A Pan African Human Rights Organisation challenging the misrepresentation of African people, culture and history in the British media.
08 July 2012
It’s been fourteen years since Jinx\'s mother was brutally stabbed to death in their home in East London. Then, out of nowhere, Lemon arrives on her doorstep. An old friend of her mother’s, he wants to revisit the events leading to that terrible night. Over the course of one weekend they strip away the layers of the past to lay bare a story full of jealousy and tragic betrayal. Narrated with a distinct and fiery spice, Jinx and Lemon must find their own paths to redemption in this stunning debut novel.
29 August 2011
Talawa Young Peoples’s Theatre (TYPT) are exploring twenty five years of Black British history and the current social shifts to create a brand new piece of theatre, #I am England.
29 August 2011
The blues speak of many things, most of all love. In these contemporary, often humorous and frequently surprising stories, Courttia Newland s collection of family, friends, lovers and strangers endeavour to navigate a world where love presents as many obstacles as opportunities.
25 July 2011
Twelve macabre short stories
23 June 2011
Every now and then an album is released that defies classification. Its vibrations spiritual enough to move you, but its content too rich to belong to any predefined genre. Ori Ire by Kevin ‘Ifaleke’ Haynes and Groupo Elegua is one such album.
17 April 2011
“This can’t be happening! Not racism. Not in the 21st Century in England. And not in her Majesty’s Prison Service! But it was happening and Olivea had two options: she could either take the constant abuse, ignore the racial comments, and differential treatment in the hope that it would go away or she could stand up to her bullies. In 2008, Olivea chose bravely, and took the Prison Service and her colleagues to court for direct racial discrimination and victimisation. She stood alone to represent herself in a fifteen day hearing and won! This is Olivea’s rare story of victory.”
01 April 2011
A powerful non-fiction literary debut about identity, belonging and journalism that is essential reading for those seeking a career working in investigative media.
CD: Speaking Through the Ancestors
20 March 2011
Speaking Through the Ancestors is the album of Conscious Plat. She is multi-talented singer song-writer who creates and recites powerful conscious songs and poetry on a blend of neo-soul grooves for the purpose of empowering African people.
20 March 2011
I’m walking through Stratford, London when I come across a sista with a beautiful smile offering passerby copies of her music for purchase. I ask her if it has any obscenities, she responds “no” and within minutes I am walking away with a copy of the independently produced CD – Be Free (Tabot Entertainment/Proprioception)
Book: Speaking Truth to Power: Selected Pan African Postcards
13 August 2010
Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem’s untimely death on African Liberation Day 2009 stunned the Pan-African world. This selection of his Pan-African postcards, written between 2003 and 2009, demonstrates the brilliant wordsmith he was, his steadfast commitment to Pan-Africanism, and his determination to speak truth to power. He was a discerning analyst of developments in the global and Pan-African world and a vociferous believer in the potential of Africa and African people; he wrote his weekly postcards for over a decade. This book demonstrates Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem’s ability to express complex ideas in an engaging manner. The Pan-African philosophy on diverse but intersecting themes presented in this book offers a legacy of his political, social, and cultural thought.
Book: Which Way Africa? The Search for a New Society
08 August 2010
Being an Africentric organisation it is not often that Ligali reviews works by non-Africans nor is it a habit we feel the need or desire to do so. Yet following the recent passing of Basil Davidson, the well known writer on historical Pan African affairs it seemed right we should mark his death with the reintroduction of one of his best if least known books. Which Way Africa? is a brave works. In many ways it could only have been written by a european who had acquired the courage to expose himself to the barbarity of his own clan and as a result acquire the humanity to critique and appraise Pan African affairs through an informed and ‘active’ observatory lens.
02 August 2010
Is beauty really only skin deep if the world we occupy behaves as if it is? Toni Morrison explores the reality for an African family living in America at a time when segregation, ‘white’ supremacy ideology and its supporting overt racist apartheid system was embraced and proudly acknowledged ‘as American as apple pie’.
23 July 2010
“The Maãt Mystery is a journey of discovery through the human mindscape, plumbing the depths of individual and collective depravity, degradation and self-destruction and scaling the heights of supreme enlightenment. This is a pilgrimage through time and space, spanning three continents. Our quest begins in Europe, with Carol and Hans. In North America we meet the mysterious Aiysha, Fundisi the Teacher and Shango. In Africa, we experience the marvellous, ancient wisdom of Nenen Haiti and learn to see the modern world with different eyes. This word vision is also a sexpense thriller with real people such as George, the unfortunate victim and Gertrude, the “rude gal”, dealing with life’s ordinary issues in extraordinary ways. Laugh and cry, live and die with these key characters as they interact with each other, continuing their personal quests for fulfilment, seeking, among other things: acceptance, identity, knowledge, love, material acquisitions, power, more power, sexual satisfaction and vengeance. Please note that it is not suitable for children. It can also have a dramatic effect on how you, the adult, sees the world and your place in it. Some people may be shocked, offended or even reoriented by some of the language, events, ideas and concepts expressed.” An extract from the introduction by the author
Book: Essay Contest for Children of African Descent 2009
04 January 2010
Children of African descent have few avenues for giving their point of view on contemporary issues. Over the last four years, the Essay Contest for Children of African Descent has encouraged and supported children from eight to sixteen to write on some of the challenging issues affecting them. This book shares some of their thoughts, opinions, dreams and aspirations.
Book: The Beautiful Black Afrikan People Went for a Walk
04 January 2010
Have you ever wondered how it is that there are so many different people in the world, with so many different coloured skins? Well, this is the story of how so many different people, with so many different coloured skins came to be in the world.
17 December 2009
This is the story about a young boys’ curious journey towards adulthood under the guidance of his father. Vircheu wants to become a Master Bowman like his father but first he must master patience and humilty.
Book: Kwaku and his Hearing Aid
17 December 2009
This is a story about a boy who everyone thought did not listen to others as learn he has a disability of which not even he is are of.
Bata Ceremonial Drumming Celebration
23 August 2009
Ebge Ilu Oduniyi Ceremonial Bata drummers and Orisha singers ensemble
Play: Iya-lle (The First Wife)
11 June 2009
The Adeyemi family is back in this prequel to the ground breaking play The Estate.
11 June 2009
“Our way is reciprocity. The way is wholeness. Our way knows no oppression. The way destroys oppression.”
Play: Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman
11 June 2009
Nigeria, 1943. The King is dead, and tonight his Horseman must escort him to the Ancestors.
24 April 2009
Again We’ll Rise: A collection of quotations and statements is a guide to self knowledge and transformation. It is based on ancient history, to promote self knowledge, self acceptance and self belief.
Poetry: Snapshots of Science (Part Two)
12 April 2009
The second chapter in Amen Noir’s Snapshots of Science series opens with an introduction by Lez Henry taking the role of master of ceremonies and setting the tone for what is to come.
Book: Introduction to Neo-Colonialism
09 April 2009
Uncle Tom holds the reigns for Uncle Sam
Play: The Hounding of David Oluwale
25 March 2009
I’ve just came back from watching the superb play, The Hounding of David Oluwale based on the book by Kesper Aspden and I still find it difficult to talk let alone write about it. I’m not sure whether it’s because I feel uncomfortable about not knowing much about this tragic but important piece of history or am just angry that many of the issues that occurred several decades ago leading to the murder of an innocent man are still current issues affecting the descendants of African immigrants living in Britain today.
14 January 2009
Osiris Rising, Armahs’s sixth novel, is structured after Africa’s oldest narrative, the Isis-Osiris myth cycle. It follows the journey of Ast, an African American scholar who travels to Africa in search for purpose and love and finds her home in a quiet community working to bring the continent’s people back together.
14 January 2009
In his book Ritual: Power, Healing and community, Malidoma Some explores the essential role ritual plays in maintaining community and examines common structures and themes relevant to all.
24 September 2008
Misrule in the Land of Nod
Music: Rassie Ai - Return to Life
24 September 2008
African Roots CD
Mag: Sable Issue 12 – Black British Perspective
25 July 2008
Exploring the notion of the “foreigness in Britishness” through the works of African British writers and their challenge of ‘urban’ identity.
Book: Three Continents, One History
25 July 2008
An authoritative examination of the history and links between Birmingham, the Caribbean and the enslavement of African people.
Music: Ledisi - Lost and Found
24 May 2008
Neo Soul CD
17 May 2008
A play by Richard Nyeila about enslavement, rape, resistance and freedom.
Book: Parables of Milk and Might
11 May 2008
Development Political Satire by Author RAN
11 May 2008
Neo Soul CD
16 January 2008
An authentic and challenging piece of drama that through the provocative use of culturally accessible African British stereotypes successfully addresses issues affecting both Africans from the continent and those in the Diaspora. By Kwame Kwei-Armah.
11 March 2007
Channel 4's cynical and offensive attempt to present a revisionist verison of history that blames Africans for the Maafa
05 July 2006
On the surface, Shoot the Messenger (initially titled F*ck ‘black’ people) is the tale of one man’s journey to blame his entire community for his own misfortunes after the misguided actions of a few. However, just beneath the surface of this superficial evaluation lies the compromised vision of both the author, Sharon Foster and lead actor, David Oyelowo which reveals that the purpose of the comedy drama is to deny the persistent pernicious nature of British racism by characterising the African community in the UK as apathetic, steeped in a blame culture and whose only method of empowerment is to play the ‘race card’ and ‘blame slavery’.
26 May 2006
African identity, "black" identity and the British media (Diane Abbott)
Divide and Rule - Part 2 (The Politics Show)
21 May 2006
African identity, "black" identity and the British media (Lola Ayonrinde)
22 March 2006
Using their Malcolm v Martin debate as the backdrop, Ligali founder, Toyin Agbetu answers Simon Woolley of OBV and explains why African human rights activists must prevent those without the stomach for change from abusing the legacy of Martin Luther King
Institutional Racism and the British Media
28 January 2006
The British media exposes its racist core in a belligerent attempt to prove itself not institutionally racist.
The Retreat of Reason: Media attack on political correctness used to denigrate African Britons
05 January 2006
2006 has begun with the continuation of the national debate reignited by BBC Radio 4 on political correctness being used as an excuse for failure by African communities.
Sentamu, the UK’s first African British archbishop
27 December 2005
Why is a Ugandan born man not referred to as an African but as a ‘black’? (Answer: Because he allows it)
The Guardian – Unveiling the Paper’s Right Wing Core
04 December 2005
The Guardian newspaper continues to perpetuate and reaffirm erroneous, detrimental and offensive stereotypes of African people.
Birmingham Clashes: Media reports the truth, the whole truth and anything but..
01 November 2005
Recently there has been a plethora of debate programmes discussing anything but the true circumstances leading to the tensions and recent clashes in Birmingham.
Guardian: Promoting jail and gangsta rap as a positive career move
04 September 2005
Why the Guardian believes promoting gangsta rap and a career in jail is compelling journalism
Katrina: Africans in America face trial by racist media
02 September 2005
US prioritises protecting property with shoot to kill orders over rescuing African lives
15 August 2005
Trial by media: The case for African reparations (Part 1)
Namibia: Genocide and the Second Reich
15 August 2005
Trial by media: The case for African reparations (Part 2)
