A brand new digital collection titled “Drunk Historical past: Black Tales” is being dropped at the world by Comedy Central Worldwide.
The collection will inform tales from throughout the African Diaspora, together with little-known tales from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean and the US.
Hosted by British rapper/actor and producer Rapman, numerous stars inform the dramatized tales whereas imbibing.
The brainchild of Gwendolyn Elliott from ViacomCBS, producer Collins Harris and his staff sought out tales that will lend themselves to a enjoyable, and humorous format.
“We actually needed to take the platform, which is common, it is a acknowledged platform and use it as a mannequin to rejoice these histories,” Harris instructed CNN. “You recognize we’re actually elevating a glass to people who should be acknowledged.”
The present is UK-based with worldwide stars akin to Scorcher, Zeze Millz, Leticia Hector, Lola Jagun, and Femi Oyeniran as re-enactors for tales narrated by the likes of Amma Asante, Jamali Maddix, Kevin ‘KG’ Garry & Travis Jay. However Harris has no issues concerning the US viewers being in on the joke.
“I feel one of many nice issues about comedy is that folk come for one factor, which is to giggle, but when comedy is completed nicely, they will go away with one thing else,” Harris stated. “We actually needed to try this with this challenge.”
The present shines a highlight on historic figures like Len Johnson, a UK boxer denied the prospect to compete for a championship in Nice Britain due to the colour bar; the “Sons of Africa,” an 18th century abolitionist group in Britain that campaigned to finish the African slave commerce; and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who is taken into account by many to be the “Godmother of Rock N’ Roll” within the US.
Director Femi Oyeniran bought to be concerned each behind the digital camera and as a reenactor.
He instructed CNN it introduced collectively Black creators and a largely Black crew, which does not usually occur within the UK.
Oyeniran takes delight in having the ability to share Black British historical past with audiences world wide.
“I really feel like, you already know, a part of the rationale that African-Individuals have struggled with the truth that Black British folks exist with the identical comparable struggles as them is as a result of we have by no means actually portrayed what it means to be British globally,” he stated. “To the typical American, what it means to be British is the royal household, tea and crumpets, interval dramas. It is all of these issues, however plenty of Black British folks have by no means been components of these journeys.”
“Drunk Historical past: Black Tales” will present the world the kinship of these descended from Africans world wide, he stated.
“We’re united in struggles, but in addition we’re additionally united in excellence,” Oyeniran stated. “That is what this challenge is.”
“Drunk Historical past: Black Tales” will likely be out there internationally on Comedy Central UK’s YouTube, Fb, and Instagram platforms on Thursdays at 1:30pm EST/6:30pm GMT, starting April 15.
Cheers!