Menelik Shabazz will be remembered by many as the pioneer of black British filmmaking. Having brought to light the stories of many black people living in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, he paved the way for film production that explores and celebrates the beauty and concerns of the black community.
Even from the age of 23, Menelik had shown great passion and potential for creating black films with his first film project, Step Forward Youth, telling the stories of black Britons who were born in Britain but treated as immigrants. This project then led him to produce and direct more iconic works such as Blood Ah Go Mad and Burning an Illusion (1981), Time and Judgement (1988), and Looking for Love (2015). One of his most memorable works, The Story of Lovers Rock, which will be showcased at the September edition of Cinema for the Culture, explores the subgenre of romantic reggae, black love, and social activism.
Menelik will forever be remembered as a giant of culture and film. Mojisola Sonoiki, the founder and executive director of the African Film and Arts Foundation said the following about Menelik:
“I started my film festival with Menelik huddled up in a room in his office in East London. Over the years, As being part of the global Black Indie film circuit, you could not help but run into someone who knew Menelik, or who at least knew about his work. That showed the depth of his influence. The last time I reached out to Menelik was last year and I reminded him of the massive impact he left on me and how he was one of my inspirations to continue producing film festivals. Menelik understood that the only way our narrative as Black people globally could change, is if we are in control of telling our own stories, from our own perspective. Rest in peace Menelik and thank you for the great work you left us. Your legacy is set in stone”