This
Friday there were 2 excellent events that are worthy of mention, at Catford
Broadway Theatre, The Spirit of Africa, musical show had its last performance,
this gratifyingly well attended show, encompassed several musical themes from
about Africa, with Zulu dancers, an evil herbalist and solo singing in the
first act, warming up for a scintillating and second portion of which my
personal favourite was the Ethiopian dancers but the crowd loved the whole
thing particularly the village drunk and the herbalist who had seen the error
of her ways and demonstrated her repentance with some excellent dance moves. As the team said
this is just the first incarnation of this project. We are looking forward to
more from the Masai Culture team in future.
At
the same time halfway across London at the Brady Art Centre, Mosi Conde was
performing. This talented kora player from Guinea again never fails to impress.
Saturday
saw the IDAY, International Day Celebrations for African Children and Youth at
the Civic Centre, Old Kent Road. Hosted by the President of IDAY UK Chief Mrs
Yemisi Sanusi, this packed day saw a mixture of informative seminars,
exhibitions and fashion shows.
The
first session covered ‘Providing Quality Education for all African Children by
the Year 2015’ and was chaired by Dr Edwin Sawacha with lively comments from
the participant s and the floor, this was followed by a session on Every Child
Matters: Contributions of Africans in Diaspora towards the education of
deprived and disabled children’ in which the fact that not a single African
government had a programme to deal with autism was revealed as well as the
debilitating effects of sickle cell on African youth. After a lunch donated by
805 Restaurant, Old Kent Road, there were appreciation awards presented to
worthy members of the African diaspora by such luminaries as the Mayor of
Southwark, the Mayor of Brent and Mrs Julie Coker to name a few.
The
final 2 sessions covered Health Education and Safeguarding the African child
and then a summary of the days events.
The day was closed with a prayer and vote of thanks by the President of IDAY
UK.
This
very worthy cause was ably supported by a glitterati of notable Africans in the
UK such Mr Femi Okutobo of Trumpet newspaper and Councillor Michael Shittu.
On
Sunday we caught Tony Dudu and the Gumbe Jazz at the Hootanany in Brixton, a
brilliant display of African jazz with Latin undertones from the Guinea Bissau
guitarist. A wonderful performance one minute it felt like you were in a South
African Township, next on a beach in Barcelona. Hope to catch the next one!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday 20th June sees Komla
Tsey launching his book Rethinking Development for Africa: An oral history
from Ghana at the Africa Centre, Covent Garden. This free event starts at
6.30pm.
On Thursday the 21st of June LERECA will be holding an Afterwork at The Gallery,
10-11 Austin Friars, EC2N 2HG between 6.30pm and 10.30pm. Happy hour is between
5 and 8.00pm with 50% of all drinks and platters and there are a choice of
drinks and cocktails at this venue to tempt even the most sybaritic of you!
This is a free social/ networking event by an extremely friendly group of black
professionals encompassing not just the Anglophone diaspora but the Francophone
and Lusophone. RSVP to Stephanie 07942343119 and Samantha 07879892536
On Friday the 22nd June Britafrique
will be holding a CV and interview technique workshop for graduates and young
people between 16 and 23 years old. The event is free and takes place between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, contact Michelle Akintoye to book
Also on Friday our good friends
at Poesy will be holding another ‘Unplugged’ poetry and jam session, come along
for an amazingly friendly and chilled atmosphere, excellent poetry from
veterans and first timers as well as music and refreshments. This Free event is
at The Rock Tower, 49 Tufnell Park Road, N7 0PS and starts at 6.30pm
On the same Friday evening between 6.30 and 9.00pm VC4Africa
will be holding another VC4Africa London Meetup at the Society Bar &
Restaurant, 33 Blackfriars Lane, EC4V 6EP; this is the place to be if you are
looking to network with intelligent young black professionals. The range and
breadth of industry sectors and professions is extremely wide from doctors and
engineers, to civil servants and soldiers. It’s always a good vibe and it’s
free so bring lots of business cards and your best networking face!
Come Saturday
the 23rd and Proud to be African will be rushed of our feet again as
there are a lot of excellent African themed events around London between 2.30 and 4.30pm BBM/ BMC/BTWSC will be
hosting ‘Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’ at the Gayton Library,5 St John's
Road, Harrow On The Hill, HA1 2EE. For the uninitiated Samuel Coleridge-Taylor,
son of a Sierra Leonean doctor who was a composer who lived between 1875 and 1912
and composed such masterpieces as Hiawathas
Wedding Feast, African Dances and the Petite
Suite de Concert to name a few. For fans of classical music (another guilty
pleasure of mine) this is a must but even more important for fans and champions
of black history, this is a fascinating story of a man making his way in the
world against the grain of the time and being celebrated for his skills and
talents both home and abroad
At 4.00pm is the Ghana4PeaceConcert Live, hosted by Nana Kwame Osei-Tutu & Adwoa Agyemang at the Dominion
Centre, 9 The Broadway, High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6DS. The show starts
at 5.00pm running till 10pm it will feature No Tribe Band-GH, Mershelia
Williams, Pastor Kwame Amponsah, Rev Osei Kofi, Atta Boafo, Pastor Osby, Allen
& Da New Waves, Daniel Akakpo, PK Boadi, Michael 'Lyrical' Agyei-UK,
Psalmist George, The Davison Band-UK, Matthew Boamah, Maame Serwaa, Emmanuella
Bafoah-Moloney. Ghanaian London events are well run and friendly and are really
a must for anyone wishing to link up with the Ghanaian diaspora, despite being
an obnoxious Nigerian (!) I am always made extremely welcome and have always
left having made new friends and contacts, it’s a free event with tickets are
available from here.
Sunday the 24th of June we round up with
the Kulcha Village Sunday Market at the Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton, Leyton E10 5PW. Other than the stalls this event will feature free workshops, West African
head wrapping and Children’s face painting. Free entry all day and runs from 12
midday to 6pm. For stalls contact Kai on 0208 5392154or 07908814152
I’m
sure that’s enough to keep you all going for now!!!
In
the countdown to the Olympics, you’ll be able to get 10% off all purchases with
the code ‘Olympic10’
We
will also be running competitions and polls to see what countries we should
feature next on the ‘Proud to Be....’ range
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Ghana
Kenya
Uganda
Pass this on to your friend and contacts but feel free to let me
know if you don’t want to be contacted anymore, I haven’t yet figured out how
to do it automatically but it will be done!!
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