to come together and experience a wide-range of events aimed at attracting and inspiring them.

“It is also a celebration of what has already happened in Black History as well as an appreciation of what is present now. We are aiming to raise awareness and celebrate our achievements as well as bring together our mix of different cultures.”

UEL is a dynamic and diverse learning community, with 20,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide, and over 60% from black and minority ethnic communities. All are welcome to take part in free Black History Month 2008 events. Please register on events@uel.ac.uk, and for full programme, visit: www.uel.ac.uk/blackhistory

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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