BHM Listings: 2008

London, Sugar & Slavery gallery reveals city�s untold history

What is London�s dirty big secret? What does a sweet cuppa have to do with a terrible crime against humanity? What product links millions of enslaved Africans and London�s Dockers? How did English ladies and freedom fighters in the Caribbean find themselves united in struggle? Who really led the abolition campaign for the transatlantic slave trade? And what price freedom?

Our life ... is land ... is culture

At 27, Samantha Hobson is one of a handful of young celebrated Aboriginal artists exhibiting widely both in her native Australia and abroad. Samantha Hobson began painting with the Lockhart River Art Gang, a group of young Indigenous painters from the remote Lockhart River community on the east coast of the far northern tip of Queensland. The Art Centre soon became the nucleus for a dynamic school of creative development.

Partition � An historical Indian epic

Special screenings of the film Partition will be shown at the Lighthouse, Wolverhampton as part of BHM. India, 1947: War weary, Gian (Jimi Mistry) resigns from his Sikh regiment of the British Army and returns to his village. As colonial rule comes to a hasty end, the turmoil of Indian partition spills over into a bloodbath of ethnic cleansing between the Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities. When the villagers take revenge on a group of Muslim refugees, Gian saves young Naseem (Kristin Kreuk), and shelters her in his home. The two fall in love, despite the opposition of the outraged villagers. When Naseem leaves to find her long-lost family in Pakistan even more brutal judgement awaits. Sarin�s film is an epic, sweeping motion picture set against the violent upheaval of India�s partition. Dir. Vic Sarin, Can/South Africa/ UK, 2007, 1hr56.

Chef Hasan Defour and the art of Caribbean fusion food

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Chef Deour developed a love and passion for food from an early age. He says: �In Trinidad I was fortunate as our food gastronomy is stretched from the native inhabiting tribes of the Amerindians (Caribs & Arawaks) to the Africans, Indian Europeans, Asian influences - real fusion food. I was always looking forward the Eid, Divali and other festivals that are celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago. The varied groups would always showcase their ethnic culinary dishes of which I was always looking to try to gain a greater understanding of the culinary styles of each culture.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN STOCKPORT � 10 years

Stockport Council is working with local agencies and community groups to ensure that Black History Month 2008 has an exciting programme of events to mark the 10th anniversary of local celebrations. The theme for this year�s Black History Month is �Participation and Engagement� and the many events promise to be enjoyable as well as encourage learning, promote community cohesion and celebrate Stockport's diverse communities.