Uppity: The Intellectual Playground

Welcome to the last edition of Uppity for 2025!

We're going out with a bang and, for our first time ever, on a Thursday!

As always, we kick off the night with a surprise performance before easing into the heavy-hitting discussions.

🔥 The Melanin Warm-Up

The world has given us a lot to unpack. From Hurricane Mellisa tearing through the Caribbean and the destruction left in its wake, to Zohram Mamdani's victory in the New York mayoral elections to Trump's Nicki Minaj-endorsed threats to invade Nigeria, the tragic train incident and the general re-emergence of the Black bogeyman in the media, and the furore around the "accidental" release of prisoners and how it could topple David Lammy, the first Black Deputy PMs ever...

🏆 The First Annual Uppity Awards

As we wrap up the year, we must look back and honour the worthy - or, in some cases, the unworthy. This year, for the first time ever, we're introducing our own honours system, one decided entirely by you.

There are six essential categories:

1. The You'se Gonna Get Us Deported Award - for excellence in anti-racism.
2. The I Ain't Tap Dancing For You Award - for excellence in defiance.
3. The Cybershucking Rhymes With Spoon of The Year Award - for excellence in online bootlicking, tap dancing, and general pandering to racism.
4. Klanalist of The Year - for excellence in racist journalism.
5. The We Need A Regulator Award - for excellence in neo-minstrel 'podcasting'.
6. The Enoch Powell Award - for the undisputed racist politician of the year
7. The Lord Tony Sewell - Steppin Fetchit Lifetime Achievement Award - for sustained services and excellence in pandering to racism.

🗳️ Submit Your Nominations

Please send your nominations, preferably alongside video links, to uppityhq@gmail.com. You can also DM us on social media. Crucially, please ensure you specify the category you wish your nominee to be considered for.

Our panel of expert judges, who will be offering their thoughts live at Uppity are:

• Busayo Twins - writer and activist, creator of Everything is Political
• Alessandro Babalola - actor (Top Boy) and theatre director (Soho Theater).
• Marianne Sunshine - writer and cultural critic
• Farrah Charles - writer and podcaster (Your Aunts Could Never)

But ultimately, the award winner will be decided by you.

📰 Channel 4 News Correspondent Symeon Brown is set to join the Uppity circle for an exclusive discussion with the BBC's Yemisi Adegoke. Together they will reveal everything about Symeon's new documentary, which delves into the phenomenon of South Africa's 'Slay Queens.'

🌍 Mugabe or Mandela? The Berlin Conference Memorial Debate

To mark the 141st anniversary of the Berlin Conference and to understand its enduring impact, each year we stage a special debate to help us unpack the true nature and effect of colonialism.

This year’s debate asks the provocative question:

Who Actually Achieved More for Black Liberation: Nelson Mandela & Robert Mugabe?

As far as Western history and media are concerned, Nelson Mandela was an unmitigated angel, and Robert Mugabe was nothing short of a demon. But are the people we sought to be liberated from the best judge of those who led our liberation movements? At this month's edition of Uppity, we ask what may be the tabooest question in modern African history: who actually achieved more for Black liberation? Mandela or Mugabe?

The full line-up of speakers will be announced shortly. But ultimately, the jury is you.

Make sure you follow us on social media @uppityhq on Twitter and Instagram.

WHAT IS UPPITY: THE INTELLECTUAL PLAYGROUND?

Welcome to Uppity: The Intellectual Playground – am intellectually stimulating and satirical exploration of arts, culture and politics - all deep-fried in unashamedly high-brow Blackness.

Welcome to Uppity: a one-of-a-kind intellectual playground. Get ready for a series of unforgettable and highly informative evenings filled with sophisticated wit, wisdom and a dash of pretentiousness.

Part townhall, part variety show, yet ruggedly intellectual, Uppity is a monthly interactive convening of writers, artists, thinkers, politicians, comedians, professionals and, most importantly: you - for an irreverent exploration of arts, culture and politics. All deep fried in unapologetic Blackness.

Uppity™ is founded by the writer, broadcaster, satirist and former banker, Nels Abbey (author of Think Like A White Man, Guardian contributor and political commentator for Good Morning Britain).

Designed to challenge perception in a unique, warm and in places comedic and taboo-free manner, Uppity will take us on a journey through the issues of the day as pertains to arts, culture, politics and life.

Something new, something different, something fresh… something uppity!