80 Years Of British Black Music 1943-2023

Wednesday June 21 2023, 2.00-8.00pm

BBM/BMC celebrates Make Music Day & British Black Music Month with a Kwaku BBM 6-hour DJ set featuring various British black music styles.

80 Years Of British Black Music 1943-2023

Note: This event will be online, plus we hope to have a physical component to engage an audience and special guests.

On Wednesday June 21, 2-8pm(UK) BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) will mark Make Music Day and British Black Music Month (BBMM) with 80 Years Of British Black Music 1943-2023 – a widely varied 6-hour DJ set by Kwaku BBM, which will display the depth and breadth of British black music, spanning over 80 years, from the World War 2 era to present day!

The programme is as follows (the *BMC: 21 Years Of British Black Music will accommodate the time slot offered to go live on the Make Music Day UK’s Youtube channel):

1940s-50s Eclectica: highlife, calypso, jazz and more

1960s R&B And Pop: home-grown, plus British European groups discover American R&B

1970s Reggae: roots & culture, pop, and lovers rock

1980s Jazz-Funk: Brit-funk and disco

1990s UK Crossover US: UK records that crossed over into the US charts

2002-23 *BMC: 21 Years Of British Black Music: the varied musical styles that have been the soundtrack to BMC (Black Music Congress), from 2002-23, including drum & bass, jungle, Afrobeats and more

Also, expect Kwaku to attempt to get a few guests on air by randomly phoning artists and industryites!!!

Black Music Congress started in 2002 with monthly forums at City, University of London. British Black Music Month is an initiative started in 2006 by BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress (BBM/BMC) to highlight domestic black music, create forums for black music practitioners and fans to meet, network, dialogue, and improve their music industry knowledge and contacts.

Produced by BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress (BBM/BMC) in association with BTWSC/African Histories Revisited.

More Events in Greater London Listings MORE

Brent June 1 2026, 4pm to Oct. 31 2026, 6pm

The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition 2026

BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com /Black Music Congress) presents in association with BTWSC/African Histories Revisited and Brent Museum and Archives: The…

Camden Saturday 26 September to Saturday 12 December 2026

Seeing the Potential

Seeing the Potential, an exhibition by artist Matthew Small, explores the importance of looking beyond appearances and present…

Wandsworth Tuesday 29th September – Tuesday 27th October 2026

Pan Wandsworth – Steel Pan Workshops

Pan Wandsworth invites local residents to discover the history, sound and cultural significance of the steel pan through…

Richmond upon Thames Thursday 1st October 2026 to Sunday 28th February 2027

Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life

This major exhibition brings the work of Jamaican-born, West London-based sculptor Ronald Moody back to the city where…

Southwark Thursday 1st to Saturday 31st October 2026

All Our Histories Exhibition

Discover Black history in Camberwell and Southwark through local research, contemporary art and creative work produced by young…

Redbridge Sunday 11th October to Monday 9th November 2026

A Language of Colour and Form

Award-winning Caribbean artist Venetta Nicole explores identity, belonging, memory and resilience through a vibrant visual language of colour,…

Brent Monday 12th October 2026 – Sunday 3rd January 2027

Disney’s High School Musical

Celebrating 20 years since Disney’s High School Musical became a global phenomenon, the Wildcats arrive in London this…