January 3rd: Today's Feature

January

Part II: Malik Al Nasir

Education

In 2010, Malik Al Nasir graduated with an MA in New Media Production from Liverpool Screen School, a faculty of Liverpool John Moores University. For his thesis piece he created a web-based multimedia software program for genealogical family tree building, called Ancestory. The software allows for the building of interactive multimedia family trees, that can be shared over social networks and authored by the public. Ancestory was probably the first interactive multimedia family tree builder, with social network integration.

Malik also holds a BA Honours in Geography & Sociology from Liverpool Hope University and a PgDip in Applied Social Research from The University of Liverpool.

Research

Malik has researched the life of Andrew Watson (24 May 1856 – 8 March 1921) who was the world’s first Black international footballer and one of the architects of the game of soccer as it is known today. Watson came from Guyana in 1860 (being an unconfirmed but likely relative of Malik). Malik was consulted on the development of (and featured in) the BBC Scotland documentary entitled "Mark Walters in the Footsteps of Andrew Watson”.

In 2023 it was reported that he was registered for a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. This research relates to slavery and in particular Sandbach, Tinne & Company. His project was entitled "Kinship Networks and Mercantile Hegemony in the Latter Days of British Slavery – The Case of Sandbach Tinne, c. 1790-1840”.

Media work

Al-Nasir developed a think tank with sociologist Ronaldo Munck. He is a social commentator on issues relating to refugees, social exclusion, asylum seekers, and social unrest in Liverpool and racism.

Al-Nasir wrote The Guardian obituary for Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, entitled "The grandfather of rap”.

Event producer and performer

Al-Nasir formed a band named Malik & the O.G's, standing for "Ordinary Guys". The band included Malik Al Nasir, Orphy Robinson, Rod Youngs, Mohammed Nazam, Paislie Reid, Shaza Tiago Coimbra and engineer Tom Parker.

In 2013, Al-Nasir and his publishing house were asked to produce a live show of the world's first rap album Hustlers Convention. The event, at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, North London, was filmed for the making of a documentary of the same name. The film was directed by Mike Todd of Riverhorse TV and executive produced by Public Enemy's Chuck D.

The live event was sponsored by Charly Records, who re-issuesd the album to commemorate both 40 years of "The Hustlers Convention" and 40 years of the company. Malik was the associate producer of the film, as well as an interviewee, presenting a segment to camera. Malik & the O.G's (Cleveland Watkiss, Orphy Robinson, Rod Youngs & Hawi Gondwe) supported Jalal and The Jazz Warriors International Collective at the event.

The death of his mentor, Gil Scott-Heron, led Al Nasir to perform acts of tribute, such as at Liverpool International Music Festival 2013. Two years later, the Festival commissioned him to produce a range of events, including its opening night. On UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition he produced "Poets Against Apartheid" at the International Slavery Museum, featuring readings from Tayo Aluko, Jean Binta Breeze MBE, and the Incognito Gospel Choir.

A few days later at St George's Hall, Liverpool, he produced, in partnership with nightclub entrepreneur and promoter Richard McGinnis, "The Revolution Will Be Live – A Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron". The MC was BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Ngunan Adamu, and the show featured Al-Nasir's own band, Malik & the O.G's, as well as Talib Kweli, Aswad, The Christians, Craig Charles, DJ 2Kind, Sophia Ben-Yousef, and Cleveland Watkiss.

Al Nasir was invited to tour Canada with Last Poets founder member Jalal Mansur Nuriddin for Black History Month (February 2016). Events at Harbourfront in Toronto reached the national press The pair screened two films,Hustlers Convention and Word-Up, and participated in workshops, seminars, school visits and performances in Toronto[24] Ottawa and Mississauga.

Al Nasir was invited back in March 2016 further promoting his film Word-Up and performing with his band Malik & the O.G's featuring Ottawa R & B artists Rita Carter. 'The Revolution Will Be Live' again toured the UK in Nov 2017 with Scott-Heron's former musical director Kim Jordan joining Malik & the O.G's and featured Canadian singer Rita Carter.