60 Years On, Africa Centre Continues to Shape African Identity and Culture
The Africa Centre last Thursday commemorated the 60th anniversary of its founding with a symbolic ceremony that connected its past, present and future.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Macenje Mazoka, officially cut the ribbon to open a landmark anniversary exhibition, echoing the historic moment in 1964 when Zambia’s founding President, Kenneth Kaunda, performed the same act at the Centre’s original opening.
The celebration was headlined by a major exhibition marking, albeit belatedly, six decades of the Centre’s contribution to African and diaspora life. Curated by Leon Robinson of Positive Steps Associates, the exhibition draws from the Africa Centre’s extensive archives, including photographs, documents, posters and memorabilia dating back to the late 1950s.
These historical materials have been reimagined through audio-visual installations, augmented reality and virtual reality experiences, offering visitors an immersive exploration of the Centre’s pioneering role in shaping narratives around African identity, entrepreneurship, innovation and global connection.
The exhibition is structured around three thematic sections. Before The Africa Centre traces the often overlooked history of Africans in Britain prior to the Centre’s establishment. The Africa Centre Through the Decades presents a chronological account of the institution’s influence across arts, culture, education and community life.
The Next Chapter looks ahead, featuring the premiere of a short documentary by award-winning filmmaker Curtis Essel, reflecting on the Centre’s future in a new era of African creativity.
Addressing guests, High Commissioner Mazoka praised the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, Olu Alake, for safeguarding and advancing the institution’s vision. She highlighted Zambia’s historic relationship with the Africa Centre and recalled the country’s sacrifices in support of liberation movements across the continent.
She also stressed the importance of recognising the global contributions of Africans and people of African descent, which she said are too often understated.
“It’s important for us to tell our own narratives, to tell our own story in a way that reflects the image we want to project, and the brilliance that Africa embodies,” she said.
Mr Alake reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the Centre’s legacy while positioning it for the future, pledging continued work to ensure it remains a platform for African voices and creativity.
Reflecting on his lifelong work in archiving Black history, Robinson noted that in 1990 he founded Positive Steps Outreach, a collection of primary resources on Black performance and social history in Britain from the 18th century onwards, aimed at widening public access to Black history.
“Legacy can only be measured by what survives,” he said. “That’s why I’ve always tried to make things visible for future generations.”
The anniversary celebration reaffirmed the Africa Centre’s enduring role as a cultural anchor for Africa and its diaspora, six decades after its founding, and as a vital space for preserving history while shaping new narratives for the future.
