Very successful Black History Event at Nailsea Tithe Barn
Nailsea Town Council and Nailsea Folk Club supported Black History Month with a fabulous event at Nailsea Tithe Barn on Sunday 6 Oct 2024. This featured Suntou Susso, a multi-instrumentalist, kora player, percussionist, singer and composer from The Gambia.
Born a Griot in a 700-year old tradition, the kora – a harp-lute with 22 strings – is unique to the Griots of the Mandinka people. Griots have a unique societal role as oral historians, transmitting and preserving a people’s culture through the generations in song, music and poetry.
Suntou’s family includes some of the world’s most highly respected West African musicians. His musical abilities are outstanding, perhaps unique for his generation. An in-demand and charismatic performer, he attracted attention as soon as he arrived on the UK music scene.
Suntou has collaborated with celebrated jazz singer Sarah-Jane Morris; Guitarist Tony Remy – Ronnie Scott’s; Ghazalaw – an Indian-Welsh fusion project on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6, bass player Davide Mantovani, modern jazz fusion opera singer Pumeza Matshikiza – and has performed on ITV’s This Morning.
The event was opened by David Francis Trustee of Nailsea Tithe Barn Trust, who also runs Nailsea Folk Club and closed by Ian Noah of Race Equality North Somerset (RENS) https://rens.org.uk/about/ RENS is an award-winning, volunteer-run, community-focused charity advocating social, racial and cultural justice. Ian thanked Nailsea Town Council and the Folk Club for supporting Black History month for the past 4 years. He also thanked North Somerset Council for their support of Black History Month and support of the rights, interests, welfare and wellbeing of racially minoritised ethnic communities in North Somerset.
Ben Kushner, Nailsea Town Councillor, who was involved with organising the evening says “I would like to give a big shout out to David Francis of the Nailsea Folk Club and his team for doing a brilliant job in signing up Suntou Susso for the Black History event this year. It was an amazing night!”
David Francis says ‘”we were delighted to hold another Black History Month event at the Tithe Barn in Nailsea. The Nailsea Folk club has a strong reputation for our concert programme which features top names from around the world. Over the years the club has become a family of linked activities and projects which develop and change over time. We hold most of our concerts in Nailsea Tithe Barn and more traditional folk club nights, including feature nights, at the Ring of Bells in Nailsea which has a lively atmosphere. The Nailsea folk Club welcomes new members. If you are interested in our events or joining the club please see our website https://www.nailseafolkclub.co.uk/ or contact us on https://www.nailseafolkclub.co.uk/contact or call me on 01275 540231 or mobile 07757 505551. I will be delighted to talk to you”