The History of Black London Showcased in New Exhibition

Back in the Day: The Autograph Archive x Yardie is a free exhibition at Hackney Picturehouse, East London, and will be open to the public from 18 August, coinciding with the release of Idris Elba’s directorial debut.
The film is set in the 1970s and ’80s, and tells the story of a young man (Aml Ameen) from Kingston, Jamaica, who comes to London and reconnects with his childhood sweetheart. The film shows the struggles faced by first-generation immigrants to the UK, but also has a positive message about the impact the new arrivals had on culture across the country. Music plays a central theme in the movie, which is referenced in a number of the photographs in the exhibition.

The display features 25 photographs from Autograph, an organisation set up in 1988 “to use photography to explore questions of cultural identity, race, representation, human rights and social justice”. The photographers come from diverse backgrounds with a common message of documenting black communities across London from the turbulent political landscape of the 1970s and ’80s.

Elba has made headlines as the favourite to take over the role of James Bond, once actor Daniel Craig hands in his licence to kill after his fifth outing as 007. Producers on the long-running series have stated that it is time for a “non-white” Bond.

Yardie will be in cinemas from 31 August 2018. Special nationwide preview screenings, including a live satellite Q&A with Idris Elba, will take place on 23 August. See www.yardiefilm.co.uk/previewevent for details.

Back in the Day is a free exhibition running from 18 August-2 September 2018.