Afrika Bambaataa: 40 Years of Hip Hop (Eccles Centre for American Studies)

When Thursday 27 November 2014, 19:00-20:30
Where Conference Centre, British Library
Price £10/£8/£7 Book tickets via the BL Box Office

Afrika Bambaataa, often considered the ‘Godfather of Hip-Hop’ and the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation movement, was a block party DJ, promoter and community leader in 1970s South Bronx. Out these activities a conscious, highly creative Hip Hop culture was born and continues to inspire people worldwide. Bambaataa went on to create musical classics such as Planet Rock and recorded with everyone from James Brown to John Lydon. Always politically engaged, he co-staged a Wembley Stadium concert to mark Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, and is now a visiting scholar at Cornell University. In this conversation with broadcast music journalist Jacqueline Springer he explores the past, present and future of a street culture that became a global phenomenon.

London-based Jacqueline Springer is a print and broadcast journalist and university lecturer. She wrote for a number of specialist black music publications (Blues & Soul, Hip Hop Connection); broad-sheets (The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent); lifestyle publications and international imprints Vibe (USA), Bounce (Japan) before joining the BBC. Jacqueline is currently an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University’s London Program and at Fordham University (London Liberal Arts Program). She is also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster.

This event is presented in partnership with Universal Zulu Nation UK.