African Oasis - ACE114.3

Groups of people, including Yugesh Walia and Bob Ramdhanie, discussing the editing of 8mm film of local people talking about their views of the West Indies in relation to their own lives. More 8mm footage. The back garden of the Centre where people are creating an African village. Ramdhanie emphasises that the Centre works with both "offenders as well as non-offenders" and explains that the village will offer to those in search of identity something "more tangible than music and dance". Centre workers talking about the design for the garden features – including buildings and sculptures – and its planting. Plans. Construction. Oneness performing Weh Dem Come From over. Ramdhanie’s VO talking about the garden adding to Handsworth’s outdoor facilities as a whole. Children’s ballet class, sign for Open Day, dancers in marquee, ballet class; woman’s VO saying that she uses the facilities she wants and has no problem with the idea that some of the people at the Centre are offenders. Young Centre worker explains that people outside sometimes assume that he is an offender. Dance classes. Ramdhanie receiving an award from the Mayor; Centre activities, dancing, etc. Ramdhanie’s VO says that the Centre’s links with the Probation Service are generally not an issue, but young people can sometimes be worried about television coverage if they think it might wrongly identify them as offenders. The Centre recording studio; Derrick Anderson talks about it as somewhere where anyone can record, and where they can get help from people with arranging their music, etc. Oneness recording Mama Don’t Cry. Errol Whitter talking about helping young people develop their music. Young people dancing.