The History of Black History Month

Radio and TV producer, and Brent resident, Rosemary Laryea is in conversation with Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, the founder of Black History Month UK.

Learn how, after 3 years of arriving in the UK as a political refugee, Addai-Sebo sought the approval of Brent residents Ken Livingstone and Paul Boateng to launch Black History Month UK.

“Since 1987, Black History Month UK has grown to be the largest concentrated period of inter-cultural activities to promote harmonious race relations and equal opportunity in the UK. Government departments, the Armed Forces and Police, museums, schools and colleges, local authorities, business and industry and communities across the country support and hold events to pay tribute to our common humanity and celebrate the diversity of it all” Akyaaba Adda-Sebo, founder of Black History Month UK.

Join us at The Library at Willesden Green for an enlightening event diving into the origins and significance of Black History Month. This in-person event promises to be educational and inspiring. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to delve into the rich history of Black History Month!

This talk is part of Becoming Brent, 2024 and 2025

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Brent Council, Becoming Brent offers a unique opportunity in the anniversary moment of the British Empire Exhibition, 1924 and 1925.

Over the next two years, Brent has a chance to pause, reflect and redress the ongoing impact of the British Empire on the borough. Whether you’re a local looking to connect with your roots or a visitor eager to explore a new area and its lesser known histories, Becoming Brent is perfect for anyone interested in heritage, history, learning, activism, community, and all the wards of Brent. Come and share your stories and dive into the stories of other people and discover the rich tapestry that makes up this vibrant area.

For more information about the overall project, an article in the summer 2024 edition of “Your Brent” magazine called, “The long road to Becoming Brent” and the project’s press release from May 2024 called, “Trauma and legacy of the British Empire set to be explored” will provide more context.

Becoming Brent is Becoming… Alperton, Barnhill, Brondesbury Park, Dollis Hill, Dudden Hill, Fryent, Harlesden, Kensal, Green, Kenton, Kilburn, Mapesbury, Northwick Park, Preston, Queens Park, Queensbury, Stonebridge, Sudbury, Tokyngton, Welsh Harp, Wembley Central, Willesden Green and Cricklewood & Mapesbury.

BIOGRAPHIES OF SPEAKERS

AKYAABA ADDAI-SEBO

Retired International Peacemaker. Independent Consultant on Preventive Diplomacy and the National Interest

Providing informed advice to Heads of State and governments, traditional rulers and offering arbitration, reconciliation and mediation service as when necessary.

Formerly:

Director of TRIBUTE INSPIRATIONS LIMITED, that produced the two epochal Nelson Mandela concerts at London’s Wembley that galvanised global pressure to get Mandela freed after 27 years in jail. TRIBUTE factors the power of television and radio in unique synergy with popular artists, celebrities and advertisers to serve a good cause. TRIBUTE has produced 9 of the world’s largest broadcast events with most events reaching over 500 million people across 100 countries. As an executive producer, helped with the production and release of the documentary film, ONE HUMANITY, in April 2014, recounting the global solidarity campaign to break the back of the apartheid regime in South Africa leading to a free democratic state with Nelson Mandela as the first president in 1994.

Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Union (OAU), His Excellency Amara Essy, during the transition period from the OAU to the African Union (AU): Conceived and helped establish the Eminent Persons Advisory Panel (EPAP) of the AU now the Panel of the Wise with former Nigerian President, Yakubu Gowon, as the first Chairman.

Special Peace Envoy of International Alert: facilitated and brokered peace between warring factions first in Liberia and then Sierra Leone to bring both wars to an end. Brokered dialogue between Charles Taylor of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia and the then Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to pave way for the holding of national elections in Liberia in 1997. In Sierra Leone successfully negotiated a ceasefire and the release of 19 hostages including 10 European business executives held by the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone and handed them over to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) as previously arranged. This also paved way for the Yamoussoukro Talks leading to the Abidjan Peace Accord of November 1996.

Operations Manager of the Notting Hill Carnival, the largest multi-racial open air festival in the Western Hemisphere embracing 2 million revellers to the streets of Notting Hill, London, during the Bank Holiday in August of every year. Was head-hunted in 1989 to put the operation on a sound economic footing and ensure fiscal probity, control and accountability.

Senior Policy Advisor, London Strategic Policy Unit: responsible for nine policy areas including education, social welfare, youth, gender, gays and lesbians, travellers and migrants.

Special Projects Co-ordinator, Director-General’s Department, Greater London Council: conceived and facilitated the establishment of the month of October as BLACK HISTORY MONTH to recognise and celebrate the contributions of Africans and people of African descent to World Civilisation from antiquity to the present and especially to the social, economic and political life of the United Kingdom and Europe. Since 1987, Black History Month has grown to be the largest concentrated period of inter-cultural activities promoting harmonious race relations and equal opportunity in the UK. Government departments, the Armed Forces and Police, museums, schools and colleges, local authorities, business and industry and communities across the country support and hold events to pay tribute to Our Common Humanity and celebrate the diversity of it all.

Conceived and helped establish a Presidential Commission to strengthen economic, scientific, cultural and educational relations between the Republic of Ghana and the United States during the regime of President Hilla Limann of Ghana. Served as a member of the commission in 1981.

ROSEMARY LARYEA

As a computer graduate Rosemary Laryea worked in the IT industry for more than 12 years in a number of high profile positions: As an Application Developer for Reuters America in New York she also developed, tested and constructed user guides for bespoke financial systems. In the manufacturing sector Rosemary led a team who developed, tested and implemented a UK nationwide quotation system for Satchwell Heating Control Systems. Her Solutions Consultant years were spent working for software houses Seagate Software and Hyperion Solutions where she was instrumental in securing targeted sales deals, and as a Product Marketing Manager for IBM UK she was responsible for planning marketing strategies/campaigns for software products in UK, IRL and NL.

Rosemary’s wealth of experience and resourcefulness in the IT industry became the platform for a career change in radio and television presentation and production. From 2008 to 2012 Rosemary produced and presented a primetime mid morning, arts, culture and lifestyle radio show four times a week; sourcing and interviewing four guests per show, on Colourful Radio. Interviews included celebrities such as BAFTA Award winner and Academy Award winner film maker Spike Lee, bestselling novelist Kathryn Stockett whose novel ‘The Help’ was produced and nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Grammy nominee Oleta Adams, Olympian and world champion athlete Jessica Ennis, Britain’s most foremost musical star Michael Ball, former ITV newsreader and Classic FM presenter John Suchet, Radio and TV presenter Gloria Hunniford and TV Presenter Angelica Bell.

Rosemary was awarded ‘Best Female Presenter’ and ‘Best Interview’ in 2010 for her show ‘Colourful Life with Rosemary Laryea’ as voted by the Colourful Radio listeners. In September 2012 Rosemary became the first female day time presenter on Jazz FM; hosting a primetime mid morning show, Monday to Friday. Her popular show saw listenership total hours increase to over the 3 million target. Whilst at Jazz FM, amongst the host of celebrities she interviewed were world renowned trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Grammy nominee singer Eric Benet, Femi Kuti son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, UK Vocalist of the Year Carleen Anderson and pioneers of the London acid jazz scene The Brand New Heavies.

Between 2012 and 2014, Rosemary produced and presented 5 series of 13 episodes of Culture Vultures, an arts and culture TV show which she devised. The primetime daytime TV show on OHTV, Sky 199, profiled creative’s in the world of arts and culture. OHTV broadcasted in Europe, Africa and America and has a reach of 25 million. Culture Vultures was nominated for a Screen Nation Award 2014.

In summer 2015 Rosemary cover produced and presented ‘Woman to Woman’; the flag ship female centric show on Premier Christian Radio.

Currently Rosemary is a Senior Producer at London’s Times Radio – home to presenters John Pienaar, Cathy Newman and Michael Portillo. She is also a Senior Producer at Whistledown Productions, the outlet where she develops and creates radio programmes for BBC Radio 4; many of which have made ‘Pick Of The Week’.

As well as hosting an array of events, Rosemary is a BBC Expert Voice in Arts and Culture and has written arts and culture features for The Voice newspaper. She is also on the board of Governors at St Dominics Sixth Form College, Harrow.