Akyaaba Addai-Sebo

**Akyaaba Addai-Sebo** (born October 1950) be Ghanaian analyst, journalist den pan-African activist wey people dey credit am for introducing de recognition of October as Black History Month for 1987 insyd UK. Together plus Ansel Wong, Addai-Sebo co-edit one 1988 book titled *Our Story: A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues*. Addai-Sebo ein activism stretch across de African continent, de United Kingdom, den de United States. People wey influence am include C. L. R. James, Chancellor Williams, John Henrik Clarke, den Jewell Mazique.

## Background
Dem born Addai-Sebo insyd Ghana, den he grow for there. He be part of Kwame Nkrumah ein Young Pioneers Movement. Ein education carry am go United States for de 1970s, where he dey active during de time wey "Negro History Week" turn "Black History Month", den he see how de national annual observance bring renewed pride into African-American children demma hearts. Some of de people he work plus for US be C. L. R. James, Chancellor Williams, Yosef Ben-Jochannan, John Henrik Clarke, Kwame Ture, den Jewell Mazique. Addai-Sebo establish one radio programme for Pacifica Radio wey he name *African Roots American Fruits*, den he run one schools education programme insyd de libraries of Washington, DC.

Insyd January 1984, he move go England, seek refuge sake of political persecution under de regime of former military leader Jerry John Rawlings. As he settle for London plus ein wife, Nana Akua Owusu, Addai-Sebo start to connect plus members of de Black activist community like C. L. R. James den Darcus Howe. Inside one year after he arrive, he take roles like Special Projects Coordinator for Greater London Council (GLC), den Chairman of de African Refugees Housing Action Group, then later he become Operations Manager for Notting Hill Carnival.

### Black History Month UK
As Special Projects Coordinator for de Ethnic Minorities Unit insyd de GLC, Addai-Sebo play key role for starting de UK's annual Black History Month, wey dem first celebrate for 1987. He "come up plus de idea say make dem get yearly celebration for de contributions of Africa, Africans, den people of African descent to world civilisation from ancient times reach now, den he get plenty support from de leadership of de GLC den ILEA, especially from Mr. Ansel Wong, Head of de Ethnic Minorities Unit, plus de leader of GLC, Mr. Ken Livingstone." As he talk about ein inspiration for 2020, Addai-Sebo write say:"I been dey give lectures about African traditions for United States, den children plus demma parents tell me say e give dem new sense of self. Even though UK get all ein big institutions of higher learning, e still dey represent colonialism, imperialism den racism. ... I plan something plus help from de pioneering team for GLC ein Ethnic Minorities Unit (EMU), wey Ansel Wong lead well. We launch de GLC Historical Lectures den Concerts, wey happen from February go May 1986, to confirm Africa ein contribution to civilisation. For one week, we full Royal Albert Hall plus schoolchildren make dem listen inspirational music den talks. Speakers tour de communities den make buzz come up... Rev. Jesse Jackson, Angela Davis, Winnie Mandela, Marcus Garvey Jr., Sally Mugabe, Graca Machel, John Henrik Clarke, Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Burning Spear, Ray Charles, Max Roach, Hugh Masekela, plus plenty more people come London between 1985 den 1988 through invitation from de GLC to support de anti-racist den anti-apartheid campaigns."Dem compile de lectures inside one book titled *Our Story: A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues* (London Strategic Policy Unit, 1988), wey Addai-Sebo edit together plus Ansel Wong.

"Our first aim be say make we create one cultural space for inside de UK ein celebration calendar, wey go allow people accept and recognise am. After dat, we go extend October observance into Black History Season. De aim be say make Black History Season turn celebration of de greatness of cultural diversity den de value wey dey inside peaceful co-existence. To de African mind, if you want make harmony happen — then both de black and white keys of de organ for dey in tune."

On 1 October 1987, de GLC host Dr. Maulana Karenga from US to honour de contributions of Black people throughout history, den Addai-Sebo come draw plan to recognise de role of African, Asian den Caribbean people for de economic, cultural, den political life of de UK. After dat, other boroughs start to officially adopt October as Black History Month for UK.

Addai-Sebo talk say: "Even though I be de one wey start de idea, make Black History Month happen be collective effort, den e no go fit happen without de London Strategic Policy Unit, organisation wey dem set up after Thatcher ein government abolish de GLC for 1986. Plenty people dey wey involve, den e hard to mention everybody. But some people I fit mention be Ansel Wong, Linda Bellos, Ken Livingstone, Paul Boateng, Margaret Hodge, Anne Matthews, Narendra Makenji, Peter Brayshaw, Drew Stevenson, Bernard Wiltshire, Herman Ouseley, Ken Martindale, Vitus Evans, Chris Boothman, Lord Gifford, Bernie Grant, Shirley Andrews den Edward Oteng among de plenty. We manage make dis one all-party affair."

Addai-Sebo dey based for Ghana. He be journalist too, den he write for outlets like *Pambazuka News* den *Graphic Online*.

## Awards den recognition
Insyd 2018, African Voice newspaper name Addai-Sebo inside list of "61 Influential Ghanaians in de Diaspora".

Insyd December 2022, de School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, give Addai-Sebo Honorary Doctorate of Literature.

## References