About

Black at Sussex: Walking in the Rain - Journeys in Music with Clive Myrie, Topher Campbell & Nzinga Soundz

Sussex alumni, Clive Myrie & Topher Campbell discuss both their time at University of Sussex and their work against a background of music that shaped their experiences, politics, work and lives. Karina H-Maynard will lead a discussion that explores how music has played an important role in their identity and the wider cultural and political impact music has across communities and cultures.

Following Clive & Topher Nzinga Soundz will provide an hour-long Salon playing and discussing Vintage Roots Reggae, Afro Beats, Soul and Lovers Rock. Music that is political consciousness-raising, that connects people and discourses, assemblies and coalitions across continents and generations. Throughout the diaspora, the Jamaican Sound System cultures have generated new social formations and transformed colonial relations of itinerancy and migrancy into forces of sonic, creative resistance.

Following the Salon, Nzinga Soundz will be playing a DJ set in the ACCA bar til late.

Clive Myrie

Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Clive Myrie studied Law at Sussex before gaining a place on the BBC’s prestigious journalism trainee scheme in 1988. He is a multi-award winning journalist, one of the BBC’s most experienced foreign correspondents and became a presenter for the BBC News Channel in 2009. Clive's career has seen him report from more than 80 countries, including covering wars in Croatia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and the rise and fall of the Taliban. Clive has a particular interest in US politics and has covered four Presidential races, including Barack Obama’s victory in 2008 and his inauguration the following year. In 2013 he co-anchored coverage of Nelson Mandela’s funeral from South Africa. He now hosts the long running BBC quiz show Mastermind.

Topher Campbell

Topher Campbell was born in Coventry and was the first member of his family to go to University, studying Intellectual History at Sussex. He is a filmmaker, artist and writer, producing work for broadcasting, film, theatre, television and performance. Topher’s works focus on issues of sexuality, masculinity, and the city, particularly in relation to race, human rights and climate change. He also co-founded rukus!, a Black LGBT archive, which aims to build a ‘living history’ of the UK’s Black LGBTQ community by exhibiting the work of marginalised activists, artists, DJs, and even club promoters over the years. He is currently the Programme Director of MA/MFA Collaborative Theatre Making at Rose Burford College, London.

Nzinga Sounds system

Nzinga Soundz was established in the early 1980s by Lynda Rosenior-Patten and June Reid, also known as Junie Rankin and DJ Ade. They have performed at concerts, corporate events and community-based events across the UK and in the Gambia, Barbados and Sierra Leone. Nzinga Soundz were part of the Real Sounds of London Festival June 21-23 2019, a three day festival of London music at the French National Museum of the History of Immigration, which was curated by Karina Horsham and formed a key part of the cultural programming of the exhibition Paris-Londres. Music Migrations. 1962-89, co-curated by Professor Martin Evans, University of Sussex.

Karina H Maynard

Karina H Maynard is a cultural curator, educator, producer and consultant who specializes in representation in the creative, educational and cultural sectors. She works to elevate the visibility, experience and engagement of diverse stakeholders. With more than 20 years of experience in entertainment and arts journalism, media production and communications, Karina is an experienced writer, moderator and speaker, who creates safe spaces for progressive conversations that explore themes related to race, culture, identity, vision, purpose and creativity.