British Nigerian Actor Surfaces on Indian TV Following South-of-France Murder Probe
20 December 2023
Greetings,
The Madame Blanc Mysteries is a TV Series now in its third season, which opens this Friday with its Xmas Special episode in which a murder occurs. I have a part in it, playing a butler.
The fact that I masquerade as a Senegalese “wiz” a strong Francophone accent is probably enough to cause suspicion to fall on me, but to find out if he was “ze muerderuere,” tune in to Channel 5 zis Friday Dec 22 at 9pm UK time. Thereafter, the episode will be available to stream from Christmas Day, on Acorn TV.
Big in India!
I play the United Nations Secretary General in this new commercial for Britannia Bourbon Biscuit, filmed in London for the Indian market. It’s amazing how a whole day’s filming can be condensed into less than two minutes, but it’s quite fun. Come to think of it, it is also somewhat reflective of the reality of the UN and world “leaders.”
I have mentioned in the past that I was in a short film that won a number of nominations and awards. Here is Repent.
And before you think I have left the world of stage forever, nothing could be further from the truth. I now have dates for the world premiere of Coleridge-Taylor of Freetown. To be directed by Mojisola Kareem, it will open at the Brighton Fringe in May, over two weekends: Friday to Sunday 10–12 and 24–26 May.
It will be right for this play to have as accompanist a Black woman, at least at its premiere. If there are any out there that you know of who will be suitable and interested, please let them and me know. This goes for pianists in any part of Britain (I’ll be taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe in mid-August 2024) and elsewhere, including the USA, where I am due to perform Call Mr. Robeson in Pittsburgh, PA at the end of August 2024. I’m looking for additional performances there and elsewhere, as well as a good immigration lawyer to help with the inconvenience of having a criminal conviction for pro-Palestine protest. I’ll be grateful to hear from people who can help.
Recently
October and November were busy months! Lawyer at St. George’s Hall, which was supported by the Northern Circuit of barristers, saw me refer to Israeli Terrorism and Apartheid. This was followed by an event which represents a new departure for me. I was invited by the directors of a women’s organisation to work with them to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Over thirteen weekly sessions, the members, and some volunteers and staff told stories. I wrote them down and repackaged them as poetry, monologue, dialogue and short story. Words Behind 4Wings @10 was a beautiful event held at Liverpool’s St. George’s Hall, in which sixteen of the women – members and staff performed the transcriptions.
The collection of writings is available online on my website, and can be seen by clicking the image below.
The following day, I chaired a Q&A with Professor Stephen Small from UC Berkeley, discussing the republication of Marika Sherwood’s book, Pastor Daniels Ekarte and The African Churches Mission, Liverpool 1931–1964.
The following day saw me deliver my talk, Art as A Weapon: Some Pan-Africanist Examples, to the Bolton Socialist Club, and the same again two days later, at the Faversham Guildhall. Then to London to perform Lawyer again, at the Courtyard Theatre, and in my programme note, I singled out the Black British politician David Lammy for some special attention (I am not a fan) in the context of the current genocide.
In November, I gave two consecutive performances of Robeson. I put a cynical slant on the “resurgence of anti-Semitism” at St. Ives Library, and at St. Neots Art & Soul Cafe, I more seriously discussed the issue of criminality in relation to international politics and the ongoing genocide.
An online presentation of Art as A Weapon to the Yorkshire Festival of Story came next, followed by a screening of a great new feature film, for which I was asked by Blackfest to chair the Q&A with the makers and the executive producer. Mami Wata is Nigeria’s entry to the Oscars, and what a joy it is. Catch it if you can.
.On New Year’s Eve, Sunday 31 December 2023, I will be singing at a service for peace in Palestine at the Ullet Road Unitarian Church, Liverpool. Come along if you are nearby.
Parting Shots....
I don’t feel at this point that I need to add to the billions of words that have been spoken and written about what is going on in Occupied Palestine. At the beginning of the genocide, an Israeli general, in a typical expression of white supremacy, referred to Gazans as “human animals.” People like him seem to forget that we are indeed all animals, but that some are more animalistic than others.
It is a curious animal that sits in the rubble of a theatre on the West Bank of Palestine, recently vandalised by Israeli soldiers, and speaks so wisely and eloquently to the people of the world about art. Watch the tail end of a recent interview by the Artistic Director of the Freedom Theatre, Ahmed Tobasi.
Xmas Cancelled in Bethlehem
Some of you might have seen this image. Click on it to view the piece recorded in the church in Bethlehem in which it sits.
And here is a Christmas carol adapted brilliantly to the present situation: Jingle Bombs.
Palestine Action Victories
It is wrong to think we are helpless. Palestine Action has scored some significant victories recently. Its primary target is Israel’s largest arms manufacturer and supplier, Elbit Systems, which has several sites in the UK. Having shut down two and come up against significantly increased state-supported push-back, the organisation has pressured others linked to the firm. As a result Elbit has suffered the indignity and inconvenience of being dropped by its landlords and its recruitment agency. Direct action works. Join in. Support them. And allow yourself to smile or laugh while doing so, as in this short video:
Till the next time, wishing us all peace and goodwill to all human animals.
Tayo
Thanks to my regular supporters. Click here to see how you can do the same, if you don’t already. I said in the last newsletter that parting shots would be behind a paywall. That seems churlish at this time, but I’m still thinking about it.