Roots Renaissance event to celebrate the legacy of African and Caribbean music and dance in the UK

A collaboration of African and Caribbean arts organisations, such as African Heritage UK, IRIE dance theatre, Kauma Arts, and Koromanti Arts from London; Tewahedo drummers, Kajans Women’s enterprise, and Moving tu balance, from Birmingham, along with arts supporters, Chester Morrison, Doreen Forbes-Thomas, Michael ‘Junior’ McCartney have come together to produce a showcase celebrating the legacy of the past 40 plus years of Caribbean music and dance in the UK on 7 July.

The first of two initiatives being developed to pay homage to those who brought and shared their talents over the past 40 plus years but have now passed on to the other realm. The ROOTS 40 Lifetime Achievement Awards acknowledges and celebrates those who are still amongst us and continue this work. This programme is being brought to Birmingham to memorialise Carlton ‘Jackie’ Guy who passed on in November 2021. From 1988 to 1995, Guy was the artistic director of Kokuma Dance Company representing the city across Europe. Jackie Guy was also a member of the internationally renowned, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica before he came to England. Dignitaries from the High Commission of Jamaica and many others will also be attending the celebration in Birmingham at The Legacy Centre of Excellence.

This event is being held to create an archive as an historical record of Caribbean cultural activity during the Windrush era. Performers of the showcase are the next generation who have been impacted by the works of these esteemed practitioners.

Performances by:

ACE dance and music’s youth company, ACE YOUTH, African Heritage UK, IRIE! dance theatre, Moving tu Balance, and Paradigmz. The evening will be hosted by Sheba Montserrat.

The ROOTS 40 Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony will be held en masse to acknowledge and celebrate the works and legacies of our elder pioneers and trailblazers as a show of appreciation.

Book tickets here: https://bit.ly/RootsRenaissance2023