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Forward to freedom exhibition in Leeds for Black History Month

Date

Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS) is proud to host Forward to freedom, an exhibition on the history of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement, 1959-1994, for Black History Month in Leeds.

Campaigners in Leeds gather to show their support for the anti-apartheid movement (Photo courtesy of Dr Salim Essop - please acknowledge if reproduced).

The Forward to freedom exhibition tells the story of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and its campaigns to support the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid. The AAM also campaigned for freedom for Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola.

In 1959 the Boycott Movement called for a boycott of South African produce. It grew into a movement of hundreds and thousands of people, campaigning for sanctions against South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela.  The exhibition is part of an education project set up by the Anti-Apartheid Archives Committee that includes an archival website and learning resources. For more information about the AAM please see www.aamarchives.org and for more information on the struggle to overcome the legacies of apartheid in South Africa today please contact Action for South Africa (ACTSA) www.actsa.org

The Forward to freedom exhibition will be displayed initially in the Turberville Foyer, School of History, Third floor of the Michael Sadler Building, University of Leeds from 10-14 October.

It will then move to the Leslie Silver Building outside the Sheila Silver Library at Leeds Beckett University (city campus) from 17-21 October.

aambeckett

It will then go to Chapeltown Library, The Reginald Centre, 263 Chapeltown Road Leeds LS7 3EX from 31 October to 11 November.

There is also material relating to Leeds Women Against Apartheid on display at the exhibition  throughout October for Black History Month, and the main archive of Leeds Women Against Apartheid can be found in the Special Collections of Brotherton Library.

LUCAS is also very proud to host a roundtable to mark the official Leeds launch of the exhibition:

‘Remembering Anti-Apartheid Activism in Leeds’
Wednesday 12 October, 5.30pm, Michael Sadler Building LG19, University of Leeds. Participants include Arthur France MBE, Carole Summerill, and members of Leeds Women Against Apartheid including Frances Bernstein, Ailsa Swarbrick and Judy Maxwell. All welcome.

LUCAS are also very proud to be hosting a production of Frances Bernstein and the Free Range choir's 'Sing Freedom: A story with songs of liberation' on Tuesday 22 November at 7.30pm, Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, School of Music, University of Leeds. 12 Cavendish Rd, Leeds LS2 9JT [Tickets £5/£3], and we hope to have the Forward to freedom exhibition on display for a final time in Leeds at that event as well.

For more information, please contact african-studies@leeds.ac.uk