Dr Michelle Asantewa calls out BFI Southbank for axing African Odysseys a 20 year-old, monthly, educational, Black history film programme while ignoring; 19,000 petitioners, the 2010 Race Equality law, £6 million of free labour and their own equality policies.

Thursday, September 24, 6.30pm WICFF begins its London programme with a special pre-screening of The Price of Memory, Jamaican filmmaker Karen Mafundikwa’s award-winning documentary filmed over 10 years, explores slavery, colonialism, historical memory and the struggle for reparations. Starring Bernie Grant and the Queen.Plus Q&A with Dr Louise Pennant and Chrystal Rose

Saturday, September 26, 5pm High Street Kensington.

Saturday, September 26, 2pm High Street Kensington, London, The official WICFF opening will celebrate pioneering Black British filmmaker Sir Horace Ové with a special presentation of Playing Away plus Q&A

The film follows a West Indian cricket team from Brixton as they travel to play in an English village, using cricket and humour to explore culture clash, identity and belonging.

Ové’s work will be presented alongside a new generation of filmmakers, including Ackee and Saltfish, directed by UK filmmaker Jasmin Nunes, and Breath of Another, directed by fellow British filmmaker Sheridan Seraphin.

'The BFI seeks to provide transparency to give audiences control over what they see and hear'.. So why are they ignoring almost 19,000 people as to what they want to watch and refusing to answer simple questions like 'What is the budget for African Odysseys?'

More details in these two updates :

'9 Examples of Racism @BFI Southbank'  HERE

'Black Professors ignored but dogs heard at Picturehouse'  HERE

Please note, the BFI has the right to reply to all of these factual updates but has never done so since 29 October 2024 HERE when they were promptly proven to have been lying HERE

They have said nothing on the petition page since then, which says a great deal in itself.

The BFI are however, happy to lie to third parties where there is no automatic right of replay from African Odysseys . For example, the BFI are on record as telling various organisations and individuals that African Odysseys was put ‘on pause’ because the Steering Committee refused to meet with BFI unless African Odysseys co-founder David Somerset was reinstated after being made redundant. This is a lie.

The only meeting to discuss African Odysseys with the BFI was set for 17th January 2025 but the BFI cancelled it with 2 hours notice as reported HERE. Somerset was still employed by BFI then.

The Steering Committee offered another meeting within the week but BFI rejected it also. Somerset’s official last day was 31st January 2025. African Odysseys Steering Committee never made such a demand in the first place and no meeting was arranged after the 31st January so this is a double lie.

All correspondence with BFI about African Odysseys was made via email. If what the BFI states is true then they can post the email from the Steering Committee where this demand to 'reinstate Somerset or no meeting could take place' was made, to the 18, 865 strong petition page within 24 hours. Failure to do so will be taken as proof that BFI senior management are liars to the public. Sign the petition HERE



The BFI has been called out to their face for lying before. In this viral video clip from January 2025 Dr Michelle Asantewa eviscerates BFI management for their atrocious treatment of African Odysseys. HERE

Eventbrite - Black History Walks presents Image of the Black in the National Gallery - Sunday, 27 September 2026 at Meet point on request. Find event and ticket information.