LUTON SANKOFA UK
We are a non-profit, African-Caribbean group in Luton, formed in 2016 to organise the annual commemoration of those who endured the Transatlantic African Enslavement which coincides with the United Nations (UN) date of 25th March, to 'Remember Slavery' and 'Honour our Ancestors'.
The aim of Luton Sankofa UK has always been to “commemorate the billions of victims of the African Holocaust which have lasted over 1000 years. This year marks our 7th Annual Commemoration and 7 years since the passing of the motion at Luton Borough Council giving full council support for the community to formally recognise the importance of the 25th of March which is the UN International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Transatlantic enslavement.
This year we join with Bedford and Northampton to continue to highlight the causes, dangers and consequences of Afriphobia and prejudice with educational institutions, civil society and other organisations to educate all generations about the transatlantic slave trade.
Each year we have discovered more and more information that takes us on to another destination. In our commemoration we remember not just those that were enslaved due to the Transatlantic enslavement but also the Arab/Muslim African enslavement.
We commend the African Caribbean community, friends and officers for establishing this annual commemoration to acknowledge all who suffered and died during what has been called the worst violation of human rights in history. Let us not forget that they were someone’s children and were pulled from their roots. As a result, our ancestors and us as descendants have not received the nurturing and substance from the roots.
Jacqui Burnett (Cllr), Chair, Luton Sankofa UK
José Santiago is a proactive, accomplished financial strategist with deep knowledge of FinTech (payment systems, mobile money and digital money), financial inclusion strategies and asset protection, sectors both in UK and abroad. Graduated in Public Administration and Modern Languages and have started his career as an auditor then developed to other forms of financial consultation, Wealth Management and then FinTech with professional qualifications from UK CII (Chartered Insurance Institute), CISI (Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment) and PFS (Personal Financial Society).
In 1998 José founded LBWTA (Let’s Bring Wealth to Africa) Foundation which helps people (specially the deprived ones) with unique wealth creation, financial planning and financial inclusion. LBWTA has offices in London (headoffice), Dubai, Lagos and Nairobi. In 2020 José founded Umoja Generational Wealth (UGW) which provides Africans and African Descendants tools and strategies to build, maintain, grow their wealth, power and prosperity under Ubuntu Principles. We provide training, mentoring and coaching in all thing asset based wealth for our community. We currently have a subsidiary in Ghana, Umoja Ghana! Umoja mission is to create 100,000 Asset based millionaires in our community by 2030. We take you by the hand from Umoja (Unity, Together, Togetherness) to Umnotho (Prosperity, Wellbeing).
Regular Contributions to online and printed media including (QUEST, SME Adviser, Femina, Zambia Online, Arab Business Review).
Radio: Host of “My Money” at 24 Horas Radio and contributor to SLR, PowerXtra and ChoiceFM Radios and few others.
Speaker and Coach on: FinTech, Digital Money, Mobile Money, Financial Inclusion Strategies, Wealth protection.
Passionate about our community and about ways to lift us all from the bottom of the pyramid.
Moto: Umoja your money, so we stand!
Contacts: Tel. +44 7961 071 322 – email: jbs@sibank.co.uk - Skype: sant1nho
Work BIO
Tré Ventour-Griffiths (me) is a neurodivergent practitioner-academic [pracademic] as a public historian, as well as an artist and public sociologist. My writing has been published in poetry, journalism, and nonfiction, while I have further worked with organisations in the arts, education, third sector, and others on projects linked to race and disability. Much of his work also intersects with criminology, media and English literature, as well as film and televisions studies, including but not limited to, race and racism in period dramas as well as disability while Black.
SELECTED WORK, SOCIALS, AND MEDIA APPEARANCES https://linktr.ee/treventoured NEW WORK https://treventour.pubpub.org/pub/x2xw1eia/release/3
PHD Topic
Presently, I’m now in my first year of a PhD. This research aims to document a history of the Windrush Generation in provincial England. While many textsexplore migration into Britain’s major cities including London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Leeds, little has been written about the Windrush Generation of British migrants Leeds, little has been written about the Windrush Generation of British migrants outside of major cities. Further, my research will not only document this considerable Modern Black History, as those of us in the Town and Country as far as popular Black historical narratives, sit in the shadow of cosmopolitan major cities!
Pending Release
VENTOUR-GRIFFITHS, T (2023) COVID-1984: WAKE MBE UP WHEN BLACK LIVES MATTER’ in: Kay, Kavyta., Holloman, Tiffany., and Lander, Vini. Colliding Pandemics New and Old: COVID-19 and Racism. Policy Press. Release: 12th May 2023.
This year sees Luton Sankofa UK joining with new partners to support the Luton commemorations and to start annual remembrance services in Bedford and Northampton to honour our ancestors who suffered and died during the transatlantic African enslavement.
“UGW bring financial literacy through training, mentoring, coaching, business partnership, investments and lots more under Ubuntu principles to our community. The partnership with Luton Sankofa UK will bring a range of valuable asset protection and estate planning services to uplift our underserved community within the principles
of Ubuntu Economics. It has been a pleasure to support with the planning of this year’s event.”
José Santiago - Founder, Umoja Generational Wealth (UGW)
SpectaculArts is proud to be working alongside Luton Sankofa UK to promote the important work they continue to do in honouring and remembering the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. We recognise the importance of collaboration and the valuable contributions that Luton Sankofa UK can bring to our shared goals. We look forward to building strong and meaningful partnerships that will benefit our communities and advance our collective efforts towards a more just and equitable society.”
Sharon De Leonardis - CEO, SpectaculArts
“Through Spectacularts (Bedford) Northamptonshire Black History Association (NBHA) learnt of the work Luton Sankofa UK had done regarding the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of Slavery Victims and the Transatlantic Slave Trade Day. NBHA have been inspired by the efforts made by Luton Sankofa UK to raise awareness of this important event (and the dangers of racism and prejudice). It is a real pleasure to be working alongside this group/organisation”
Morcea Walker, Vice Lord Lieutenant of
Northamptonshire - Chair of Northamptonshire
Black History Association
“What a privilege and honour to join hands with the women of Luton Sanfoka who are actively committed to advocacy for racial social justice locally and across the UK. As the Co/Chair for the Global Ethnic Majority network (GEM) at the University of Northampton, I endorse their vision, values and action for positive change, empowerment, and hope for our Black communities. We look forward to co-partnering with Luton Sanfoka’s innovative, inspiring, and impactful agenda of projects and events.”
Dr Marcella Daye - Faculty of Business and Law,
Co/Chair Global Ethnic Majority (GEM)
University of Northampton
