Display shows how black music helped shape Britain

Nigel Guy MBE is lead co-ordinator of the Bradford Black Heritage Arts and Cultural planning group

An exhibition in Bradford is celebrating black music and its influence on British culture.

Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music is a pop-up display currently on show in the foyer of Bradford's City Hall.

It is a slimmed-down version of what was said to be the first major exhibition to document the musical journey of African and Caribbean people in the UK at the British Library last year.

The pop-up version is part of this year's Black History Month, which began on October 1 in Bradford with an official launch and flag-raising ceremony in Centenary Square.

The official launch of Bradford's Black History Month included a celebration of Nigerian Independence Day

Nigel Guy MBE, lead coordinator of the Bradford Black Heritage Arts & Cultural planning group which organised this month's events, said the exhibition covered the past and present day.

"You have the arrival of people from the Commonwealth, especially from the Americas and the Caribbean, who brought their music to the UK.

"It talks about jazz, about reggae, it talks about carnival music and soca and all different genres of music that people love to hear," he explained.

Mr Guy said one aspect of the exhibition had really surprised him.

"The first black musician to play with the Royal Family in the times of Henry VII and Henry VIII, was a lead trumpeter called John Blanke.

"He was of African decent and is featured in a lot of the tapestries and murals and paintings of that time, which was more than 500 years ago," he added.

Mr Guy said he hoped the people of Bradford would learn about how the contributions of people from around the world had helped "enrich British culture and British life".

The theme of this year's Black History Month is "standing firm in power and pride" with the aim of spotlighting the achievements of black leaders, activists, and pioneers who have helped shape history.

On 4 October, The Events Place on Nelson Street will host the 65th National Nigerian Independence Award and Cultural Day from 14:00-18:00 GMT.

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