NewVIc alumni interviews Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, the man behind the UK's Black History Month
NewVIc alumni, Noah Anthony Enahoro, interviews Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo for the latest addition to The Guardian's 'Black Lives' series.
NewVIc alumni, Noah Anthony Enahoro, was honoured to interview Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo in his latest article for The Guardian, in a special ‘Black Lives’ series in commemoration of Black History Month.
Noah is a writer, reporter and journalist at Newham Voices and also writes for The Guardian, The Independent, Digital Spy, Open Democracy, Red Pepper Magazine and other media outlets. He is a former A Level student at NewVIc, having being homeschooled. He recently graduated from an undergraduate degree at Goldsmiths, University of London with a BA (Hons.) in History and Journalism.
His recent interview with Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo brought to light the shocking conversation that led this Ghanaian analyst, journalist and pan-African activist to start Black History Month UK in October 1987.
The 1980's were a pivotal decade for race relations in the UK. October was selected for Black History Month as there were also several anniversaries within the month such as the centenary of Marcus Garvey’s birth, the 25th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the 180th anniversary of Britain’s abolition of the slave trade.
Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo invited Angela Davis, Winnie Mandela, Jesse Jackson and Ray Charles and other intellectuals, politicians and musicians from across the diaspora, to talk to communities across the UK and help celebrate Africa's contribution to world civilisation.
Addai-Sebo‘s education during the 1970s took him to the United States where he campaigned to have "Negro History Week" become "Black History Month." In January 1984, Mr Addai-Sebo was forced to flee Ghana and take refuge in London. He now resides in both the UK and Ghana.
Noah, had this to say about working on this article and the support he received from NewVIc:
“Writing about Mr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo for The Guardian was an experience I'll never forget. It was a huge honour. We have all heard of Black History Month, but so few people know of the man behind it.
This is a brilliant example of how journalism can be used to educate and inform. The power and impact of education is something I witnessed at NewVIc. My skills were sharpened and developed and have helped me as I've progressed in my career."
Noah’s full article in The Guardian can be read here.
Find out more about Noah here.