Film Number

7501

Title

A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN CULTURE: CHALLENGING NEO-COLONIALISM, EVENING SESSION

Producer

WFA

Date

1983

Gauge

U-matic LB

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Running Time

56 mins 01 secs

Description

The sixth session of a 10 week Celebration of African Culture, held at WFA Media and Cultural Centre in Manchester between February and May 1983. Gareth Richards introduces panel of Gus John, Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Paul Okujie. Gus makes links between the Caribbean, black people in Britain and neo-colonial discussions and films of this weekend. Talks about struggles for independence in Africa and Caribbean; the relationship between black people here in Britain and at home; how the British State has been able to colonise blacks in this country; the way we see ourselves has been advanced by the British state. Role of Council for Race Equality (CRE), giving of grants by CRE and Local Authority and the impact this has had. Neo-colonialism exists in Manchester - how those structures exist and the legitimacy we lend them. After 26 minutes, questions opened to the floor. Question about strategies in a post-revolutionary situation to avoid failures that have been made. Paul Okojie answers and Ngugi - it is only when people have control over their productive forces that liberation is achieved. Question about relationship between black and white workers. Gus puts case for black workers to organise independently. Ngugi makes a contribution about imperialism as robbery with violence.

[Catalogued as part of 'Revitalising the Regions' a Screen Heritage UK project, 2011]