Akyaaba Addai-Sebo (born October 1950)[1] is a Ghanaian analyst, journalist and pan-African activist credited with developing the recognition of October as Black History Month in 1987 in the UK. With Ansel Wong, Addai-Sebo co-edited the 1988 book Our Story: A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues.[2] Addai-Sebo's activism spans the African continent, the United Kingdom and the United States, and his influencers include C. L. R. James, Chancellor Williams, John Henrik Clarke, and Jewell Mazique.
In January 1984, he moved to England, seeking refuge from political persecution during the regime of former military leader Jerry John Rawlings.[9] Settling in London with his wife, Nana Akua Owusu, Addai-Sebo was soon interacting with such members of the Black activist community as C. L. R. James and Darcus Howe. Within a year of his arrival, he was taking on the roles of Special Projects Coordinator at the Greater London Council (GLC), and Chair of the African Refugees Housing Action Group, and later Operations Manager of the Notting Hill Carnival.[9]
Black History Month UK
As Special Projects Coordinator of the Ethnic Minorities Unit at the GLC, Addai-Sebo was instrumental in inaugurating the UK's annual Black History Month, first celebrated in 1987.[9] He "conceived an annual celebration of the contributions of Africa, Africans and people of African descent to world civilization from antiquity to the present and got a lot of support from the leadership of the GLC and ILEA and most especially from Mr. Ansel Wong, Head of the Ethnic Minorities Unit and the leader of GLC, Mr. Ken Livingstone."[9] Discussing his inspiration in 2020, Addai-Sebo wrote:
"I had lectured about African traditions in the United States, and children and their parents told me it had given them a new sense of self. Despite all its grand institutions of higher education, the UK was still a touchstone for colonialism, imperialism and racism. ... I devised a plan with the help of the pioneering team at the GLC's Ethnic Minorities Unit (EMU), ably led by Ansel Wong. We launched the GLC Historical Lectures and Concerts, which took place in February through May 1986 to affirm Africa's contribution to civilization. For a week, we filled the Royal Albert Hall with schoolkids to listen to inspirational music and talks. Speakers toured the communities and generated a buzz.... Rev. Jesse Jackson, Angela Davis, Winnie Mandela, Marcus Garvey Jr., Sally Mugabe, Graca Machel, John Henrik Clarke, Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Burning Spear, Ray Charles, Max Roach, Hugh Masekela and many more came to London between 1985 and 1988 at the invitation of the GLC to support the anti-racist and anti-apartheid campaigns."[10]
The lectures would be compiled into the book Our Story: A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues (London Strategic Policy Unit, 1988), which Addai-Sebo edited with Ansel Wong.[10]
"Our original goal was to first create an enabling cultural space in the UK celebratory calendar and after public acceptance and recognition extend the observance of October as a month to a Black History Season. To make Black History Season a celebration of the magnificence of cultural diversity and the enriching value in peaceful co-existence. To the African mind, to achieve harmony – both the black and white keys of the organ in tune."[11]
On 1 October 1987, the GLC hosted Dr Maulana Karenga from the US to mark the contributions of Black people throughout history, and Addai-Sebo then drew up a plan to recognise the contributions of African, Asian and Caribbean people to the economic, cultural and political life in the UK, with other boroughs beginning to formally institute October as Black History Month in the UK.[12][13]
Addai-Sebo has noted: "Although I initiated the idea, making Black History Month was a collective effort, and it could not have been achieved without the London Strategic Policy Unit, an organisation established after the Thatcher government abolished the GLC in 1986. There were many people involved, and it is difficult to mention everyone. However, I can mention Ansel Wong, Linda Bellos, Ken Livingstone, Paul Boateng, Margaret Hodge, Anne Matthews, Narendra Makenji, Peter Brayshaw, Drew Stevenson, Bernard Wiltshire, Herman Ouseley, Ken Martindale, Vitus Evans, Chris Boothman, Lord Gifford, Bernie Grant, Shirley Andrews and Edward Oteng among the many. We managed to make this an all party affair.[2][14]
^Akyaaba Addai-Sebo and Ansel Wong, London Strategic Policy Unit, 1988, quoted in "Black History Month". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
