Civil rights activist Angela Davis to make rare UK appearance at Royal Albert Hall
Angela Davis, a symbol of the struggle for black liberation, anti-capitalism and feminism, will make a rare UK appearance at the Royal Albert Hall next month.
Women of the World (WOW), a network of arts festivals that celebrate the achievements of women and girls, will host the event at the prestigious venue on March 8, to mark international women’s day.
WOW at 15, also marks the movement’s 15th anniversary and will celebrate its achievements since being founded by Jude Kelly CBE in 2010.
Ms Kelly said: “It is an extraordinary moment, but also a bittersweet one. I would love to be able to say that WOW, in its 15th year, is no longer needed.
“That women, girls and non-binary people are seen and valued equally the world over, however this is not the case.
“Our anniversary year will serve to renew all our energies, and despite setbacks, help sustain optimism and joy that will ultimately enable gender equity to be achieved.
“We can’t wait to come together for WOW at 15 – Angela Davis has been a true friend to WOW across many years, and in her 80th year we want to honour her unparalleled contribution to work towards equity in all its forms.”
This will be the first WOW event held at the Royal Albert Hall, a venue which hosted more than 20 Suffragette rallies at what Emmeline Pankhurst called a ‘Temple of Liberty.’
Headlining the event, Ms Davis will join Ms Kelly in conversation to speak about her life and achievements.
Ms Davis went from being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List to becoming one of the most sought after speakers in the world, and a key witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era.
In 1970, guns registered to Ms Davis were used in an armed takeover of a courtroom in Marin County, California, in which four people were killed.
Prosecuted for three capital felonies—including conspiracy to murder—she was held in jail for more than a year before being acquitted of all charges in 1972.
A former professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a vocal member of the communist party, Ms Davis had already made a name for herself as a notable scholar.
But, during the trial, she became an international symbol of resistance.
She remains a vital presence, advising young activists like the Dream Defenders, a group founded in 2012 after the killing of Trayvon Martin.
For most of the last 30 years, she has worked as a public intellectual, teaching at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and other universities.
On stage at the Royal Albert Hall this March, she will discuss the role of love in activism, hope and healing, her dreams for the future, and her love of the Blues.
The evening will also feature the world premiere of a newly commissioned fanfare for the Royal Albert Hall’s spectacular organ written by composer Isobel Waller-Bridge and performed by renowned organist and composer Anna Lapwood on the Hall’s 153-year-old 9,999 pipe organ.
WOW Festivals and events have taken place in 45 locations on six continents celebrating women, girls and non-binary people.
Attracting five million people worldwide, WOW has supported thousands of activists, brought previously taboo subjects into mainstream dialogue and acted as a catalyst for the launch and success of countless campaigns.
Tickets for WOW at 15 start from £20, with 200 £10 tickets allocated for community and school groups. Tickets can be found on the Royal Albert Hall website.
Pictured top: Angela Davis will headline WOW at 15 at the Royal Albert Hall on March 8 (Picture: KK Ottesen)