What's the link between African Odysseys and Sky TVs hit show Possession ?

Sky TV’s Caribbean-based series ‘Possession' starring Gugu Mbath Raw HERE is directed by Storm Saulter. Saulter’s work was first platformed  by African Odysseys, the same monthly, educational, Black history film series the BFI  cancelled with no public consultation and against the wishes of 18,500 people.

African Odysseys is now in its 20th year a significant milestone which the BFI had agreed to recognise before breaking their word by defunding the programme. In 2011, thanks to the curatorial skills of African Odysseys co-founder David Somerset, Saulter’s first feature ‘Better Mus Come’ HERE was given a national platform and screened at BFI Southbank.  In 2015 it went on to feature on BBC2

The film is about history, political violence and the 1978 Green Bay massacre. Somerset also helped Saulter  by connecting him with British Council sponsorship. The BFI’s all white management had no knowledge of such films. It would not have been shown but for African Odysseys.

In 2019  African Odysseys premiered  Saulters major breakthrough film 'Sprinter' starring Usain Bolt, produced by Will and Jada Smith . The  Q&A was hosted by  award-winning rapper/activist Akala . It can be seen in whole HERE

Akala  is one of the 18,500 who have signed the petition

Saulter's  work  is a classic example of the kind of films/topics and directors African Odysseys would highlight monthly since 2007, giving Black directors/producers a chance to shine  in a very white industry which often blocks such productions/exhibition.

Films that deal with deaths in custody/police killings are given a wide berth by cinemas but African Odysseys made a point of giving time and space to such true stories of Black British Civil Rights long before the term ‘Black Lives Matter’ was coined. There are two decades of directors/producers/actors who were elevated by African Odysseys.

Ken Fero’s films are a perfect example  HERE. African Odysseys made sure to highlight his documentaries on immigration, race and politics. BFI senior management had no idea who Fero was  and at one point in 2020, the year of George Floyd, refused to show his films. It took a meeting of African Odysseys volunteers with senior manager Stuart Brown to convince him that such a season appropriately named ' Injustice' HERE should go ahead. This is why Fero’s film Ultraviolence can be found on BFI Iplayer, another example of the importance and legacy of African Odysseys.

In contrast to the fine words of the BFI about George Floyd in June 2020  HERE,  the BFI let his fifth and sixth  anniversaries go by unrecognised. There is only one Black person on the 88% white Executive committee six entire years after George Floyd when there  were none.

African Odysseys recently hosted 'Remembering Joy Gardner' a film and talk   HERE with the families of Joy Gardner and others killed in  custody. That event would and should have been at the BFI Southbank with  more publicity  and a bigger crowd but since the BFI chose to  cancel African Odysseys this was not possible.

African Odysseys continues to showcase African diaspora directors/producers/actors and stories. Coming films include

I fought the law and I won: A Black judge speaks out 

60 years of Struggle with Professor Gus John

The Story of Lovers Rock plus Q&A with film crew

The Price of Memory: Reparations

The Black History of British boxing.

Details for all events  HERE

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