The Black History of Comedy PLUS African Odysseys @BFI update

Laugh out loud while exploring how comedy tackles racism since 1960s. A fun, eye-opening night + latest on the 19K anti-racist @BFI petition

The Black History of Comedy: Comedians often use history as part of their material. In this interactive session we piece together a visual tapestry of the best historical comedy from great known and unknown comics from the 1960’s to now We will also place their comical observations on a historical timeline of international struggle for racial equality and show how comedy can be educational. Be prepared to laugh your head off and learn about world history at the same time. * some swearing and adult humour.

We will also give updates on the fight against the racist treatment of the 20-year-old African Odysseys, monthly, educational, Black history film programme. The British Film Instiute had agreed in writing back in 2023 to host a 20th anniversrary season at Southbank in 2026 but then in 2024 betrayed their own promises, ignored 19,000 petitioners, breached their own policies and UK Equality law and cancelled African Odysseys @BFI with no public consultation while refusing to meet with loyal volunteers who had poured £6 million of labour into the taxpayer funded charity HERE

Ironically this comedy presentation was designed by the African Odysseys Steering committee to develop audiences at the BFI back in 2015

Other coming events ww.blackhistorywalks.co.uk HERE

Harlem in Mayfair Walk

Black Liverpool Films and book launch at Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Windrush International Caribbean Film Festival October to November

For more information and to support African Odysseys click HERE

The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screened monthly, popular, anti-racist, Black films with Q&A’s for 18 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 19,000 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