‘Can we flatter ourselves that the mischief which the slave trade has created will not be remembered for many ages to our reproach?’ Lord Grenville, Prime Minister, 1806

As part of its contribution to Black History Month in October, the Royal Naval Museum is hosting a major one-day conference investigating the slave trade, its abolition and legacies.

The ‘Chasing Freedom - Abolition 200 Conference’ on Saturday 6th October 2007, is the latest in a series of events organised by the Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

A top panel of leading historians will consider the impact of the trade, and the meaning of freedom for the enslaved, in the Caribbean, Brazil and North America.  It will also investigate its influence on the British economy as well as examine the efforts of the Royal Navy and its men in suppressing the trade post 1807.

‘We are thrilled to have Professor James Walvin, from the University of York, as our keynote speaker,’ says Deborah Hodson, ‘Chasing Freedom’ Project Manager. ‘He is justly known as one of the world’s leading historians on slavery and together with the other speakers will certainly provide a fascinating perspective on this years commemorations’.

Tickets cost £18 (£14 for concessions) and there a number of free tickets available to full-time students, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A special Bicentenary exhibition, ‘Chasing Freedom: The Royal Navy and the Suppression of the Transatlantic Slave Trade’, is currently running at the Museum.

For further information on the Abolition 200 Conference, please visit www.royalnavalmuseum.org or contact Melanie Simpson at the Royal Naval Museum on 023 9272 7584 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

For further information this press release, please contact Zoe Wild at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 023 9289 4558 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

LONDON/LOS ANGELES, August 14, 2007 – The Africa Channel, the U.S.-based television network showcasing the rich and diverse perspectives of Africa’s people, has entered into a distribution agreement with Sky, the leading multi-channel television platform in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  The announcement was made today by James Makawa, co-founder and CEO of The Africa Channel.

The Africa Channel, marking its international debut, will launch on Monday, August 20th, in Sky’s Style & Culture Mix.  The channel will launch with two weeks of series previews to provide viewers the opportunity to sample its programming and begin its original program schedule on September 3rd.  The Africa Channel has acquired a number of new series and specials spanning multiple genres to premiere in conjunction with its launch on Sky, including the scripted drama “Jacob’s Cross,” the reality performance competition programs “Dance Africa” and “Project Fame Africa,” music series “Urban Massive,” sports highlights series “DHL Sports Africa,” the behind-the-scenes film program “Cinema Moments” and several specials, including a music profile of Nigerian superstar Femi Kuti.  The programs will also air on The Africa Channel in the U.S., where next month the network will mark its second anniversary on the air.

Regarding the announcement, Makawa commented, “The Africa Channel delivers a diverse schedule that reflects the extraordinary culture of Africa and we are very pleased to be partnered with Sky on the channel’s exciting launch in the U.K.  Our channel, along with the new programs we’ve acquired for this important milestone, further enhance our commitment to provide our viewers in the U.K. with the best English language programs that the African continent has to offer.”

Primetime dramatic series, “Jacob’s Cross,” starring Hlomla Dandala and Moky Makura, is the epic story of one man’s quest to build the next great African business empire.  In the reality dance competition program “Dance Africa,” contestants are evaluated by five discerning judges assigned to select the most talented Freestyle dancer on the continent.  “Urban Massive” showcases African musicians, as well as food and culture, from a number of African countries.  From Endemol comes “Project Fame Africa,” an entertainment reality series in which aspiring singers live and train together while competing for a record contract.  “DHL Sports Africa” provides timely coverage of various African sports while “Cinema Moments” explores African cinema’s great films directors, including Mweze Ngangura, whose film “Pieces d’ Identities,” tells the incredible tale of an old African king who leaves his homeland in the Congo to in search of his wayward daughter in Belgium.

Lastly, The Africa Channel also will air several upcoming music specials, one of which features famed Nigerian Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti.  Additional specials will include “Umoja,” the internationally-acclaimed, loud, colorful and jubilant stage musical celebrating South African music - from the earliest rhythms to the popular modern genre known as Kwaito.

 please visit www.theafricachannel.com for more information

The Milton Keynes Theatre has been dubbed ‘Britain’s most popular theatre’ due to its high booking rate and is the largest theatre in the UK outside of London. On Friday 29th June 2007, The Milton Keynes Theatre will showcase ‘A Slave’s Story’ – an emotionally charged and thought provoking play written by Yaw Asiyama. It will also be the first time a Black British production will be staged there.
With 2007 marking the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the staging of ‘A Slave’s Story’ in this popular theatre is especially poignant.

‘A Slave’s Story’ is an intimate and spiritual expression that follows eight generations of one family whose tale is passionately passed from mother to daughter beginning in the African Tribe lands in 1781 until it reaches modern metropolitan Britain in 2007. ‘A Slave Story’ is ultimately a tale of redemption, as this family seeks freedom through courage, stubborn memory and a fierce loyalty to each other.

The all-woman cast comprises of over thirteen community actors including six local children, a gospel choir, twenty professional dancers and drummers and a band of seven musicians, directed by the renowned musician Peter Daley.

Roy Nevitt, Chair of Milton Keynes Theatre & Gallery Company says “with Yah Asiyama’s work, we have an opportunity to bring the black experience into the mainstream. His Play will stimulate thought, increase knowledge and understanding of our country’s past; move its audiences with its humanity and, with its positive and life enhancing messages mediated through genuine artistic expression, fresh and on-going debate about race relations and contribution to social cohesion.”

Yaw Asiyama, of Ghanaian heritage, established his theatre production company ‘The Collective Arts’ in 1991 to provide access to the professional stage for semi-professional and amateur actors. The resounding success of A Slave’s Story at local venues caught the attention of Milton Keynes Theatre Directors and Yaw was given a-one-night-only slot at this prestigious venue.
Tickets for this ground breaking production have been reasonably priced to give everyone a chance to share in the experience. For ticket information contact the Milton Keynes Theatre box office on 0870 060 6652 or visit www.miltonkeynestheatre.com.

Subsidised Customer Care Training has just become available via Train to Gain - a new service run by the Learning Skills Council (LSC) which helps businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness by ensuring that staff have the right skills to do the best job

Employers can have their entire teams trained at no cost to them and employees will gain Customer Care - NVQ Level 2 accreditation. The training is often done on site and in the event that staff need to go offsite to do the training, the company will be subsidized for that time.

It is a great way for employers to ensure that staff can confidently and positively represent their organisation.

For more information on how your organisation can gain access to this free training, contact Shaherah Williams on 07903228117 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

A man in his 50s has been shot dead by police during an operation in west London, the Met Police have said.
The victim was fatally wounded during an incident in Hanger Green, Ealing, on Tuesday evening.

The Met said the shooting happened as armed officers were conducting a "proactive, intelligence-led operation" at about 2225 BST.

No police officers were hurt and there were no arrests. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.

Forensic tests

The London Ambulance Service and a doctor from the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scotland Yard said the police operation had involved officers from Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in the black community, supported by specialist firearms officers.

Forensic experts were to examine the scene, and officers from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating.

IPCC investigators went to the scene as a matter of routine, the force said.

Recognising that too many young people have been killed in recent gangland shootings in the UK, a London church youth group is helping to tackle the root of the problem.  The Victory Youth Group (VYG) members from Finsbury Park decided on this stand following recent shootings in South London in which three teenage boys died.

Led by a former gang member turned Pastor, the VYG team is using music and drama to show young people the dark realities of gang life.  The first performance of their show - Lost in Da Game - takes place on Sunday April 29 at the Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park at 2.00pm, and is free.

"Teenagers should be in no doubt about the vicious and destructive natures of gangs," said Pastor Damien Jackson.  "We want to help them turn away before it is too late; and we fully understand how hard that can be because of the
tremendous pressure to conform."

Once a member of one of America's most notorious gangs, Bloods, Pastor Damien will be the star of the show.  He will speak from the experience of having escaped the ruthless gang with the help of the UCKG HelpCentre, which he later
joined.  "I hope that this play will convince people that there is hope no matter how bad things are," Pastor Damien added.

Damien, who was an alcoholic by the age of 12, joined the gang to get away from his abusive father who kicked him out when his mother, a con artist left. A fourth stint in jail for attempted murder made Damien see the error of his ways
and now, as a Pastor, he helps others to change their lives for the better.

Pastor Luke Castro who heads up UCKG's youth ministry in the UK said: "With all of the shootings Britain has seen of late, we simply had to stand up and take action.  The aim of the musical is to persuade young people that it's possible
to turn your life around and escape deprived, crime-ridden, and destructive lifestyles.  We are here to talk in complete confidentiality with anyone who wants help in taking this step."

UCKG's Pastor Damien Jackson has left his gang days behind him

Black British comedian Richard Blackwood is to make his debut in a new Bollywood film.

The actor and funny man will be playing Jimmy, a bass guitarist in a new movie about the rise of a multicultural urban music band and is set in the heart of Birmingham. He stars in Don’t Stop Dreaming alongside Bollywood greats Rishi Kapoor and Sunil Shetty.

In an interview with British showbiz magazine Ikonz, Blackwood explained how he hoped to use the opportunity to work with global acting talent to hopefully break into Hollywood.

“It was really fun because I didn’t realise how famous and respected these actors were in India until I actually worked with them for Don‘t Stop Dreaming. I would do an Indian show and say ‘Hey, I now know Rishi Kapoor’,” he told editor Reena Combo.

“Most definitely you can’t go into Hollywood until you’re ready. I think Bollywood is definitely the right way to get there,” he added.

Blackwood began his career in stand-up comedy at the age of 21 and was most recently seen appearing as a regular character in the Bo Selecta! sketch shows.

The Capitol Radio DJ, who once hosting dating game show Singled Out on Channel 5, felt his latest project was also a step in the right direction in terms of celebrating diversity.

He explained: “I liked the fun element of the movie and the bonding of cultures through music. I think that it is very important and the prevalent message in the movie, and hopefully that will come across to the public who watch Don‘t Stop Dreaming.”

The interview also probes Blackwood’s personal life, his all-time comedy heroes and his love for the late R’n’B singer Aaliyah, whom he says he would have asked to marry him, had he met her.

Also starring in the British-Bollywood co-production are former Eastenders star Michelle Collins alongside music artist Taz of Stereo Nation, whom has also composed the soundtrack for the film, alongside Brummie musician Apache Indian.