We wrote a small piece about the African contribution to the science and art of writing and publishing, it was posted on the OBV website back in July 2011. We just scraped the surface, but the reaction it received from a hater is interesting. Please visit: http://www.obv.org.uk/news-blogs/pen-mightier-sword

UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

Hi All,

I thought I would just remind you that August 23^rd [Today]is UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Also for those of you who missed it, August 17^th is the birth date of the Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. I believe that August is a very important month to the human family in general and people of African decent in particular. It's my belief that there should be a public holiday to mark these two significant periods in human history. What's your thoughts?

Below I have included a small time-line of the Transatlantic enslavement period of African peoples. If you want more details and a copy of the time line I may make it available in an e-book format soon. Just let me know.

A great book available now that I would encouraged you to get, is John Agard's Equiano's Epigrams. Mr Agard gives an insight of what this period was like, he presents how this African [Olaudah Equiano] was made into a slave shipped from West Africa to the Caribbean then to England, and he once again became a free human being. Agards' book shows how Equiano wrote his autobiography and self published his book. How it went on to become a best-seller and was sold throughout the British Empire, USA and Europe. Please see Equiano's Epigrams in our catalogue section.

 

A Basic Time Line of The Transatlantic Enslavement Trade of Africans

- 1562 First English slaving expedition by Sir John Hawkins

- 1672 Royal Africa Company granted charter to carry Africans to the Americas

- 1772 The Somerset case held that no enslaved could be forcibly removed from - Britain. The case led to the widespread belief that slavery itself

was illegal in England, Wales and Ireland

- 1781 - 132 African enslaved people thrown overboard from the slave ship ‘Zong’

- 1787 Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade founded

- 1791 23rd August – St Domingue (Haiti) enslaved African people revolt

- 1807 25th March – Slave Trade Abolition Bill passed in the British Parliament

- 1819 British West Africa Squadron (Royal Navy) established to suppress slave trading. By 1865, nearly 150,000 people freed by anti-slavery operations

- 1838 1st August – All enslaved men, women and children in the Caribbean finally become free after a period of forced apprenticeship, following the passage

of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833

- 1865 Slavery finally abolished in the United States territories

- 1888 Slavery abolished in Brazil

Nex Generation - Dekenu

 

I thought I would just let everyone know that the summer edition of the NEX Generation magazine is still out. For those of you who are not aware of the magazine, let me just give

you a quick history of its development.

Nex Generation magazine was first conceived by Dekenu Shepherd and his wife Pamela Lorde in 2003, whilst they were publishing Afrikan Business & Culture/ABAC magazine (formerly Black Business & Culture, launched in 2006). ABAC had one name change, which was to RISE. They published one edition, but due to the poor response they decided to cease publishing ABAC/RISE in December 2003.

The premier edition of Nex Generation was launched in the UK around January 2004. Hence, Nex Generation is NOT an extension of ABAC as many people often believe, it has always been a totally different product. Nex Generation places family at the centre, while ABAC placed culture/business at the centre.

In his own words Dekenu shares “While observing the social and economic demise of the African Caribbean community in the UK, the decision to relocate to Jamaica in March 2007, was taken after Pam and I explored the options of raising our two young children in Jamaica/Caribbean in 2006”.

Dekenu was born in the UK of Jamaican parentage, and is also a Jamaican citizen. His wife Pamela, was born in the UK of Barbadian parentage. They both recognised Jamaica, like much of the other Caribbean islands have much potential and business opportunities that those of us of African descent in the Diaspora, need to explore and exploit, like other ethnic groups.

Nex Generation now focuses on addressing critical issues affecting the Caribbean family development. For the first time the UK & USA, now have access to the Caribbean's first socially conscious magazine geared to empowering our families at home and abroad.

So that was my quick break down of its history and I must say I a pleased with Dekenu's and Pam's steadfastness and determination to continue producing the magazine in my humble opinion the UK black community still need his magazine and talent more than ever especially after what we witness over the last few weeks. In the next few weeks I will publish an interview with the editor Dekenu so he can give you the full inside story.

There are some great articles in this addition, It opens with one written by myself entitled Inspiring Our Young People Beyond Sports and Entertainment. It has other great pieces throughout such as one entitled Creating A Positive Home Learning Environment by David Simon. I recommend that you pick up a copy, unfortunately there is only a limited supply in the UK but you can pick up a copy from BIS Publications for £4.50 plus P&P. - do hurry just 10 left.

We are also looking for distributors for the magazine up and down the UK, if interested do contact me: 07903 791 469.

Welcome

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the BIS Publications' blog pages.

I hope you will join us here regularly where we hope to keep you updated about:

• Our new publications
• Events such as our Readers are Leaders events
• Courses such as our 1 Day Intensive course for African Caribbean Writers who want to Self Publish Successfully
• General information and updates about the publishing, book and creative industries

You can also order our books both printed and e-books from this blog, register to join our offline and online courses, you can join our online book club and read about our authors.

For now just pass the Information and extend the Knowledge!

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Next BIS Publications Event

BIS Publications will be giving a presentation on

The Life and Times of Olaudah Equiano

For the Black Workers Support Group Commemoration Day Workshop

Venue & Date:
Hyde Room, York House

Richmond Upon Thames

Tuesday 23^rd August

12pm to 2pm

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What is the African Contribution To Science Past, Present and Future?

Speakers:

• Dr. Mark Richards, DJ and Lecturer in the Department of Physics, Imperial College London
• Leeroy Brown, winner of the Inventor Consumer Award at the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World Awards
• Michael Williams, engineer, publisher and author of the best-selling book series Black Scientists and Inventors

Facilitator:

Michael Williams

The Science Museums' Dana Centre.

Thursday 22^nd September 2011

Time 7pm to 9pm

Fee: Free, but you must register your attendance