International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books

The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books, often referred to as The Black Book Fair,[1][2] was inaugurated in London, England, in April 1982 and continued until 1995,[3] bringing together a number of Black publishers, intellectuals and educationalists.[4] It was held on 12 occasions: annually from 1982 to 1991, and then biannually in 1993 and 1995.[5] The first three Book Fairs took place in different areas of London — Islington, Lambeth and Acton — representing the respective bases of the three founding organisers: New Beacon Books, Race Today Publications and Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications.[6] Additionally, from 1985, there were associated book fairs held elsewhere in England, in Manchester (1985–91, 1995) and Bradford (1985–93), Leeds (1993, 1995), and in 1993 and 1995 in Glasgow, Scotland.[7] In 1987 and 1988, a sister event — the Caribbean Peoples International Bookfair and Bookfair Festival — took place in Trinidad, organised by the Oilfields Workers Trade Union there.[6]

The ethos of the Book Fair was "to mark the new and expanding phase in the growth of radical ideas and concepts, and their expression in literature, politics, music, art and social life."[8]

History

The idea for an annual book fair was mooted in discussions after an event at the Commonwealth Institute in 1979 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding by Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications; described as a "cultural extravaganza", it featured a variety of performers, poets, drummers, dancers and musicians, including Misty in Roots, Keith Waithe, Cecil Rajendra, Linton Kwesi Johnson and others. Its success demonstrated "the potential for an event on this scale taking place in different parts of London and the UK on a regular basis", and the suggestion of an annual book fair was later developed and eventually implemented.[9][10]

The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books was established by Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, New Beacon Books and the Race Today collective in 1982,[11] with the aim of being a "meeting of the continents for writers, publishers, distributors, booksellers, artists, musicians, film makers, and the people who inspire and consume their creative productions".[6] The joint directors were John La Rose and Jessica Huntley until 1984, after which La Rose continued as sole director.[12][13]

The first Book Fair was opened at Islington Town Hall on Thursday, 1 April 1982, by C. L. R. James (1982),[14] and subsequent years saw other literary figures make the opening address, including Edward Kamau Brathwaite (1984),[15] Wole Soyinka (1985),[16]Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1987),[17][18] Abdul Alkalimat (1988),[19] Farrukh Dhondy (1989),[20] Jayne Cortez (1990),[21] John La Rose (1991),[22] Margaret Busby (1993),[23] and Pearl Connor (1995).[24]

The book fair itself took place on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with cultural and political forums[25] and other events in the preceding days of the week, and a closing concert on the following Sunday. The first Book Fair week in 1982 was attended by some 6,000 people.[26] Topics covered in the forums included a discussion in 1982, with Jessica Huntley as presenter, on "Racist and fascist attacks on Black, left-wing and community booksellers and other institutions in Britain",[27] or, in 1984, a forum entitled "Migrant Struggles in Britain and Europe", chaired by Darcus Howe.[25]

Those who attended the Book Fair came from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Central America, the US, as well as the UK and other parts of Europe, not only to exhibit, order and distribute books but to take part in the accompanying programme of events that, alongside political discussion, showcased different cultural presentations including poetry and prose readings, drama, music and film.[5] The many notable participants over the years included John Agard, Ama Ata Aidoo, Tariq Ali, May Ayim, Imruh Bakari, Biyi Bandele, Amiri Baraka, James Berry, Valerie Bloom, Jean Binta Breeze, Yvonne Brewster, Dennis Brutus, Robert Chrisman, Merle Collins, Carolyn Cooper, Fred D'Aguiar, Melvin Edwards, Nuruddin Farah, Edouard Glissant, Lorna Goodison, Roy A. K. Heath, Tim Hector, bell hooks, Gus John, Linton Kwesi Johnson, June Jordan, Jackie Kay, Shake Keane, James Kelman, Talib Kibwe, Errol Lloyd, Earl Lovelace, Jack Mapanje, E. A. Markham, Paule Marshall, Pauline Melville, Louise Meriwether, Adrian Mitchell, Nancy Morejon, Lionel Ngakane, Pitika Ntuli, Odia Ofeimun, Olu Oguibe, Ben Okri, Kole Omotoso, Oku Onuora, Horace Ové, Alex Pascall, Okot p'Bitek, Caryl Phillips, John Pilger, Cecil Rajendra, Sonia Sanchez, Lawrence Scott, Mongane Wally Serote, Janice Shinebourne, Lemn Sissay, Mikey Smith, Pearl Springer, Wangui wa Goro, and Randy Weston.[28]

In February 1997, a decision was taken by the Director and the Organising Committee of the Book Fair not to continue with it in its then form, proposing instead other future events in the Book Fair tradition, including the development of the George Padmore Institute.[29]

Further reading
  • Sarah White, Roxy Harris & Sharmilla Beezmohun (eds), A Meeting of the Continents: The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books – Revisited, London: New Beacon Books/George Padmore Institute, 2005. ISBN 978-1873201183.

References
  1. Margaret Busby, "John La Rose Obituary", in Publishing News, 2006. Reprinted on George Padmore Institute website.
  2. "Preserving our literary heritage – Janice Lowe Shinebourne – An Enabling Literary Culture (part 2)", Guyana Chronicle, 13 April 2013.
  3. Gus John, "La Rose, John Anthony" in Lawrence Goldman (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2005-2008, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 684.
  4. Elizabeth M. Williams, The Politics of Race in Britain and South Africa: Black British Solidarity and the Anti-apartheid Struggle, I.B. Tauris, 2015, p. 167.
  5. "The International Book Fairs" Archived 2015-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute, Archive Catalogue.
  6. Sarah White, Roxy Harris & Sharmilla Beezmohun (eds), A Meeting of the Continents: The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books – Revisited, London: New Beacon Books/George Padmore Institute, 2005, p. vi.
  7. "The International Book Fairs" Archived 2015-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute Archive Catalogue.
  8. Angela Enisuoh, "International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books", in Alison Donnell, Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture, Routledge, 2002, p. 153.
  9. Margaret Andrews, Doing Nothing is Not An Option: The Radical Lives of Eric & Jessica Huntley, Middlesex, England: Krik Krak, 2014, pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-1-908415-02-8.
  10. Robin Bunce and Paul Field, Darcus Howe: A Political Biography, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015, p. 188.
  11. Heiba Lamara, "Deep Roots – a story of Black British Publishing", Racecard, 10 February 2014.
  12. "John La Rose", George Padmore Institute.
  13. Linton Kwesi Johnson, "John La Rose" (obituary), The Guardian, 4 March 2006.
  14. A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 89.
  15. A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 169.
  16. "The Nkomati Years", in A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 233.
  17. A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 277, 302–03.
  18. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms, James Currey Publishers, 1993, pp. 109, 113.
  19. A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 340–341.
  20. Farrukh Dhondy, "A Satanic Sermon", in A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 384–387.
  21. "Opening Address given by Jayne Cortez at the 9th International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books, at the Camden Centre on Thursday March 22nd 1990", A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 421–422.
  22. A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 435.
  23. "Address of Margaret Busby to the opening of the 11th International Book Fair on Thursday March 25th 1993", A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, pp. 499–500.
  24. "Pearl Connor-Mogotsi", A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 509.
  25. Dominic Thomas (ed.), Afroeuropean Cartographies, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014, p. 18.
  26. Brian Alleyne, "Remembering Jhohn La Rose (1927–2006)", Human Hacker, 7 March 2007.
  27. "Programme of Events", A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 91.
  28. White, Harris & Beezmohun (eds), A Meeting of the Continents: The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books – Revisited, 2005.
  29. "Statement: The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books", A Meeting of the Continents, 2005, p. 22.
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