Ekow Eshun
Encyclopedia
Ekow Eshun is a British
writer, journalist
, and broadcaster. Until November 2010 he was the artistic director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts
in London
, leaving before the end of his six month notice period. He is a contributor to BBC2's Friday night arts programme Newsnight Review and a former editor of Arena
magazine. Eshun is also the editor-in-chief of Tank Magazine
.
Eshun was born in London
, the younger brother of writer Kodwo Eshun
. Although three years of his childhood were spent in Accra
, his family are Fante from Ghana
, for the most part he was brought up in London. He attended Kingsbury High School
in North West London. and read politics and history at the London School of Economics
. During his time there he edited both Features and Arts for the student newspaper, The Beaver
.
He sometimes appears as a critic on Saturday Review
on BBC Radio 4
. He appeared in 2009 in the television advertisements for Aviva
(formerly Norwich Union). He also sometimes appears as a critic on "The Review Show" on BBC Two
, as on September 30, 2011.
In the 8 December 2010 edition of the Evening Standard
Eshun erroneously claimed that "Last year, only one black student was accepted at any of Oxford’s 38 colleges to study as an undergraduate”. This statistic actually referred only to Black Caribbean Students who self defined as such, the number of Black students was at least 27. The paper subsequently corrected this mistake but only in a low key way, on its website. Later (11 April 2011) David Cameron
repeated the untruth.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/education-13041885
Eshun's memoir, Black Gold of the Sun, published in 2005, deals with a return trip to Ghana, Ghanaian history, and issues of identity and race. He currently lives in London and presented a show on More4
called The Last Word, a topical talk show discussing culture, politics and other issues of the day.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
writer, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and broadcaster. Until November 2010 he was the artistic director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, leaving before the end of his six month notice period. He is a contributor to BBC2's Friday night arts programme Newsnight Review and a former editor of Arena
Arena (magazine)
Arena was a British monthly men's magazine. The magazine was created in 1986 by Nick Logan, who had started The Face in 1980, to focus on trends in fashion and entertainment. British graphic designer Neville Brody, who had designed The Face, designed Arena's launch appearance.The magazine featured...
magazine. Eshun is also the editor-in-chief of Tank Magazine
Tank Magazine
Tank Magazine is a quarterly UK magazine that focuses on lifestyle, art, architecture, literature and fashion.-Background:Tank magazine, first published in September 1998, is produced by the independent publishing company Tank Publications Ltd., who also publish "O:Magazine" by Tank, the luxury...
.
Eshun was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the younger brother of writer Kodwo Eshun
Kodwo Eshun
Kodwo Eshun is a British-Ghanaian writer, theorist and film-maker. He studied English Literature at University College, Oxford University and Romanticism and Modernism MA Hons at Southampton University...
. Although three years of his childhood were spent in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, his family are Fante from Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, for the most part he was brought up in London. He attended Kingsbury High School
Kingsbury High School
Kingsbury High School is a large High School in Kingsbury, London, England notable for a number of reasons including its national reputation for Mathematics, its many eminent alumni and for the fact that the Upper School site at Princes Avenue, NW9 London, is recognisable to many British adults...
in North West London. and read politics and history at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. During his time there he edited both Features and Arts for the student newspaper, The Beaver
The Beaver
The Beaver is the weekly newspaper of the London School of Economics Students' Union at the LSE.Despite being published by the Students' Union, The Beaver is independent in its reporting....
.
He sometimes appears as a critic on Saturday Review
Saturday Review (radio)
Saturday Review is a weekly radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 which "offers sharp, critical discussion of the week's cultural events", according to the show's website.It is currently presented by Tom Sutcliffe.-External links:*...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. He appeared in 2009 in the television advertisements for Aviva
Aviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
(formerly Norwich Union). He also sometimes appears as a critic on "The Review Show" on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, as on September 30, 2011.
In the 8 December 2010 edition of the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
Eshun erroneously claimed that "Last year, only one black student was accepted at any of Oxford’s 38 colleges to study as an undergraduate”. This statistic actually referred only to Black Caribbean Students who self defined as such, the number of Black students was at least 27. The paper subsequently corrected this mistake but only in a low key way, on its website. Later (11 April 2011) David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
repeated the untruth.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/education-13041885
Eshun's memoir, Black Gold of the Sun, published in 2005, deals with a return trip to Ghana, Ghanaian history, and issues of identity and race. He currently lives in London and presented a show on More4
More4
More4 is a digital television channel, run by British broadcaster Channel 4, that launched on 10 October 2005. It is carried on Freeview, on satellite broadcasters Freesat and Sky, UK IPTV broadcaster TalkTalk TV and on UK cable network Virgin Media and in the Republic of Ireland cable networks...
called The Last Word, a topical talk show discussing culture, politics and other issues of the day.