Sounds of Black Britain

The Black Curriculum

The Black Curriculum Presents: Sounds of Black Britain, a podcast where we use music as an educational resource to understand the Black British experience. Cultural powerhouse Julie Adenuga and special guests deep dive into the musical history of Black Britain. She’ll be joined by the people who have all contributed to the scene's evolution and huge rise: Chip, Estelle, General Levy, D Double E, Tiana Major9, DJ Target, Jae 5, Omar, Dennis Bovell, and Novelist to name a few. This immersive podcast series celebrates the culture and education of Black Britain and the music it has brought us! read less

Our Editor's Take

Sounds of Black Britain provides a fascinating education on Black British music history. The podcast is produced by The Black Curriculum, a social enterprise that focuses on making education accessible to all. Its mission is to ensure every student has a sense of their own cultural identity.

The host is Julie Adenuga, and the first season is about Black British music. Joining her are various guests from across the world of music, including D Double E, Estelle, and DJ Target. Julie shares stories on everything from women in music to pirate radio. Listeners hear from those who lived it, loved it, and contributed to the music scene.

Julie explores the world of carnival and what it means to dance on the streets of London on the podcast. With artists Shakka and Alicaì Harley, she talks about the story of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill is an annual Caribbean event that started in 1966. With over 2 million visitors yearly, it's the biggest street party in Europe. Julia sets the carnival scene, describing the sounds of calypso and the scent of jerk chicken. She explains why it's more than a street party, representing the Windrush generation.

Another episode of the podcast examines music genres that have influenced world music such as jungle, garage, and grime. Deejay General Levy and Frisco join her to discuss these Black-led movements. Levy explains how he moved from reggae to jungle in the early '90s. He then talks about how garage found its place on the scene when jungle developed a more serious sound. As each genre changed and grew, they attracted new and diverse audiences.

The Sounds of Black Britain podcast is an exploration of Black British culture. As a radio DJ, the host is an engaging narrator, talking with passion about each topic. Each episode features fascinating stories and music throughout.

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