Research news
Festival coinciding with Windrush Day to celebrate influence of African-Caribbean migration on London's music scene
By: Stephanie Allen
Last updated: Thursday, 20 June 2019
Djsoulprovyder will be performing on ‘Jazzy, Funky Sunday’
A University of Sussex academic has helped organise a festival to celebrate how African-Caribbean migration transformed London’s vibrant music scene.
Held at the Palais de la Porte Doreé in Paris, the Real Sounds of London festival is a part of the cultural programme for the Paris-Londres Music Migrations (1962-1989) exhibition, co-curated by Professor Martin Evans.
Running from 19 until 23 June, the festival includes a series of concerts, DJ sets and talks, along with a screening of a film about sponsors Trojan Records.
Professor of Modern European History, Martin Evans, said: “For more than 60 years, Afro-Caribbean artists and musicians have made a significant impact on the London music scene from reggae to jazz or grime.
“It’s about time we recognised that positive influence and we hope that this festival goes some way to showcasing this.”
Produced by Muntu Arts, a UK-based organisation specialising in representation, social impact and sustinability in the creative and cultural sectors, The Real Sounds of London Festival was co-curated by Professor Evans alongside Muntu Arts founder, journalist and DJ Karina Horsham as well as filmmaker and audiovisual artist Olly Jennings.
The events taking place during the rest of the week will coincide with both Fête de la Musique, an annual event where free music concerts are put on across France, and Windrush Day, a moment to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.
Karina Maynard, Director of Muntu Arts, said: "The Paris-Londres exhibition chronicles important aspects of the Black British experience.
"From the Windrush era to contemporary London - a multicultural creative epicentre - our city has been transformed by the music and social consciousness of people of African-Caribbean descent.
"We are thrilled to be producing the Fête de la Musique and Windrush Day events for the Paris-Londres cultural programme.
"The programme highlights the contributions of artists who have not only achieved success in the limelight, but have influenced the development of diverse music genres internationally. This is an important part of our mission - authentic representation of cultural progress for positive social impact."
For more information on the exhibition visit: http://www.histoire-immigration.fr/paris-londres