Crossing Generations

Wednesay 23 October 2024

About the event

An exciting celebration of Bristol’s black cultural scene through an array of voices and works of those who have made it thrive, inspired by the Black History Month 2024 theme of 'Reclaiming Narratives’. An evening of talks, performances, readings and creative works, showcasing some of Bristol’s most inspiring black filmmakers, musicians, writers and artists spanning community generations, including UWE Bristol alumni.

'Crossing Generations' Host was Dr Edson Burton, poet, drama writer, curator, historian and UWE Bristol alum. Edson was joined by filmmakers Rob Mitchell and UWE Bristol’s Professor Shawn Sobers, who co-founded the production company Firstborn Creatives shared their work – including a film made by Elias Williams from MANDEM, an independent media platform challenging mainstream media narratives around young men of colour. Also joining the event was Americana folk singer Lady Nade, writer and cultural historian Dr Zakiya McKenzie and spoken-word artist Shakara.

Further celebrations (not included in the recordings) comprised of book sales from independent publisher of Zimbabwean and African literature, Carnelian Heart, and independent Bristol bookseller Bookhaus; artworks from Jazz Thompson and Olu Osinoiki; and great music from DJ Anton Invicta – the latter three all UWE Bristol alumni.

The event ran as part of the Bristol Distinguished Address Series, in collaboration with UWE Bristol's award-winning Equity programme, a positive action programme for Global Majority students to support them to feel part of the UWE community, to be themselves and to succeed and flourish during their student journey and into their chosen career after graduating.

Holistically, Equity aims to create and embed a sense of belonging, provide a safe space to engage in conversations around race, racism, discrimination and intersectionality and for students develop key skills to be able to advocate for themselves through coaching and skills workshops and mentoring. The programme also supports and contributes to the university’s priority of eliminating the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Awarding gap.

Podcast

Listen to the talk on SoundCloud

Event recording

In this episode of the Bristol Distinguished Address Series, we celebrate Bristol’s Global Majority cultural scene through an array of voices and works of those who have made it thrive, inspired by the Black History Month 2024 theme of 'Reclaiming Narratives’.