Week beginning 31st December and ending with a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hello again my friendly friends,

2012 gently comes to an end and it’s been a groovy year for Proud to be African Clothing.

Those of us in London have seen the Jubilee, the Olympics, music, sports and arts festivals.

We’ve had great performances, talks, presentations, concerts and so on, way too many to mention. Made new friends, reunited with old ones and generally had fun.

We’ve met engineers, bankers, musicians, artists, dancers, film makers, politicians and actors. Stood in the cold and the warmth, the sun and the rain, sold out, run out of stock, increased stock, seen bestsellers slow down and new lines speed up.

It’s been a good year for Proud to be African Clothing and we’re exceptionally grateful to all of you who have supported, bought, followed and generally just been there with us.

As an additional thank you we’re going to do our own January Sales and knock 15% off the price of online purchases until 14th January 2013 with the voucher code 2013NY15.

So thanks again, happy New Year to you and yours and see you all in the New Year for more wonderful wonderfulness!!

Monday 31^st December- New Years Eve

Official Day to go to work and stare pointedly at the clock until your boss admits its a losing battle and sends you home. Unless of course you’re a doctor, nurse, fireman or serving vital infrastructure. Then unfortunately you have to complete your shift. But thank you for your necessary work!

Tuesday 1^st January New Years Day

Welcome to 2013!

Friday 4^th January

We have our good friends of the London Afrobeat Collective at the Hootenanny, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, starting 2013 where they left off in 2012, this collective will be bringing you tracks from their original self titled album as well as new material with vocalist Funke Adeleke. More details here

At 6.00pm Jolof Roots presents Fundraising Reggae Dub Healing and Live Afro Blues at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston, E8 4AA. In Room 1 is the Binghyman Dub Session featuring Earl 16 and Christine Miller alongside Afrikan Simba, Errol Bellot, Incient Angel, Prince Livijah, Lioness Fonts, Ramon Judah, Terralox, Clued Up and more playing the best Roots and culture. In Room 2 we have our good friends in the West African Blues Project, Ramon Goose and Modou Toure, followed by Gambian Kora master Jally Kebba Susso. All supported by DJ’s Hassim, Africathy and Arra. Admission is £5.00 before 9.00pm and £8.00 thereafter. More details from here.

Saturday 5^th January

At 7.00pm there is the Passing Clouds Circus Featuring Orchestra Pirouette at Passing Clouds. This French collective of circus musicians are united by their love of reggae, afro beat, rock, funk, French hip hop, Balkan and soul music. Expect and crazy foot stomping melodic mix full of magic and mayhem. Also performing is Reggae/ soul artist Taliwa and many more special guests. Admission is FREE before £5.00 before 10.00pm and £8.00 thereafter.

At 7.00pm we have the Go Jazz Concert at Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PG, featuring MOBO award winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown, jazz band Empirical, Four Kornerz, poets Floetic Lara and Mahameek, Romarinho, Musiqmind, Ola the Poet, Blessing and Dena. Tickets are £27.50 for a single and £50.00 for a double. VIP ticket is £45.00 with dinner included. Buy online from here or via the Box Office on 0844 847 2514 

Week of the 24th December: Christmas Day, Food, Comedy, Music, Jazz and almost the end of the year!!!

Hello my peoples

A nice 3 day week of quasi work coming up. In between there are a few events to keep you going. Remember the SALES at Proud to be African Clothing have already started and you can get 10% off all purchases with the code BROWN10 until the end of December.

Monday 24^th December Christmas Eve

Work but not quite work Day!

Tuesday 25^th December Christmas Day

Official Rice and Chicken Day, ok for those of us in England Turkey and roast vegetables. You are entitled to overeat, fall asleep in front of the TV, overeat again roll into bed and start planning your New Year weight loss plan!

Wednesday 26^th December Boxing Day

Official eat leftovers and book gym membership Day

Thursday 27^th December

At 7.30pm we have South African Comedian Trevor Noah’s show, The Racist at The Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3NE. Fresh from his 5 star show at the Edinburgh Fringe, Noah, this son of a South African Father and Swiss mother who grew up in apartheid South Africa gives a unique perspective on race with a variety of tales, accents and mannerisms. Running till 5^th January, tickets are from £10.00 to £20.00 from here.

Saturday 29^th December

At 6.00pm we have the Voodoo Love Theatre at the Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Southbank, SE1 8XX. Led by a megaphone wielding high priestess, this is a eupghoric riot of music and musicians channelling the big band sound of 1960’s Africa and Latin America, with Colombian cumba, Cuban comparsa, Nigerian Afrobeat, Jamaican ska and Ghanaian highlife. This is a FREE performance on the last working day of the year!!

At 7.00pm Fairweather Productions presents Caribbean Christmas Parade at Cottons Caribbean Restaurant, 70 Exmouth Market, Islington, EC1R 4QP, where you can enjoy a meal by Caribbean Master Chef winner Andrew McIntosh and the best rum punch while being entertained by Felicity Ethnic, Fil Staughan featuring the Luther Vandross Tribute alongside DJs Gordon Mac, Showcase and Pleasure the Party People playing jazz, funk, R&B, lovers rock, reggae, old school and Soca. Dinner and dance are £26.50, Dance only is £12.50. Dinner starts at 7.00pm, dance and cabaret from 9.30pm. Call 0207 833 3332 or 07957441101or book online. Mention Christmas Parade Booking for a gift.

Transquisite Consulting - Thoughts and Views: December's Entrepreneur: Chidi, CEO of Proud to be...

Transquisite Consulting - Thoughts and Views: December's Entrepreneur: Chidi, CEO of Proud to be...: Chidi, is the CEO of urban clothing line Proud to be African Clothing. Proud to be African features simple designs by African artists and ...

Our Husband has Gone Mad Again

If you do just one thing this week get down to New Cross where you can see the fantastic play Our Husband has Gone Mad Again at Georgewood Theatre, Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Way, New Cross, SE14 6NW.  Directed by Lookman Sanusi this comedy originally by Ola Rotimi features a retired Major Rahman Lekoja-Brown who having left the Army for his fathers cocoa business has decided to enter politics, however his assault upon the Nigerian polity, described as Surprise and Attack, is shaken by the surprise arrival of his American wife Lisa.

This of course disrupts life with his first wife Mama Rasheeda and positively confounds things with his second wife Sikiratu.

Needless to say things do not go well when Lisa arrives, mistaking Sikiratu for a housemaid and Mama Rasheeda for a washerwoman and then rapidly goes downhill for the good Major as his 3 wives actually bond  and Lisa introduces Sikiratu to pretty dresses and women’s rights and advises Mama Rasheeda on advanced business planning!

It obviously doesn’t help the Lekoja-Brown’s political career when a rather determined attempt to prevent members of his party and the press from seeing his new American wife in a bikini during a press conference ends up with the Major armed with a rifle and his guests on the floor!

As Sikiratu takes her new found political awareness back to her mother (the head of the market womens union), Lisa gets fed up and the ever faithful Mama Rasheeda becomes an ardent capitalist, things do not look good for the Major.

This is a hilarious take on African life that is as relevant now as it was when it was originally written in 1966, covering so many themes from womens rights, tradition vs modernity, politics and gender relations it is a humorous answer to the question of who really runs the household or the world for that matter. I’ll let each person come up with their own answers to that but this is a great play that just had everyone in the fairly mixed audience with a fair smattering of non Africans literally rolling in the aisles (apologies again to the lady in front of me who I kept hitting as I shook with laughter!!) about put every Nigerian and African out of action for alot of the play not just from the dialogue but the familiar mannerisms and the characters we could all identify with, the loyal to a fault househelp, the excitable young girl, misogynistic patriarch, the uneducated but powerfully cunning market woman, posturing politicians and so on.

This play has a criminally short run ending on Thursday 20^th December, hopefully it will return in the New Year as it is way too good to see only once.

Tickets are only £10.00, with performances at 7.30pm every evening till Thursday. You can buy tickets on the door or in advance from here.

Monday 17th December: Last week before Christmas! Parties! Marsha Ambrosius! Jazz! Lecture! Ghanaian Food!

My people I greet you,

Just a week till Christmas and those last minute stocking fillers might be eluding you! Never fear we have just what you need at Proud to be African Clothing, with adults and kids hoodys, T shirts and baby grows

Monday 17^th December

At 7.30pm Heavy Wind Media UK present another performance of Ola Rotimi’s play Our Husband has gone mad again at Georgewood Theatre, Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Way, New Cross, SE14 6NW.  . Directed by Lookman Sanusi this comedy pokes fun at the misfits and opportunists who bespoil the African political landscape as a retired Major takes to politics for reasons of vanity rather than patriotism, with his hapless efforts taking an even worse turn when his American wife arrives and discovers his 2 other secret wives. This play runs until Thursday the 20^th. Tickets are £10.00 from here. 

At 7.30pm Black Diamondz presents Watch Me Blow at Holborn House, 277 High Holborn, Camden Town, WC1V 7EE. A show with live music, fashion, laughs and give aways. There is a Moschino Pink Bouquet Bag giveaway, Marc Jacobs Dot Gift Set, Jimmy Choo EDP, Lancome and many more give aways as well as a free shot on entry if you show the flyer. All this for just £10.00 from here!!

Tuesday 18^th December

At 7.00pm the Africa Centre presents Seasons Greetings: poems, songs, food and fun and the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. The evening will consist of festive poems, mulled wine, seasonal crafts and gifts. Stand up comedy from Prince Abdi and Alexander D Great, carol singing, calypso and poetry by Dfiza Benson. There is also an open mic if you want to share your poetry as well. You get a free cake/ mince pie (if I haven’t eaten all of them by then!) all for just £5.00 from here!! 

Wednesday 19^th December

At 5.30pm the Afrobeat Meetup Group will be holding Christmas Drinks and Nibbles at Shaka Zulu, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 8AB. Get together for some socialising, networking, drinks and more drinks. With the £10.00 entry you get a free welcome cocktail and party platter with your first round of drinks, with Happy Hour running from 5.30 to 7.00pm

At 6.00pm Professionals for Africa will be holding their Christmas Social Networking Event at the Cape Bar, Wood Street/ Love Lane, EC2V 7JQ. This is an ideal opportunity to escape the office party and just hang back and chill out with like minded African professionals, entry is a mere £2.00 from here. 

From 6.30pm to 9.00pm African Peoples Advocacy presents its Special Christmas Lecture- Pitching Africa: The Untapped market Potential of African History and Culture at Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Moderated by Dr Seraphim Kamdem (SOAS), the key note lecture will be delivered by Chantal Aboa (African Peoples Advocacy), with discussants Washington Kapapiro (Association for African Owned Enterprises) and Ernest Ekokobe (Deo Gratias Ltd). RSVP this FREE event by email or by phoning 01634 573 619.

Thursday 20^th December

At 8.00pm Steve Williamson presents Jazzerzsphere at the CLF Art Cafe, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham Rye, SE15 4ST. This bi monthly spoken word and jazz improvisation set will feature the cream of local, national and international spoken word, instrumentalists and singers. FREE entry before 10.00pm, £5.00 thereafter

At 7.00pm we have Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry at Islington Assembly Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD. Featuring a live band, DJ’s Paul Aaron and K15, Jesse Gamage and Bashiyra and other surprise guests this is her first live UK show since smashing the US charts with her solo album Late Nights and Early Mornings. Tickets start from £22.50 from here.

At 8.30pm Vibes and Pressure and Roots Renaissance present Rise Up at 3-5 Thorpe Close, Ladbroke Grove, W10 5XL. Featuring singer Natty and The Rebelship, Asheber and the Afrikan Revolution featuring R U 1 Family, Subajah and Rebel Lions of Creation.  Hosted by Cord the Seeker with KMT DJing, entry is £7.00

Friday 21^st December

At 5.30pm Hart Culture presents Wisdom in a Golden Era at Hart Culture C.I.C, Factory Road, Silver Town, E16 2EW. Admission is £20.00 from here.

Saturday 22^nd December

At 4.00pm we have the Kenya Film and Fashion Christmas Showcase at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, Coram Street, WC1N 1HT. Featuring a red carpet, formal dinner gala screening of the hit Kenyan film, Nairobi Half Life along with a runway show showcasing the Fashion of Kenya by the Association of Fashion Designers in Kenya. Tickets are £50.00 from here.

At 7.00pm Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen presents Its Ghana be a lovely Christmas at Carlton London Cafe, 4 Roach Road, Poplar, E3 2PA, with a 5 course Ghanaian style Christmas feast. There are 2 menus (meat and veggie), there is only one seating so booking is essential with discounts for groups of 6 or more. Individual is £30.00 from here. 

At 7.00pm Passing Cloud presents the Afrospot showcase Featuring Winston Reedy at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, E8 4AA hosted by bassist Kodjovi Kush with the Afrospot All Stars; Baba Adesosse Wallace (Percussion, vocals), Kofi Adu (drums), Emanuel Kofil (Bass), Emil (guitar), Nick Walters (trumpet), Tim Vox (trombone, Sam (trumpet) and Luzmira Zerpa (percussion, vocals) with Winston Reedy as the featured guest vocalist. Will Page and Volta 45 will be DJing. Admission is FREE before 9.00pm, £5.00 from 9.00pm to 10.00pm and £8.00 after 10.00pm

Week Starting 10th December: books, debates, poetry, Femi Temowo, networking, clubbing and lectures

Hello Everyone,

Just 17 days to Christmas and the nice days off at home stuffing yourself and getting merry. Remember Proud to be African Clothing is giving you 10% off all purchases with the discount code BROWN10!

And just to make it all the more groovy we now have Proud to Ghanaian Maroon hoodys, Born in the UK, Made in Jamaica hoodys for kids and adults, Born in the UK Made in Africa for kids and adults (in black and grey) and Proud to be African hoodys (in black and grey) for kids as well as adults.

Monday 10^th December

From 9.30am to 5.00pm we have Somalia Open for Business at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, 97 Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 4DN. This conference brings together those who wish to bring economic development to Somalia, with sessions covering Business and the economy, Law and Order, Health, Education, Youth opportunities, Agriculture and Fishing and Transport and Infrastructure. Tickets are £32.45 from here.

At 6.00pm we have There was a Country: Reflections from the Nigerian Diaspora in Committee Room 6, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA. This event seeks to bring together Nigerians of all backgrounds and other interested parties to discuss Chinua Achebe’s sensational and controversial new book, ‘There was a country: A Personal History of Biafra’. The panel discussion will cover key legacies of the coup and civil war in the context of Nigeria’s present realities and the future. Chaired by the Right Honourable Chi Onwurah MP (Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Digital Infrastructure) with Donu Kogbara (Journalist), Dipo Salimonu (Eirenicon), Onyekachi Wambu (AFFORD) and Dr Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u (Northumbria University). RSVP for this FREE event by emailing. 

At 6.30pm we have We Just Begin at the Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road. EC1R 3GA. At this event you can learn about 7 ecological sites set up to test ways to restore environmental health and different models of land ownership. Of these 5 are in East Africa, 1 in the UK and 1 in the USA. Named the Barbets Duet after a species of woodpecker that sing with one voice and drawing from western and African knowledge pools, there will be presentations by James Magode Ikuya from Uganda, Chris Jones from Cornwall and Barbara Heinzen. Tickets for this event are £5.00 (£3.00 concs) from here. 

Tuesday 11^th December

At 8.00pm Greenwich University ACS presents Showtime: The Christmas Send Off at Sparrows Bar, Sparrows Farm, Greenwich University, Avery Hill Campus, Sparrow Lane  SE9 2BT with DJ's playing the hip hop, R&B, funky house, UK garage, reggae, soca, slow jams and classic R&B and hip hop. Its £3.00 entry for Greenwich students, £4.00 for guests. More details here.

Wednesday 12^th December

At 6.30pm Place4BRIC’s presents Taster: Business Models and Investment in Africa’s Creative Industries at the Google Campus, 5 Bonhill Street, EC2A 4BX. This networking event will consist of a presentation about the upcoming conference as well as drinks and networking. This FREE event is ideal for tech entrepreneurs, start ups or techies RSVP here. 

At 6.30pm we have The I’mPOSSIBLE conversation Winter Edition 2012 at Pearson plc, 80 The Strand, WC2R 0DW. This event focuses on publicising the life journeys of women of colour on Britain. The panel for this event is hosted by journalist and author Hannah Pool are Foluke Akinlose MBE (founder of preciousonline.co.uk), Dorothy Koomson (bestselling author), Rachel Ritfield (international fashonista) and Rachel Springate (CEO of Enright Entertainment). Tickets are £25.00 each or £17.00 if bought for 4 people from here.

Thursday 13^th December

At 5.30pm BEN TV and the House of Commons present The African Diaspora Conference: Effective Opposition in Sustainable Democracy at the House of Commons Offices, Portcullis House, Westminster, SW1A 2LW. This conference subtitled The Role of African/ Nigerian Diaspora, questions whether Nigeria has a genuinely effective opposition that can take on the ruling party and what contribution the Diaspora can make to building effective democratic structures in Nigeria and Africa and how to contribute to wealth creation. The panel hosted by the Right Honourable Simon Hughes MP (Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats) will consist of Governor Peter Obi (Executive Governor, Anambra State), Right Honourable David Lammy MP (Member for Tottenham), Right Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji (Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly), Edward Akinlade (Suru Group), Alistair Soyode (BEN TV), Tunde Alabi (Coordinator and Organiser). This is FREE invitation only event email Tunde Alabi for registration or call him on 07575816767.   

At 5.30pm we have the 2^nd Annual NAPPUK End of Year Event:  Accelerating National Development Through Project Management at the Rennie Room, Institution of Civil Engineers, 1 Great George Street, Westminster, SW1P 3AA. Guests speakers include Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Dalhatu S Tafida, Mr Andrew Bragg, (Chief Executive, Association for Project Management), David Shannon (Association for Project Management), Rosemary David –Etim (FBN Bank UK Ltd). RSVP for this FREE event here.

At 7.30pm we have Proud to be African favourite Femi Temowo Live at Deans Street Pizza Express, 10 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3RW. Playing his first gig at this venue with his usual stellar line up of Richard Olatunde Baker ( on Talking Drum), Jonathan Idiagbonya (Piano), Karl Rasheed Abel (Bass) and Troy Miller (Drums). Tickets are £15.00 from here.

Friday 14^th December

At 6.30pm is The Inaugural Tajudeen Abdul Raheem Lecture at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. This lecture is in honour of Tajudeen Abdul Rahman a prominent Nigerian civil society campaigner who died in a car accident in 2009. Themed The African Union at Ten: with particular reference to Continental Security with Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari as the keynote speaker. Former Nigerian Ambassador to the UN and UN Special Advisor on Africa and Special Envoy to Myanmar and Angola he is an expert on regional integration, foreign policy and Africa’s role in the UN. RSVP for this FREE event here (a £3.00 donation is gently hinted at)

At 6.30pm Poesy Unplugged returns to The Rock Tower, 49 Tufnell Park Road, Tufnell Park, N7 0PS. This laid back and friendly poetry/ music slam, is ending the year on a high with an open mic session, music, poetry, spoken word and of course mince pies! This is a friendly, FREE event, check here for more details.

At 9.30pm we have the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) Christmas Party at Area, 67 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP. Featuring Proud to be African Clothing favourite Afrikan Boy, Rumba De Bodas, Orchid Road and many others, with DJ’s Barney Spiegel, Harikiri, Jabs and Seani K, Jack Jewell, Nadia, Skywalker, Subprime and Tri:bal playing disco, house, hip hop, funk, dubstep, moombahton, drum and bass and electro. Earlybird tickets are £5.00, standard £10.00 (with a £3.00 refund with fancy dress) from here, more on the door but only up to 11.00pm. The dress code is Christmas themed fancy dress or casual

Saturday 15^th December

From 2.00pm to 6.00pm the Students Association of Nigerians in the Diaspora (SANDS) presents London Forum on Constitutional Reform in Nigeria at London Metropolitan University, North Campus, Room GC1, 166-220 Holloway Road, N7 8DB. This seeks to give Nigerians in the diaspora an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing constitution review process in Nigeria. In the morning will be an open session for a draft submission to the House of Representatives, in the evening will be a panel debate on ‘Enacting a Peoples Constitution: So far, so Good’. Panel discussants include Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Hon. Mulikat O. Akande-Adeola, Hon Betty Apiafi, Dr Alistair Soyode, Mr Bimbo Folayan. Register for this FREE event here. 

 At 3.00pm we have the opening performance of Ola Rotimi’s play Our Husband has gone mad again at Georgewood Theatre, Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Way, New Cross, SE14 6NW.  . Directed by Lookman Sanusi this comedy pokes fun at the misfits and opportunists who bespoil the African political landscape as a retired Major takes to politics for reasons of vanity rather than patriotism, with his hapless efforts taking an even worse turn when his American wife arrives and discovers his 2 other secret wives. There is another performance at 7.30pm of this classic play which runs until Thursday the 20^th. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

At 6.00pm we have the 4^th Annual Kenya Achievers Award at The Royal Regency, 501 High Street North,E12 6TH. This event seeks to recognise Kenyans and their achievements around the world and in the UK, with entertainment and a 3 course Kenyan buffet, admission for this event is £30.00 in advance from here and £50.00 on the door. 

At 6.00pm we have Mutsa Mutsaa Fashion and Beauty Cocktail Party at the 5* Courthouse DoubleTree Hotel, 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HL. This fun night of fashion, music, cocktails, shopping and pampering will have designers, designer clothes and accessories. Fashion shows, 15 minute pamper sessions, a goody bag, discounts and competitions. Something for the discerning fashionista. With 3% of the proceeds going to AMREF UK(the maternal health charity), tickets are  £20.00-£25.00 from here.

At 7.00pm we have EDnKEV (featuring Eddie Kadi and Kevin J) at Sync London, 361-375 Stratford High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ. This show features two of London’s favourite comedians joining forces for a night full of laughter. To see UK Black Comedy at its finest get your ticket for £20.00 form here. 

At 7.30pm we have Samuel Coleridge Taylor at the Croydon Festival Gala Concert at St John the Evangelist, Auckland Road, Upper Norwood, SE19 2RX. Performing Samuel Coleridge Taylors Violin Concerto in G minor op. 80, Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast and Ballad in A minor. A welcome opportunity to see this fine Black composers works performed by the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Butcher. Tickets are £8.00

At 9.00pm we have The Official Naija UK All White Party at Club Favour, 516 Old Kent Road, SE1 5BA. £10.00 before 12.00 midnight. Birthday bookings by BB28F6395. More details available

At 10.00pm the Igbo Cultural and Support Network will be holding their Christmas Party at Biagio Bankside, 32 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 9EU. DJ’s on the night will be playing the best in Afrobeats, hip hop, funky house, bashment and old school classics. There will be prizes for best dressed males and females and of course plenty fine fine African women and men. All this for just £10.00 in advance from here or £15.00 on the door.

Sunday 16^th December

From 2.00pm to 6.00pm our good friends at Mwalimu Express return to Rich Mix, 35-37 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA, for the final event of the year. This month’s destination is Senegal, with live performances by the excellent West African Blues Project featuring Modou Toure (on kora) and Ramon Goose (on guitar), with the screen station documentary The United States of Africa. This is a FREE family friendly event with children’s face painting, kids yoga and dancing, oware board games and DJ’s Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt on the decks.  

At the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm we have a screening of Yaaba in which a 10 year old boy Bila befriends an old woman named Sana who has been accused of witchcraft and ostracised. When Bila’s cousin falls ill Sana goes on a long and gruelling journey to get the medicine to save him, imparting her love and wisdom along the way. This screening is FREE but a donation of £3.00 is politely hinted at. RSVP here.

Week of 3rd December: 10% off!! Conferences, Carol services, Afrobeat, Griots, debates and movies

My people how una dey?

As we officially enter December and are counting down to Christmas, this has been an interesting weekend for Proud to beAfrican Clothing with Saturday being spent at TEDx Euston (although it was at Blackfriars!), a fascinating day with the trademark TED short talks broken into 3 distinct segments; We Are All Leaders with Albie Sachs, Amina Az Zubair, Alcinda Honwana, Frank Njenga and Queen Sylvia Nagginda. Business for Change with Jacqueline Novogratz, Jason Njoku, Ndidi Nwuneli, Trevor Ncube and then Stirring the Soul with Cobhams Asuquo, Komla Dumor, Jepchumba and ending with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her now standard, intelligent and thought provoking fashion along with poetry recitals by our good friend Inua Ellams, performances by our friend Ayan De First and a show by Sillouettez in the Dark. Clips from the event are available on YouTube and there is not enough space to do it justice, with stand out presentations and performances by all. This TED franchise is wholly operated by diaspora Africans and was a wel run, well organised, friendly event.

I’d like to say a big thanks and well done to the entire TEDx Euston team, Ada, Amina, Chioma, Chuks,  Chika, Chikwe Edo, Fee, Femi, Ike, Ifeanyi, Ije, Naz, Nkem, Paddy and Winnie and the fantastic, cheerful young volunteers who I spent the day teasing mercilessly. It is a distinct pleasure to be around African intellectuals and professionals but it also just nice to be at an event so well run not for profit or politics but for ideas about Africa by Africans. It is not an event anybody serious about Africa should ever miss without a sick note from the doctor!!

Femi Temowo and Inua Ellams

And now I’m back to moaning about the weather (yeah I guess that’s the British part of me!!) for those of you that don’t know back home in Africa particularly West Africa, this is the hottest time of the year, with the Harmattan winds bringing dust and heat from the Sahara.

As a child that dusty smell always got me excited as I knew Christmas was close, no more school, presents and plenty food! We always used to laugh at the incongruity of a white Christmas on TV as everything for us Christmas was brown, everything covered in a layer of dust. So in the spirit of nostalgia, we are knocking 10% off the price of everything with the voucher code BROWN10 until the end of December.

So feel free to take advantage of my nostalgia and homesickness and get buying!!

Monday 3^rd December

From 8.45am to 5.00pm we have the Africa-UK Conference on Faith and Development in Africa: Anew perspective on Diaspora engagement at Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EE. This conference seeks to explore the role faith based organisations play in promoting development in Africa and aims to bring together experts in faith based development from across the religious spectrum, explore the limits, challenges and potential of faith based interventions and identify best practice models, consider the policy environment required to further support inter faith dialogue. This FREE conference is open to all faiths, RSVP by emailing the Royal African Society. 

Tuesday 4^th December

At 6.00pm we have the Black Britain Seminar Series event African Americans in Britain 1850 to 1865 hosted by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in Room 261, Senate House, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU, this is a wide ranging summary of the Black American presence in the UK. This is a FREE event RSVP by emailing or just turn up 

Wednesday 5^th December

At 10.30am the Royal African Society presents a Conversation with Makhtar Diop World Bank Vice President for Africa in Committee Room 5, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 2TT. Chaired by Lord Steel, president of the Africa All Parliamentary Party Group, Mr Diop former Senegalese Minister of Economy and Finance, was appointed World Banks Vice President for Africa earlier this year and will present his perspective on the Banks programmes in Africa and his vision for the future. To register for this FREE event register here. 

From 6.00pm to 8.30pm The Royal Commonwealth Society hosts The Commonwealth Carol Service at St Martins in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ. This year’s theme is Connecting Cultures and will close the Commonwealths Year of celebrating The Queens Diamond Jubilee. The service will be a mix of carols, performances and readings including performances by the Commonwealth Youth Choir, the Croydon Steel Orchestra and Burntwood School Choir, readings by the Jamaican High Commissioner, actress Chipo Chung, paralympian Stephanie Reid and the address given by the Right Honourable Sir John Major former Prime Minister. Register for this FREE event here 

From 7.00pm to 9.00pm SOAS 360° presents Landgrabbers: The New Fight Over who owns the earth at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Room B104, Russell Square, Thornhaugh Street, WC1H 0EG. Author Fred Pearce launches his new book Landgrabbers with an open discussion with the audience about the exploitation of land particularly in sub Saharan Africa by foreign and local elites. Drinks and refreshments will be available as well as a raffle. This event is FREE just RSVP here. 

Thursday 6^th December

From 6.00pm to 8.00pm The University of West London (UWL) African Caribbean Society will be hosting The Public Sphere: The ACS Debate at Freddies Bar, St Marys Road, Ealing, W5 5RF. Come over and engage interested and informed minds in debate and discussion at this FREE event. RSVP via Facebook

At 6.30pm we have the West African Jam Sessions: Night of the Mandingo Griot at Passing Cloud, 1 Richmond Road, E8 4AA presented by Jally Kebba Susso. This evening of griot film and music starts off with an African dance class led by Aida, and then from 9.00pm there is a West African Jam Session, with kora playing griot Jally Kebba Susso. This groovy event is only £5.00 all night, more information here 

At 6.30pm we have Vegan Jamaican Christmas Cooking Demonstration at Towpath House, Limehouse Court, 3-11 Dodd Street, E14 7EQ, where you’ll be shown how make a Jamaican vegan starter, main and dessert for vegans and vegetarians and tasty enough for carnivores as well. At the end you’ll get a tasting, recipe sheets and a free copy of the vegan cookbook, Kirly-Sues Kitchen with over 50 recipes. This demonstration is £40.00 from hereBottom of Form

At 8.00pm we have Wha Gwaan’? at Bar 414, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, Brixton’s new open mic session for poets, singers and spoken word artists, hosted by Hya Ites, with Amaziah and Isabel Roberts and Barry Ford performing funky, jazzy, roots reggae, Proud to be Africans favourite El Crisis, Niles Asheber Hailstones, David J, Ebonee Onyx, Pure Feminine Energy and Cerebral Hyper. There is also a Venezuelan vegetarian snack bar. Entry is £5.00, with an afterparty from Midnight till late.

Friday 7^th December

At 5.00pm AFFORD will be screening Invictus at The Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), Kennington, SE11 4TH. Starting off with canapés, networking and a private tour of the Museum, the screening starts at 6.30pm, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, this film charts the early days of post apartheid South Africa and how President Mandela’s embrace of this bastion of Afrikanerdom helped bring the country together. A special guest at the screening will be John Carlin upon whose book ‘Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game’ that made a nation the film is based. He will be holding a Q&A and signing copies of his book. Tickets are £15.00 in advance from here. 

At 6.30pm we have the See Africa Differently Christmas Party, at 47-49 Tanner Street, Southwark, SE1 3PL. The evening will be compered by Johnny Pitts and involve a dance performance and workshop from Francis Angol (Movement Angol Dance Company), music and poetry from Zena Edwards, a photography exhibition with images from BBC presenter Reggie Yates and Raymond Antrobus. All this and a photo studio for your party pictures, drinks and refreshment and African music from DJ’s Sloetry and SheGotSoul RSVP for this FREE event here.

From 7.00pm to 10.00pm we have the final VC4Africa meetup of the year at The Cape Bar, Corner of Wood Street and Love Lane, EC2V 7JQ, where you can meet up with fellow African professionals and people with an interest in Africa, network and brain storm or just hang out, chill and kick back! No plans, speeches or agendas just turn up and go for it. This is a FREE event (although a donation is politely hinted at), just register here 

At 8.00pm the London Afrobeat Collective returns to Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA for their last gig of the year, with deep bass, funky horns and excellent vocals this is Afrobeat interpreted at its finest. Tickets are £12.00 (£9.00 earlybird) from here. Everybody say ‘Yeah Yeah!’ 

Saturday 8^th December

From 9.00am to 5.00pm the Society of Black Lawyers presents Who Regulates the Regulator? Breaking the Silence? at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, Coram Street, Bloomsbury, WC1N 1HT. This conference will discuss the current issues relating to the role of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board (BSB). Speakers include John Page (National Bar Association-USA), Hugh Southey QC (Tooks Court Chamber), Dawn Dixon (Webster Dixon Solicitors), Makbool Javaid (Simons, Muirhead and Burton), Professor Gus John (Gus John Consultancy), Simon Woolley (EHR), Sarah Loutfi and Roland Anderson (BSB), Jo Sidhu QC (Bar Council), Dr Victoria Shuwonmi (Institute of Education), Nwabueze Nwokolo (Black Solicitors Network), Peter Herbert (Society of Black Lawyers), Jide Lanlehin (Great James Street Chambers), Sundeep Bhatia (Society of Asian Lawyers). There will be panels and workshops. All of these contribute 4-6 points to your CPD portfolio, ther will also be refreshment and a buffet lunch. This conference is £75.00 from here.

From 10.30am to 4.30pm 100 Black Men of London presents the 2012 Health and Wellness Conference at Park View Academy West Green Road, Tottenham Hale, N15 3RQ. This will be a day of debates, keynote speeches, panel discussions, screenings, workshops, exhibitors, sports, exercise and fun! Topics to be covered include Prostate and breast cancer, sickle cell, nutrition, diabetes management, mental health, bone marrow donation, fitness, cardiovascular disease, obesity, traditional medicine, cholesterol, sports, wellness and much more. RSVP for this FREE event here. 

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From 12.00 midday to 6.00pm, we have the Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions Winter Fair 2012 at Electrical Social, 40 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5SP; this unique shopping event brings together exhibitors with affordable, unique cultural gifts for men, women and children. The first 50 shoppers receive a complimentary goodie bag, you can sample some Afridiziak rum cake and you browse the stall with Blaze It UP Entertainment on the decks with an eclectic mix of tunes and the Gospel Essence Choir performing This is the 3^rd showing of this event after last years in Peckham and an earlier one this year in Birmingham. Admission is a mere £3.00 of which £1.00 is donated to the Sickle Cell Society (under 16s/ OAP’s FREE), more information here  

From 12.00 to 4.00pm is the Fairetail Pop’Up Christmas Market at the Adulis Eritrean Restaurant 112 St Johns Hill, Battersea, SW11 1SJ, featuring high end ethical fashion, gifts and accessories for him, her and little ones RSVP by calling or emailing FeeUhssi on 07903676648 

Star100 the Ghanaian networking group will be holding their Christmas Dance the final event of the year from 7.00pm to 2.00am at Sofitel London St James, 6 Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, SW1Y 4AN. The evening will consist of a drinks reception, 3 course Ghanaian fusion menu with wine and a diverse range of entertainment. Tickets for this classy event are £70.00 from here.

Sunday 9^th December

At 2.30pm at the Africa Centre we have the Senegalese film Madam Brouette. A superbly balanced social drama, told partly in flashback about the murder of a policeman apparently by his estranged wife Madame Brouette a fruit seller who is known as a defender of women abused by their husbands or boyfriends. This enigmatic story replete with a griot chorus tells the story of her life, family and society and is FREE, although a £3.00 donation is generally appreciated. RSVP here 

At 6.30pm is The School of African and Oriental Studies African Caribbean Society Christmas Party at Kimos Caribbean Restaurant, 184 Stoke Newington High Street, Kings Cross, N16 7JD. For £15.00 you get an awesome All you can eat buffet and admission to the After party. More information here 

Week of 26th November: TEDx Euston, Alesha Dixon, David Harewood,, Barbadian Independence, books, music, movies, art!!!!

Hello good people,

Another week has gone by and another one upcoming with great African events. In the week just passed Proud to be African Clothing had the good fortune to attend the AFBE-UK 5^th Anniversary last Wednesday at the Royal Academy of Engineering. AFBE-UK promotes interest in the engineering profession amongst young people of black and ethnic minority origin in the UK. There was a panel discussion on ‘Engineers in a sustainable world-culprits or Saviours?’ examining the impact of projects on countries and host communities. The Awards were hosted humorously by Henry Bonsu with awards presentation by the Right Honourable Chi Onwuarah MP. The Young BME Engineer award went to Phil Anthony Moutousamy of Buro Happold, the Exceptional Achiever Award by Yewande Akinola of Arup, this Environmental Services Engineer has played a key role in the development of sustainable products and water supply systems as well as media work having been a presenter on National Geographic and Channel 4’s ‘Titanic the Mission: (Rebuilding the Titanic)’. Other shortlisted engineers were Abayomi Ajileye, Oloruntobi Babalola, Rafay Hasan and Areeb Misbah Khan.

Chi Onwuarah and Yewande Akinola

As ever it gladdens my soul to see black engineers and in such numbers and doing genuinely ground breaking work and extending engineering and its applications in so many varied fields. Kudos to the founder of AFBE-UK and hopefully the next generation will perform so well that we won’t need organisations to promote engineering in the black community.

Monday 26^th November

At 1.00pm we have UCL Institute for Human Rights- The Ascendancy of the Rule of Law in South African Adjudication at the UCL Faculty of Laws, Moot Court, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, WC1H 0EG. Chaired by Professor Sir Jeffery Jowell Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law), with Professor Cora Hoexter (University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg) speaking on the ascendancy of the rule of law in South African public law, a founding value in South Africa’s 1996 Constitution. Book this FREE event here. 

At 7.00pm we have the UK Première of Chrissy the Barbadian family film at the Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Ladbroke Grove, W11 2AY. This family movie is about the triumph of faith and friendship that looks beyond circumstances and appearances and sees into the heart. This screening will be followed by a Q & A with the Directors Dave and Marcia Weekes under the Patronage of the Barbadian High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Hugh Anthony Arthur. Tickets are £10.00 (£6.00 for children) from here.

Tuesday 27^th November                               

At 7.00pm SOAS Pan African Society has a Shadeism Discussion, Room G51, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. This discussion will cover the issues surrounding lighter and darker shaded members of the same community. RSVP for this FREE event here 

Wednesday 28^th November

From 6.00pm to 9.00pm we have Women at the Top Diversity Masterclass at the UK Supreme Court, Parliament Square, SW1P 3EE. Chaired by Garry Green (Barrister, Tooks Chambers) , this is a panel discussion on various issues such affecting women in the legal profession as well as a tour of the Supreme Court and the opportunity to gain CPD points. Speakers include Courtenay Griffiths QC (25 Bedford Row), Sallie Bennett-Jenkins (Barrister, 2 Hare Court), Judy Khan QC (Garden Court Chambers), Lucy Scott-Moncrieff (President of the Law Society), Judge Deborah Taylor (Southwark Crown Court), Caryl Longley (General Counsel, Deloitte LLP) and Sarah Bailey (Solicitor, Arts Council England). This will be an invaluable networking and information event for anyone in the legal profession. Tickets are £20.00 (£10.00 earlybird and £5.00 students/ unemployed) from here.

Thursday 29^th November

At 5.00pm there is a seminar on Contemporary Art in Nigeria at Room 4421, College Building, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Presented by sculptor Dr Edewor Uyoyou Nelson and chaired by Maria Varnava, director of Tiwani Contemporary Gallery. This is a FREE event

At 6.00pm the National Council of Barbadian Associations presents a Panel Discussion on Celebrating 46 years of Barbados Independence at 1 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3ND. This cultural evening of Bajan cuisine and entertainment will feature exhibitions of Barbadian products, refreshments, poetry and folk singing by Patricia Chase and Kim Hamblin and  a panel discussion on ‘Why Caribbean women are perceived as dominant’ about the rise of Caribbean women in society, education, religion and politics. Chaired by Marilyn Devonish, with Mercedes Leal, Jennifer Lapompe, Dr Nola Ishmael, Penny Smith, Sherry Maxwell and Dr Nola Rollock. RSVP for this FREE event here

From 6.30pm to 9.00pm The South African High Commissioner Dr Zola Skweyiya will be Welcoming the SA Agulhas I for its Trans Antarctic Expedition at Canary Wharf, E14. This is the first ever dedicated South African Training ship and will be taking an expedition team to undertake the Coldest Journey on Earth, the first ever winter crossing of the Antarctic. The Trans-Antarctic Winter Expedition will take place from December 2012 to March 2014 and aims to bring together scientists from Commonwealth countries that have an interest in Antarctic research and showcase South Africa’s and Africa’s maritime skills development programme. The ship will be moored at Canary Wharf until 3^rd December and then at HMS Belfast until 6^th December 2012. This is a FREE event, more information here.

At 6.30pm we have Christine Asamoah ‘Who I am’ The Live Experience, an intimate concert performance from Christine and guests at The Lost Theatre, 208 Wandsworth Road, Wandsworth, SW8 2JU. Tickets are £12.50-£17.00 from here. 

At 7.30pm we have Chill Pill at The Albany, Douglas Way, SE8 4AG, this laid back poetry night sees up and coming poets and spoken word artists share the stage with established acts, featuring Mr Gee, Ray Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole, Lyric L, Harry Baler and Kim-Leng Hills. Get tickets are £7.00 (£5.00 concs) from here.

Friday 30^th November

At 6.30pm Star100 will be having their final social of the year at the Downstairs Bar, The Gallery- Balls Brothers, 10-11 Austin Friars, EC2N 2HQ. This FREE event takes place at the bars Happy Hour so all drinks and platters will be 50% off. So if you want to hang out with some cool African professionals you know where to head to!!

At 7.15pm we have Love, S*x and Sensuality at Catford Broadway, Theatre, Catford Broadway, SE6 4RU  this poetry and comedy show is compered by comedienne and spoken word artist Kat Francois, featuring Canadian comedienne Dana Michelle Alexander, spoken word artist Tshaka Campbell, comic Annette Fagon, comedienne Domonique ‘Variety D’ Davis, erotic poet Mr Oh and spoken word artist Cezanne. Tickets are £17.50 from here 

At 8.00pm we have Le Grande Fete- The Best from Africa featuring the Krar Collective, Muntu Valdo, Kasai Masai and Afrik Bawantu at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, E8 3EY. Upstairs will be the Afro Palace DJs, Chief Commander Yaaba and Volta 45, downstairs  Eddie Boi This is a killer line up combining the best of Ethiopia, Cameroon, Congo and Ghana all for just £7.00 before 10.00pm or in advance from here and £10.00 after.  

Our good friends Kalakuta return at 8.30pm with their 17 piece Afrobeat band at The Long Room Bar and Hotel, 130 Mitcham Road Tooting, SW17 9NH. Playing their own compositions and Afrobeat standard all of this awesome performance is FREE!

At 9.00pm we have the UK Premiere of Doctor Bello, Nollywoods latest offering starring Isaiah Washington, Genevieve Nnaji, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Vivica Fox, Rachel Oniga, Stephanie Okereke and Femi Brainard at Odeon Cinema, Bugsby Way, Greenwich, SE10 0QJ. This is a tale of a doctor running out of options to cure a favourite patient, seeking the help of an unregistered Nigerian Doctor who miraculously cures the child with unintended consequences for all. Tickets are £15.00 from here. 

Saturday 1^st December

From 9.30am to 5.00pm we have the NUS Black Students Campaign Winter Conference 2012 at London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, Elephant and Castle, SE1 0AA. Confirmed speakers include Diane Abbott MP, Azad Ali (ENGAGE), Wilf Sullivan (TUC), Ava Vidal (comedian), Lee Jasper (ex Mayoral aide), Zita Holbourne (TUC), Kofi Klu (PANAFRIINDABA), Peter Herbert QC (Society of Black Lawyers). Register for this 2 day conference here, where you can hear from speakers, engage in workshops, learn how to run clubs and societies, learn how a student union works. 

From 10.00am to 4.00pm we have the MKYCC 1 day Yoruba Workshop at the Hart Culture CIC, Thames Refinery (Tate and Lyle), Factory Road, Silvertown, E16 2EW, this workshop is designed to give people an insight into one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa. Yoruba is spoken in Nigeria, Benin and Togo, as well as Brazil and dialects in Cuba, Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean and South America and is the most widely spoken African language in the UK, this workshop will give you a basic grounding in Yoruba greetings, numbers, respect for elders, folk songs, alphabet, simple everyday phrases, proverbs as well as imbue confidence and a knowledge of ancestry and history. All this for only £5.00!! More information here.

10.30am to 10.30pm we have TEDx Euston 2012 at The Mermaid Conference and Events Centre, Puddle Dock, Blackfriars, EC4V 3DB. This is a mini TED (Google or YouTube it, too long to explain!) organised by  a team of African professionals in the spirit of ideas worth spreading, using the power if ideas to change the world. TEDxEuston focuses on issues important to Africa and seeks to inspire a new generation of people engaging responsibly with Africa, bring people together who are seeking innovative approaches to the continents issues and foster an environment for embracing a passion and commitment for Africa. This year’s theme is ‘Challenging Conventional Wisdom’ speakers include; 

Chimamanda Adichie (Author, Nigeria)	Cobhams Asuquo (Music Producer, Nigeria)
Wanuri Kahiu (Film Director, Kenya),	Sada Mire (Archaeologist, Somalia),
Aminata Forna (Author and journalist, Sierra Leone)	Jacqueline Novogratz (Not for profit venture capitalist, USA)
Ndidi Nwuneli (Social Entrepreneur, Nigeria)	Trevor Ncube (Publisher, Zimbabwe),
Jason Njoku (Media Etrepreneur, Nigeria)	Amina Az Zubair (former for MDGs, Nigeria)
Albie Sachs (former Constitutional Court Judge, South Africa)	Queen Sylvia Nagginda Luswata (The Queen of Buganda, Uganda)
Frank Njenga Psychiatrist, Kenya)

Tickets for this awesome line up are £70.00 standard (£50.00 for students or £100.00 is you wish to contribute a little bit more towards costs).

This is an excellent event with an eclectic collection of speakers and thinkers, with more than enough to keep you going from the judiciary to the arts, sciences, politics, traditional rulers and business. Book your tickets from here. 

From 2.00pm to 6.00pm we have the Book launch party for ‘Nothing Comes Close’ a novel by Tolulope Popoola at the Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, Dalston, N16 8AZ, where you can have drinks and nibbles, meet the author, win a goody bag, enter a give away competition and get your copies signed while interacting with other book lovers. For an invite please RSVP by email 

At 7.00pm we have Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen at Centreprise Trust African Bookstore, 136 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2NS. There will be a 3 course meal accompanied by djembe drumming by Dominic Debias. Bring your own booze and an eclectic Ghanaian (with vegetarian options and kids menu) all for £20.00. Book here and check out the menu.

At 8.00pm we have the Ghetto Lounge Winter Special menu at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, E8 4AA, with the last of the series for 2012 featuring a North African Fusion Extravaganza. With bands Seeds of Creation and Electric Jalaba and DJ’s Koichi Sakai and MC Clapper Priest and Oli Hurez. £5.00 entry before 10.00pm, £8.00 thereafter

Sunday 2^nd December

From 11.00am to 5.00pm we have Rich Visions Wealth Creation and Business Expo at the Crowne Plaza, Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, Docklands, E16 1AL. This event is designed to encourage enterprises, entrepreneurs and sole traders to enter the New Year with the right tools to grow their businesses. Expert speakers include Mavis Amankwah (PR guru), Warren Knight (Social Media expert), Jessica Huie (Serial entrepreneur) and Leigh Ashton (Sales Consultancy). This is a FREE exhibition for a limited number and £5.00 thereafter. Book here.

From 12.30pm to 5.30pm we have YEAh Live at Ability Media Centre, 56 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0AS, which seeks to address unemployment in the 18-30 age group b giving people the opportunity to network, build interpersonal skills and learn from reputable business owners and entrepreneurs. Confirmed speakers include Lorraine James (Founder of YEAh), Julian Hall (award winning author and serial entrepreneur), Churps Ice Cream, Catherine MacArthur (social media expert). RSVP here for a £2.00 ticket or pay £4.00 on the door

From 3.00pm to 8.00pm we have the Book Launch of Is it Possible to be Single, Spiritual.. and Sexual at The Caribbean edge, 117 Bruce Grove, Tottenham, N17 6UR. This self help novel and accompanying poetry CD ‘Seeds of Love’ is about a young Christina woman’s inner struggle with her religious beliefs and sexual desires leading to an 11 year transformational quest. This event is FREE

From 7.00pm to 10.00pm we have Arise at the Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, this interview show in front of a live audience is hosted by Daddy Ernie, we have interviews with comedian Kojo, actor David Harewood, singer Alesha Dixon along with music by the resident band D22 featuring Dionne Reid. Tickets for this amazing line up are £10.00 in advance from here more on the door