African Fusion takes place at British Empire and Commonwealth Museum on February 24 2007. © Walter Tull Sports & Arts Development Association
As part of a series of events marking the bicentenary of the act to abolish the slave trade, Bristol's Empire and Commonwealth Museum is hosting an event that acknowledges the contribution of Bristol's African community to the city in the last 200 years.
African Fusion takes place at the museum on February 24 and will see hundreds of people enjoying music, dance, poetry, and food in a celebration of the city’s varied African heritage.
The event has been organised by local charitable organisation The Walter Tull Sports and Arts Development Association, which uses the mnemonic SMART (Sports, Music, Arts) to engage, empower and educate disadvantaged young people in the city.
“We have a very diverse community in Bristol and this event is really a celebration of the contribution that the African community has made in the city,” explained organiser Tennis Russell.
“Within the Afro community we have also seen - in the last two years - many Somalians come to the city and our task is to help them integrate more easily both with the Afro-Caribbean community and with the city at large. This is one of the things that the event will help to do.”
The celebration is open to all members of the public and those of African descent are encouraged to attend in traditional African costume. “The event will be significant, as my heritage is Caribbean, and along with other guests, I will be in African costume, as the event is a costume party,” added Tennis.
Artists so far confirmed for the event include poets Benjamin Zephaniah and Linton Kwesi Johnson as well as African percussion outfit Ace Percussion.
The event runs from 7pm – 1pm. For more information and tickets phone 01275 790213.
African Fusion is linked to Bristol City Council's project Abolition 200 marking the bicentenial ending of the Transatlantic slave trade of which Bristol played a major role.
