Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Brixton House, London
This weekend, Brixton will once again become a vibrant centre of remembrance, resistance, and renewal as Decolonising the Archive (DTA) hosts the 5th Annual Olive Morris Awards Luncheon a flagship event that has grown into one of the most anticipated celebrations of radical Black British heritage and Pan African legacy in London..
Set against the theme “Women in the Business of Liberation,” the event is far more than a ceremonial tribute it is a living, breathing archive of community power, resistance, and imagination.
A Movement, Not Just a Moment
Founded in 2011, Decolonising the Archive (DTA) has quietly and consistently redefined what it means to honour and activate African and Caribbean histories in the UK. From theatre productions to healing circles, archival training to publishing initiatives, DTA has built a transformative cultural infrastructure centred on memory, liberation, education, and care.
At the heart of this movement is Connie Bell, DTA’s co-founder and cultural curator, whose visionary leadership has shaped the Olive Morris Awards into more than an annual even it is now a pillar of collective memory and community celebration in Brixton and beyond.
“Our work is about giving people the tools to locate themselves in history and shape what comes next,” says Bell. “We’re not preserving the past; we’re animating it.”
Through Bell’s curatorial lens, the Awards have evolved into a rare space that honours unsung community builders particularly Black women who labour for justice, healing, and equity outside of the spotlight.
The Olive Morris Awards: Embodying Radical Love and Community Power
Olive Morris, a fearless organiser, feminist, and revolutionary from the 1970s, remains a towering figure in Black British activism. Her legacy fighting against racism, sexism, and state violence lives on through the women honoured at this gathering.
Each year, five women are recognised for their uncompromising work in education, housing, the arts, health, justice, and cultural preservation. These awards are community-nominated and rooted in values Olive herself embodied: radical love, resilience, and liberation through collective care.
This year’s honourees who were voted for by the community are Claudune Eccelston, Jemmar Samuel’s, Tianna Johnson, Temi Mwale and a special DTA selection goes to Lydia Julien for her commitment to helping other movement. Following in the tradition of challenging systems of harm while building new frameworks for community-led futures.
From Brixton to the Diaspora: The Global Liberation Roundtable
One of the most anticipated parts of the day is the Global Liberation Roundtable, a transnational dialogue that explores the interconnectedness of freedom struggles around the world. Moderated by academic and cultural thinker Dr. Rita Gayle, this powerhouse panel features:
Marian Faye (The Gambia) An activist tackling child exploitation and gender-based violence in West Africa.
Jumana Eltgani (Sudan/UK) A gender justice advocate mobilising for peace and civilian rule amidst Sudan’s crisis.
Hania Tayara (UK/Syria/Palestine) A health justice researcher and organiser drawing links between colonial violence and care inequities.
The panel is a call to action reminding attendees that Black liberation is global, intersectional, and ongoing.
A Luncheon, A Living Archive
Held at Brixton House, the event space mirrors the spirit of the gathering creative, political, and people-powered. From Caribbean dishes and healing spritzers to film screenings and archive-based workshops, the day is curated to be immersive, joyful, and deeply nourishing.
Attendees can expect:
Mini Short Film Festival: Revolutionary stories that centre Black resistance and love.
Quiz, Raffle and Prizes
Live Performances, Games & Prizes: A community celebration that uplifts, educates, and connects.
Importantly, every ticket supports DTA’s publishing initiatives, community training, and the 2026 Olive Morris Awards.
📚 DTA’s Ongoing Legacy: Archives as Liberation Tools
Decolonising the Archive’s mission goes beyond rememberingit’s about retooling heritage for liberation today. Their programs include:
Correcting Our Collecting – A nationally recognised training programme in African heritage archiving.
University of Repair – Training over 700 participants in cultural resilience, memory work, and reparations frameworks.
Emotional Emancipation Circles – Wellness spaces rooted in African healing traditions.
Theatre + Archive Projects – Including the historic UK revival of Una Marson’s Pocomania, now enshrined in the National Theatre’s Black Play Archives.
DTA’s model is unapologetically community-first, challenging institutions to rethink who holds knowledge, how it is preserved, and what it should be used for.
Join the Legacy, Support the Work
The Olive Morris Awards are more than an event—they are a commitment to building intergenerational legacies of freedom, especially for Black women who continue to lead from the margins.
Whether you’re a long-time organiser or new to community action, this space invites you to witness, honour, and participate in living history.
Come for the food, stay for the knowledge, leave transformed.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8GL
Learn more: www.decolonisingthearchive.com
