January 26th 2008

 

More video footage from the event :

Dr Lez Henry   Q&A with Lez Henry

Decima Francis   Sybil Phoenix

Ty   

Open Forum I   Open Forum II  Open Forum III

Interviews

Beyond Slavery – It is Time to Move On ?

Saturday 26^th January 2008 3pm-6pm

The Synergy Centre, 220 Farmers Road, London SE5

www.thesynergycentre.org www.collectiveartistes.co.uk

The Synergy Centre, in association with Collective Artistes & The Community Activist Network, present ‘Beyond Slavery’ - a debate and discussion exploring the contemporary relevance and legacy of slavery and colonisation in explaining contemporary social problems in South London.

The recent spate of shootings and stabbings and the growth in gang culture in South London and elsewhere has often been characterised as a product of the disruption of social structures and cultural identities caused by slavery and colonisation, while others maintain that such explanations insulate communities from taking responsibility for tackling these problems. At ‘Beyond Slavery’, a panel of black cultural commentators, historians and community leaders will share their perspectives with an invited audience of local authority officers, the police, teachers and the wider public to address the issues and develop networks of understanding to lay the foundation for collective action to promote greater community cohesion and harmony. Artistic performances by local young people, the Kakatsitsi Master Drummers from Ghana and conscious poets and MCs will follow the discussion with an opportunity to mingle and network.

The Synergy Centre is located in the deprived area of West Camberwell, an area with a very high concentration of social housing and large African and Black British communities, and sits on the border between SW9 and SE5, one of the borders that informs local gang identities. The Centre is adjacent to St Michael and All Angels Academy, formerly Archbishop Michael Ramset Technology College – a school that is experiencing a high level of serious gang-related exclusions. In February 2007, one of the victims of a series of gang-related incidents was a student at AMR and gang-related fights and anti-social behaviour take place on a regular basis in the street in front of the Centre.

Confirmed Speakers :

Dr Lez Henry (keynote speaker) – Academic, Youthworker, Dancehall DJ.

Henry Bonsu – broadcaster and journalist, head of talent and programmes, Colourful Radio

Sybill Phoenix - Methodist minister, foster mother, community leader.

Elijah Kerr – founder and former leader of the PDC, one of South London’s most notorious gangs, now reformed character, music business manager and mentor.

To be confirmed :

Megaman – So Solid Crew

Some of the issues that will addressed at the meeting include :

• What was the impact of slavery on family structures and gender roles in diasporal African communities and what is the relevance to contemporary urban social problems and identities?

• What has been the role of colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism in perpetuating the exploitation and oppression of African and diasporal communities and to what extent are they a cause of poverty and alienation in urban communities ?

• What underlying social and cultural needs do urban gang identities meet for some young people in South London ?

• What is the impact of popular music and fashion on the lifestyles of young people in deprived urban communities ?

• How relevant is race in discussing the origin of gang and gun culture and how relevant are polarised ‘them and us’ explanations of the problems and solutions ?

• What is the role of the drugs trade in exacerbating gang related conflicts ?

• How effective are central and local government responses to the growth of gang culture and violence and what more can be done to empower communities to tackle the problems in a more effective way ?

For more information please contact :

Steve Peake, Director of the Synergy Centre on 0207 793 1083 or 07766 566691.