African Odysseys presents : A weekend of Films/Talks on Frantz Fanon’s incredible work and legacy from Algeria to South Africa to Iran
Full details to be announced for 15th and 16th May. Tickets available from 1st May
Other coming events from www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk
- Black History Steam train tour
- Black History Bus Tour/ River Cruise
- Graphic novels, Black history, publishing and movies
- Hackney, Harlem, St Paul’/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
- African Odysseys, Racism in Academia and @BFI Southbank
- Toyin Agbetu season of films and books
- The Story of the CFA (West African Franc)
- 60 years of Black British Civil Rights, racism @BFI with Professor Gus John
- Black British Civil Rights, Kung Fu and anti-racist street fighters with Professor Lez Henry
- How Black People Won World War 2
- Sign petition to save 17 years of Black film history at BFI Southbank HERE
About African Odysseys
The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screened monthly, popular, anti-racist, Black history films with Q&A’s for 17 years at the BFI. It regularly filled the Southbank 450 seater at 2pm on Saturdays when cinemas are typically ‘dead’.The British Film Institute ignored a 17,000 strong petition to keep it HERE .Refused to answer 8 simple questions. Then cancelled the programme so they could ‘cut costs and promote diversity’ HERE
Other coming events ww.blackhistorywalks.co.uk HERE
References and Resources
Susan Williams, White Malice: The CIA and the Neocolonisation of Africa(C. Hurst and Co, 2023). An authoritative and comprehensive account of the history of the CIA’s interference in Africa.Jonathan Ng, ‘The Colonial past haunts French Military operations in Africa’, Monthly Review 18 May 2025. A useful introduction to the (post)colonial history of French military operations in Africa. https://mronline.org/2025/05/18/the-colonial-past-haunts-french-military-operations-in-africa/
Françafrique: France’s Hidden Empire in Africa – excellent documentary by History Scrolls on the story of Françafrique, the secret network that allowed France to keep control over its former colonies through money, military power, and manipulation, from the creation of the CFA franc to covert coups, assassinations, and ‘cooperation agreements.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgd_BG1_8WA
Farouk Chotia, ‘Why Burkina Faso’s junta leader has captured hearts and minds around the world’, BBC News, 12 May 2025: a short but well-informed introduction to Ibrahim Traoré. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1egely9v3go
Film: Soundtrack to a Coup d’État (Belgium/France/Netherlands, 2024), dir. Johan Grimonprez. Available to stream on Amazon and BFI PlayerA documentary essay on the assassination in January 1961 of the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba and the involvement of the CIA and Belgium. It highlights the CIA’s role in the Congo and the use of American ‘jazz ambassadors’ like Louis Armstrong to distract attention from US political interference.