- Home
- News & Blogs
- About Us
- What We Do
- Our Communities
- Info Centre
- Press
- Contact
- Archive 2019
- 2015 Elections: 11 new BME MP’s make history
- 70th Anniversary of the Partition of India
- Black Church Manifesto Questionnaire
- Brett Bailey: Exhibit B
- Briefing Paper: Ethnic Minorities in Politics and Public Life
- Civil Rights Leader Ratna Lachman dies
- ELLE Magazine: Young, Gifted, and Black
- External Jobs
- FeaturedVideo
- FeaturedVideo
- FeaturedVideo
- Gary Younge Book Sale
- George Osborne's budget increases racial disadvantage
- Goldsmiths Students' Union External Trustee
- International Commissioners condemn the appalling murder of Tyre Nichols
- Iqbal Wahhab OBE empowers Togo prisoners
- Job Vacancy: Head of Campaigns and Communications
- Media and Public Relations Officer for Jean Lambert MEP (full-time)
- Number 10 statement - race disparity unit
- Pathway to Success 2022
- Please donate £10 or more
- Rashan Charles had no Illegal Drugs
- Serena Williams: Black women should demand equal pay
- Thank you for your donation
- The Colour of Power 2021
- The Power of Poetry
- The UK election voter registration countdown begins now
- Volunteering roles at Community Alliance Lewisham (CAL)
Marley Community Centre receives recognition
Historic and cultural location given green plaque and a Radio Four programme
The former Keskidee Centre in Caledonian Road was today given a green plaque by the Islington Council for its place as Britain's first black arts centre and in recognition of its cultural contribution.
Tottenham MP, Shadow Higher Education Minister and Bob Marley fan David Lammy unveiled the green plaque. The green plaque scheme is also run by other London councils including Westminster and Haringey. The scheme aims to honour and preserve historic and cultural links of people and places.
The idea of a Black cultural centre at the time was a revolution. It was founded by Guyanese-born Oscar Abrams in 1971, taking its names Caribbean song bird and has given generation of black teenagers their own space. Linton Kwesi Johnson used it a base for his writings and music early in his career.
The centre, off Caledonian Road, was also the set of Bob Marley’s Is This Love video which incidentally featured a seven year old Naomi Campbell.
Bob Marley fame and the sad fact that next month marks the 30th anniversary of the Bob Marley’s death has obviously gone some way to making the centre a landmark to be commemorated.
In fact Ian Burrell in the Independent talks about Marley’s legacy and the way that his music influenced the politics of a generation, something he and those he interviews lament is amiss in much of today’s music.
Although Marley frequently denounced politics there’s little doubt his music and lyrics influenced and inspired movements and effectively acted as a lightening rod for some peoples socials ideals and political hopes.
This summer to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death and in honour of his musical message there is the ‘one love peace festival’ at Wembley Arena on July 31. Tickets are on sale now.
To find out more about the green plaque scheme please contact your local council culture and heritage department.
The_Keskidee Centre features tonight on a Radio Four programme The Keskidee and will be available on BBC IPlayer:
Ashok Viswanathan
Picture: Bob Marley