About this episode

The episode explores the evolution of black music in the UK and its cultural significance as a new exhibition opens in London.

As a major exhibition retracing how music from Africa, the Caribbean and North America merged to make a distinctly British sound opens in London, Spotlight on Africa looks at a century of black music in the diaspora. V&A East, the latest offshoot of the world-renowned Victoria & Albert Museum, opened in Stratford – the area regenerated by London's 2012 Olympic Games – on 18 April. Its inaugural exhibition, entitled "The Music is Black: A British Story", charts the rise of black music in the UK, from early drumbeats brought over from Africa to the present day, in which African and Afro-Caribbean music reflect British multiculturalism. Black British music takes centre stage as London's V&A East opens doors From Africa via the Caribbean and North America, the contribution of musicians of African descent still resonates in the United Kingdom – from reggae to rap and grime , a contemporary black British musical genre born in East London, which has allowed young people to create a sense of belonging, while connecting to a global audience. V&A East director Gus Casely-Hayford talks to RFI about how he imagined a space that would attract visitors from all over the world, as…

People in this episode

Guests: Gus Casely-Hayford, Jacqueline Springer

Topics covered

• black music
• British sound
• cultural history
• music exhibition
• multiculturalism
• diaspora

Keywords

• reggae
• grime
• black British music
• V&A East
• music exhibition
• cultural contribution
• Afro-Caribbean
• London
• diaspora

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RFI English, V&A East

Places: London, Stratford, United Kingdom, Bristol, East London

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