Our history

Asante was formed in 1986.

Nevyon remembers the occasion:

"At the time, I worked at Bedford Central Library. I approached the Library’s Artistic Officer, Viv, and was successful in securing an exhibition space for our first collection of work."

Nevyon elaborates further:

"The choice of our name was about embracing our heritage and our connection to our African ancestry; and our art was about reflecting the legacy of that ancestry, our Caribbean links and the importance of reflecting our British experience, as we navigated the challenges of our British existence.

‘Asante (Ah-san-tay) – means ‘Thank You’ in Swahili.

"The original group consisted of 5 members, one group member was of Mediterranean background, and 4 of us were first generation born, or children of Caribbean parentage who grew up in the UK. Parents were invited to leave the Caribbean to work and develop the UK after the 2nd world war. One group member is a formally trained artist, but the rest of us were self-taught artists."

The exhibitors on that first occasion were Nevyon Gilbert, Michael Coutain, Charles Burton, Rosanna Mendez and Desrene Delpratt.

"I met Michael through his brother and we immediately recognised a shared interest, specifically around rejection of Eurocentric perspective and embracing black empowerment, Pan Africanism, the ongoing impact of racism, as well as neo colonialism. We discovered a shared love of art and formulated the idea of a black arts group."

The styles of that first exhibition were different and interesting and it featured artwork exclusively. It was decided to call this black arts group Asante. Later on, the group expanded to include poets as well. Jackie Johnson, Barbara Wilson, Stephanie Patterson and Edson Burton, subsequently joined the group. These new members became a very significant part of Asante. The name Asante, was later changed to be known as "Asante Artists and Writers Circle”.

"Initially, we were a small group of local artists who got together to explore our individual sense of identity, sense of self and collectively presenting visual themes; as well as our perspective of our lived experience.. We included and embraced poetry alongside the visual arts which added another layer to Asante’s creativity.."

Each exhibition was based on a theme. The theme was developed from a writer’s circle, conducted within the group for that express purpose.

"The theme of our first exhibition was Carnival, and this was in August 1986."

One theme was Apartheid . Another theme was Antagonistic Harmony. The writer's workshops(*) that developed these various themes were an experience in and of themselves.

The exhibitions were a yearly affair and they were shown in various venues around the country. As Asante grew, it was decided that the group should expand into other areas and our name again underwent a change to Asante African-Caribbean Cultural Group (our last change).

"We continued to develop, with members leaving and joining. This redefined the group in terms of our artistic expression."

Stephanie Patterson, one of the key members of Asante, was heavily invested in this aspect of the developing nature of the group. Stephanie, along with Barbara and Jackie, spearheaded much of this work.

Steph:

"We decided that because there were groups that catered for children, youth and adults and nothing for the family as a whole; that would be our aim. Catering for families 0 – 100 years. We organised coach trips to several black plays and comedy events - in Hackney Empire, Stratford Theatre, Hertfordshire, Luton, among others."

At the time many black comedians such as Gina Yashere, Richard Blackwood, Eddie Nestor, Robbie Gee, Angie Le-mar, Judith Jacobs and others were relatively unknown. We were all on the cusp of something exciting and new. However Asante did not rest on its laurels. The group was determined to promote black shows and other theatre productions and bring them to Bedford as well. We felt that it was important to do so.

Many of the comedians mentioned were part of the black comedy circuit, and were slowly starting to make a name for themselves. Some were later to become popular household names, as a result of various appearances on television, movies and other areas within the entertainment industry. Both Asante and the people of Bedford were lucky to have had the opportunity to see many of these talented artistes at the start of their careers.

As part of the expanding portfolio of the group, Asante later decided to hold an annual event, which was designed to capitalise the end of each year with an entire day of Cultural activities. That event was called, Asante’s Cultural Day.

"The very first of which was held at the Corn Exchange and included items from many of the different communities in Bedford, outside of the Caribbean community."

Asante worked with various local groups at the time as well. Rite Steps was one such group, who was doing excellent work at the time. We formed a formal partnership with Bowen West Theatre, which was based in Lansdowne Rd, Bedford. The Bowen west Theatre was the leading theatre in the town at the time. While in partnership with Bowen West, we were instrumental in bringing black plays to the theatre for the very first time. We were pleased that each play was very well attended and received and was without doubt, a huge success.

The introduction of black plays in Bedford, was a direct result of the efforts and desire of Asante to try and make drama available to a wider public and away from the main capital. Charles Tomlin, a very popular Jamaican comedian and actor, often starred in these plays, alongside the great and equally popular Jamaican actress, Laverne Archer. Asante can be proud of the fact that it was the first group to bring professional, black actors and comedians to Bedford.

"Amongst them, Devon Morgan, Writer, Director, Actor, Patrick Trueman of Eastenders fame, the late Cyril Regis, Jefferson & Whitfield, Curtis Walker, Rudy Lickwood."

Today that tradition has continued by the town’s main theatre venue and is a major attraction for the citizens of Bedford. Asante blazed that trail for others to follow.

Some of the afore-mentioned black comedians performed at Bedford’s Civic theatre and a few were the highlights of Asante’s Cultural Day. As mentioned, the Cultural Day was an annual event. It featured the talents of local artistes and groups and entrepreneurs. It often featured African fashion and displays as well. Stall holders and small businesses were invited to advertise their produce and arts and crafts on the day too.

"We produced a calendar each year which featured many of the local black businesses."

In addition to the annual Cultural event, Asante also created and produced a magazine called “Dis & Dat, Xclusive”. Although the magazine was produced with very limited funds, it proved to be quite popular within the local community. There were many contributors to the magazines. The magazine dealt with complex issues and problems of the day, that were affecting black people and local communities. For that reason, it covered a wide range of topics, that included politics, religion, crime, drugs and other relevant subjects. But each magazine also strove to provide positive outlooks on local issues, in terms of policing, social work, community endeavours, education and the like. It was also a notice board for individuals, musicians, artistes and other creative persons, to advertise and showcase their skills, their talents, their achievements, and their dreams. The magazine featured many forms of literature and arts and entertainment and it catered for children too.

Asante lasted for a full decade. It was a period that was rich with entertainment, achievements, and local community involvement. It showcased many of the talents of the black youth also, at a time when racial issues were a constant theme in the lives of black people in the UK. Asante bought outside talent to Bedford. It inspired others to carry on the work that the group started.

It is true, that thirty years ago, much of life was vastly different than it is now. For example, the internet and social media were virtually unheard of. Networking of the type we have now, was cumbersome and often frustrating. It is also a fact that funding for local black projects were complex, unsustainable in many cases, and very often unsupported. Yet it was also a time that was filled with creativity, positivity, excitement and lots of potential for doing good. It was a time that provided creative arts and entertainment for a demographic who had little to be positive about. For those reasons above all else, I think it is fair and accurate to say, that Asante African-Caribbean Cultural Group can be rightly and justly proud.

"Lastly but by no means least, our very own (now Bristolian) Edson Burton as was aforementioned, one of the former members of Asante. He is now known as Dr Edson Burton, MBE,"

Interestingly, Edson was one of the contributors to a three-part docuseries, called Queen Njinga. It was produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and It was the first in the African Queens(**) series.

Clearly the legacy of Asante has not diminished with the passage of time. We are proud of what we have done. But we realise that there is still so much left to do. To that end, we have decided to create www.asanteonline.co.uk. The site is first and foremost, a celebration of African and Caribbean culture and achievements. It is also a retrospective of the work that Asante has done. The past shapes the future, we are often told, but we must not let that same past define who we are and what we shall be in the future.

*[A writer's workshop is, a very useful tool to develop and explore ideas, in a constructive way. Critical thinking is often featured during the process. For that reason alone, it is highly recommend.]

**[So far there has been two docuseries produced by the actress. The second one was about Queen Cleopatra. It attracted a great deal of controversy, on account of the fact that the queen was portrayed as black. The main criticism and attacks came from officials in Egypt]