Celebrating ELBWO: Reflections on our Documentary screening and Q&A
- Isra Hussein
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
On the 8th of August 2026, the Young Historians Project premiered our film titled 'Documenting the East London Black Women's Organisation: The Early Years' at the ELBWO centre in Forest Gate.
Our journey with ELBWO began in the lead-up to its 45th anniversary. In 2024, we began meeting with the founders, members, supporters, and families of ELBWO to develop a picture of its history. YHP then created two project outputs: a documentary and a digital archive. We filmed oral history interviews to gather stories tracing ELBWO’s emergence, objectives, challenges, and legacy as a community organisation. Working with InDetail Studios, these interviews became a narrated documentary. YHP is incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity with which our interviewees welcomed us into their homes, shared their stories, and allowed us to use their personal photographs and memorabilia in this project. We also gathered archival material through Newham Archives. This allowed us to create an digital exhibition; organised into themes such as international solidarity, community building, and youth outreach. The ELBWO documentary and archive are now available on our website.
The screening of the documentary was a long-awaited. The day brought together the ELBWO community, academics, authors, activists, and members of the public. Among those present were several of our project participants, including Ama Gueye, Dr Jane Grant, Joyce Grandison, Sharon Grandison, Surlene Spencer, Liam Williams, and Kobina Mark. After we watched the film, there was a break for refreshments. We extend our thanks to the ELBWO women who collectively provided the food.
The day concluded with a Q&A session hosted by Juliet Alexander. On the panel were Ama Gueye, Mia Morris OBE FRSA, and A.S. Francis, representing YHP. The session provided an opportunity for the audience to ask questions about ELBWO’s history and continuing work, reactions to the film, and the collaboration between ELBWO and YHP.
For Ama, the documentary provided an opportunity to reflect on the impact ELBWO made on local children. Ama highlighted the importance of creating a space in which young people could develop a sense of cultural pride and belonging. After hearing her daughter Oumou’s interview, Ama realised the legacy of ELBWO's work not only on her daughter's generation, but that of her grandchildren also. Ama and Mia also reflected on their respective experiences of ELBWO, including their memories about its founding. The formation of ELBWO was inspired during the National Black Women's Conference in 1979 at the Abeng Centre. It was fascinating to hear multiple perspectives of the same day. Ama felt that it was clear to her that day that she would go on to make history, and Mia reflected on the joy and sisterhood she felt while attending the conference.
The discussion then moved on to YHP. A.S. Francis explained that Sharon Grandison, who had been involved with ELBWO since childhood, had brought together its early and founding members and helped YHP coordinate the project. Francis situated the documentary within a wider effort to recover histories of Black women's activism. She also touched on the value of inter-generational conversations and collaboration, as ELBWO was not simply the subject of the project, but was involved in documenting its own history.
Myrtle Noble, the current chair of ELBWO, answered audience questions about the organisation’s current mission and planned areas of work. ELBWO is currently seeking funding to undertake programmes similar to those it provided in its early days. In the near future, ELBWO hopes to provide counselling, mentoring for young people, support for the elderly, and support relating to domestic violence. The ELBWO centre reopened three years ago, following a 20 year process to rebuild its premises. In 2004, the building became unusable after a devastating fire.
Closing remarks were made by Ama Gueye, who concluded with the words: “Love, love, love, to everyone.”
It was wonderful to have an opportunity for everyone involved in the project to come together to reflect, reminisce, and laugh. We hope our project helps to preserve ELBWO's legacy and make its history accessible to a wider audience.
YHP produced a video with photographs and footage of the day. Enjoy!
