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BAFC were a group of Black British and diaspora artists who engaged with African Caribbean and Asian popular and political culture in Britain. Its members were John Akomfrah, Reece Auguiste, Edward George, Lina Gopaul, Avril Johnson, Clare Joseph (replaced by David Lawson in 1985) and Trevor Mathison. They formed in 1981, after racial discrimination and police brutality against young Black people had led to violent clashes and uprisings around the UK.

BAFC’s films explore Black British and diasporic experience in a manner which is both critically urgent and deeply poetic. They question how notions of race are constructed in society. Three works are on display in the Starr Cinema: Handsworth Songs offers a complex visual and sonic representation of the hopes and dreams of post-war Black British people after the Birmingham uprisings of September 1985. Expeditions One and Expeditions Two are slideshows of 35mm still photographs documenting British imperialism. They are accompanied by a soundtrack of repetitive music and political speeches commenting on the historical conditions of race and class that informs diasporic life in Britain today.

Film schedule

14.00 Handsworth Songs 1986. Duration: 59min

15.00 Expeditions One: Signs of Empire 1983. Duration 22min

15.25 Expeditions Two: Images of Nationality 1984. Duration 22min

16.00 Handsworth Songs 1986. Duration: 59min

17.00 Expeditions One: Signs of Empire 1983. Duration 22min

17.25 Expeditions Two: Images of Nationality 1984. Duration 22min

The final film finishes at 17.50.

Handsworth Songs 1986

Film, 16mm, shown as video, colour and sound (mono)

Expeditions One: Signs of Empire 1983

Expeditions Two: Images of Nationality 1984

Films, 35mm, shown as video, high definition, colour and sound (stereo)

Presented by Tate Members 2008