Olympics don come oh!!! African London events for the week of 30th July and 10% off!

Week starting 30^th July

The first full week of the Olympics beckons and Proud to be African T shirts are on sale from Covent Garden to Stratford, new designs are here so get to Proud to be AfricanClothing and rep your country! Look out for out new designs and if you want to get your countries T shirt use the code, 'Olympic10' between now and 31/08/2012 to get 10% off all purchases!

Monday 30^th July Olympics Day 4

At 8.30am in at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K 1QA we have New World Nigeria High Level Investment Summit organised by  the Bank of Industry Nigeria, with keynote speeches by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathon, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this will be followed by sector specific speeches by the Minister for Trade Mr Olusegun Aganya, Minister for Power Prof. Bart Nnaji, Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwunmi Adesina. The day rounds up with a Cocktail Reception and Conference Dinner. Express your interest in attending here. 

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN run from 10.00am to 5.00pm. 

Opening from 10.00am daily is Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, South Africa’s Home Away from Home at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX.  Ekhaya is an Nguni word associated with the Spirirt of Ubuntu and visitors will be able to rub shoulders with expatriate South Africans, South Africa’s Olympians as well as friends of South Africa. Running till 10.00pm each night for the Olympics and Paralympics, on Monday they will have on the stage different dances between 10.00am and 6.00pm, as well as exhibitions from the various states in South Africa, Tourist Boards,  the South African  Department for Arts and Culture, Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Brand South Africa. Ekhaya will show the best of South Africa’s heritage, culture and tourism with films, dances, fashion shows, performances and provincial exhibitions. Most events are FREE, with Olympic events screened in the Foyer

At 3.30pm in the Wazobia Lounge of the Africa Village, opposite the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington SW7 2AP we have Labalaba a play by Joseph Adesunloye. This is a Nigerian adaptation of the classic Madam Butterfly set in Northern Nigeria in which a Muslim girl Atikah falls in love with Col Fashola from Southern Nigeria, whilst he sets out to have his wicked way with her, casting aside family and religion to be with him she struggles to find a love that never really existed. Featuring Chipo Chung, Wale Ojo, Richard Pepple, Iyabo Amoke, Obi Iwumene, Ansu Kabia and Christina Oshunniyi, this excellent performance is FREE and will be followed by live sets by Naeto C and Omawumi.

From 4.00pm till 6.00pm we have another instalment of the Nigeria Literary Series at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East. The featured authors are Diran Adebayo who is an acclaimed author of novels and short stories, a regular in the British media on ‘The Culture Show’ and ‘Newsnight’. He is known for his vivid take on modern Britain and is currently writing his 3^rd novel. Nnorom Azuonye is the founder and editor of the Sentinel Literary Quaterly. His CV is so long it will fill the page so let us go with poet, playwright and novelist! His plays have been performed in Nsukka and his poems appeared in numerous books and anthologies. Chibundu Onuzor, a Kings College London History undergrad is literally the next generation of Nigerian literature; with the 21 year olds first novel ‘The Spider Kings Daughter’ having been published just this year, a keen blogger and social commentator, she joins the ranks of Nigeria’s new precocious literary talents. Rotimi Babatunde is a poet, playwright and fiction writer, his plays have been staged at the Royal Court Theatre, broadcast on the BBC and performed in Sweden. He is currently working on a new theatre production with the Young Vic and Royal Theatre and playwright and Zainabu Jallo who was nominated in 2011 to begin the ‘New Writing from Nigeria’ project. Her plays have been received all around the world from New Delhi, London, Sweden, New York to Switzerland. Her latest play ‘Holy Night’ made it to the final round of the Internationalist Playwright Contest. In an interactive session moderated by Ike Anya the authors will hold conversations on ‘The London I know’ alongside readings from their selected works

At 7.00pm at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, in the Purcell Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre is the Kuyoze Kuyowvalwa Bash with DJ’s Tamara Dey, Ryan Dent and Craig

At 7.30pm Wole Soyinka’s classic play ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ directed by Niji Akanji will be performed in the Auditorium of Nigeria House, Theatre Royal. Stratford East, running till 9.30pm it chronicles the love triangle between traditionalist Baroka (the Lion) and school teacher Lakunle for Sidis’(the Jewel)  affections. Written in 1959, this classic is not to be missed, tickets are £8.00 and the cast list includes Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey,  Tosan Ugbeye, Zara Udofia, Oc Ukeje, Toritseju Ejo, Edmond Enaibe, Omonor Somolu, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Ijeoma Agu, William Benson and Temi Akinyemi.

Tuesday 31^st July Olympics Day 5

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Kicking off at 8.30am is Day 2 of the New World Nigeria High Level Investment Conference at the Dorchester Hotel starts off with another stellar selection of speakers beginning with the keynote address by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The afternoon session will consist of Panel discussions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Capitalising on New Investment Opportunities’ and other interesting topics. Register here

At 10.00am at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free viewing screens for Olympic events in the Foyer

From 4.00 till 6.00pm we have another instalment of the Nigeria Literary Series. The featured authors for Tuesday are; Commonwealth Writers Prize winner Helon Habila author of ‘Waiting for an Angel’ one of the most beautiful and haunting books to come out about the Abacha era, ‘Measuring Time’ and ‘Oil on Water’ rapidly followed. He is currently teaching Creative Writing at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Playwright and screenwriter Ade Solanke specialises in creating and developing plays and short films about the African diaspora experience. She is creative Director of Spora Stories and was once a Fulbright Fellow and voted ‘Best Young Entrepreneur’. They will be on the panel with Chibundu Onuzor, Rotimi Babatunde, Zainabu Jallo. Moderated by Sola Adeyemi the authors will discuss ‘Gains and pains of multiculturalism’ as well readings and book signings.  

At 5.45pm in the Purcell Room Ekhaya has a Comedy Night with Kedibone Molaudzi, Nina Hassie, Toll Ass Mo and Eugene Schoonaraad

From 6.00pm till 8.00pm we have an epic treat with ‘An Evening with Wole Soyinka’ in which Nigeria’s foremost playwright and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka is interviewed by leading BBC journalist Dotun Adebayo MBE. Tickets are £5.00 for the talk, £10.00 for the talk and the play. Following the Q and A at 8.00pm with have another performance of ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ in the Auditorium of Nigeria House, Theatre Royal. Stratford East,

At 7.45pm Ekhaya Hospitality Centre hosts the Umgubho Concert with The Palotones and Thandiswa Mazwai in the Auditorium

At 8.00pm the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT we have the UK Premiere of the play ‘And the Crocodile are Hungry at Night’, set in Malawi in the 1980’s this is an adaptation of the poet Jack Mapanje’s prison memoirs who was imprisoned without charge in the Mikuyu Prison for 3 years, this is an uplifting story of the extraordinary resilience of people of conscience who survived these dreadful conditions under constant threat of being thrown in the crocodile infested Shire River. The play is 105 minutes long and tickets are £12.00 and can be bought here

Wednesday 1^st August Olympics Day 6

The final Day of the New World Nigeria High Level Investment Conference  starts at 8.30am at the Dorchester Hotel with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Dr Sanusi Lamido, delivering the keynote address. The afternoon session will consist of Panel discussions and presentations by various Nigerian state Governors. Register here

8.30am Kenya Energy Day at Kenya House, 29-35 West Ham Lanes, Stratford, for those interested in investing in the Kenyan Energy sector, register here for this FREE event 

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

At 10.00am at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free Olympic viewing screens in the Foyer

At 11.00am in the St Pauls Roof Pavilion of the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have a Film Festival showing short films such as And there in the Dust and Superhero. At 3.00pm there is Gog Helen followed by a Q&A with Kethiwe Ngcobo and finally at 7.30pm Blitz Patrolle

Also at 12.00pm we have Creative Industries Development Project running till 10.00pm. There will be panel discussions and presentations alongside films, dance, visual arts, advertising fashion, arts and crafts

We also have the 15^th Year Remembrance of the Death of Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikpulapo Kuti (15 years already? I'm officially old!!!). There will be Table tennis tournaments on the 1^st and 2^nd in Camberwell Green Park, London, SE5 0HQ between 3.00pm and 9.00pm each day

At 6.00pm  there is a Book Launch: ‘Who Rules South Africa?’ by  Martin Plaut and Paul Holden hosted by the Royal Africa Society, Brunei Suite, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. The authors argue in the book that true power in South Africa does not reside in cabinet but within the ANC led Alliance, in 2012 the centenary year this is an ideal opportunity to debate issues in Africa second most important country. RSVP by emailing rsvp@royalafricansociety.org

From 6.30 till 8.30pm in the Auditorium of 30 Nigeria House, we have ‘Poetry II: Fan the Flame’, which blends the contemporary, musical, theatrical with African infused poetry from the Garden Theatre and Imole Collections. The featured poets are Jumi Fola Alade and Tosin Otudeko accompanied by vocalists U’mau and Tolumide with Jenny Adejayan on cello and Ayo-Dele Edwards (acting instead of singing!) and Kevin Golding, with percussion by Badejo Arts. Tickets are £7.00.

At 8.00pm there is another showing of ‘And the Crocodile are Hungry at Night’ the theatrical adaptation of Malawian poet Jack Mapanje’s prison memoirs at the Africa Centre. £12.00  for tickets.

Thursday 2^nd August Olympics Day 7

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

8.30am sees Kenya Export Day at 29-35 West Ham Lane, Stratford London, Sign up here

At 10.00am at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free Olympic viewing screens in the Foyer

Between 11.00am and 1.00pm we have the Nigerian Storytelling workshop- ‘Nigba kan Ri: Once upon a time....’ by Toyin Oshinaike  a professional actor and theatre director with extensive theatre credits, will be keeping the kids enthralled with fascinating Nigerian stories and folk tales. For children 5-11 years, tickets are £5.00 per child with accompanying adult free

At 11.00am in the St Pauls Roof Pavilion of the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have another Film Festival showing short films such as Mapantsula and then Lucky at 3.00pm and finally at 7.30pm a special screening of Spud

3.00pm. Second day of the  15^th Year Remembrance of the Death of Fela Anikpulapo Kuti table tennis tournament in Camberwell Green Park, London, SE5 0HQ going on until 9.00pm 

From 6.30 till 8.30pm we have another ‘Poetry II: Fan the Flame’ at 30Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East, with Jumi Fola Alade and Tosin Otudeko accompanied by vocalists U’mau and Tolumide with Jenny Adejayan on cello and Ayo-Dele Edwards (acting instead of singing!), Kevin Golding, with percussion by Badejo Arts and music direction by Efosa Lawal. Tickets are £7.00.

At 7.00pm at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Hackney, E8 4AA we have 'This is How we do it' by the Kultura Film Club, this weekly film and music has a screening of Tony Palmers 1973 movie, ‘Ginger Baker in Africa’, which is a must for all Afrobeat fans. It’s followed by an Afro Cuban clubbing affair with resident DJ’s Des Morgan, Yakuo Takuya and Williams Cumberbache as well as the house band Tumbaito

At 8.00pm we have another showing of ‘And the Crocodile are Hungry at Night’ the theatrical adaptation of Malawian poet Jack Mapanje’s prison memoirs at the Africa Centre.

                                                                   Friday 3^rd August Olympics Day 8

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

At 10.00am at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free Olympic viewing screens in the Foyer till 6.00pm

The St Pauls Roof Pavilion of the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, hosts another Film Festival showing short films such as If only you Knew and Father X-Mas Doesn’t Come Here at 11.00am.  At 3.00pm we have Paradise Stop (with a Q&A after the film with Rapulana Seiphemo) and then White Wedding at 7.30pm

At 2.00pm in Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East is a performance of Fred Agbeyegbe’s play ‘King must Dance’, this play is about a traditional law that only one child of royalty can rise to become the king. Queen Odosun gives birth to twins and must sacrifice one to the gods however her natural assumption that the male child will be king but the oracle suggest otherwise in this plot twisting play that balances themes and genres that are far off from traditional Nigerian theatre. The cast includes several Nollywood luminaries such as Segun Arinze, Najite Dede, Justus Esiri, Olu Jacobs, Ayo Lijadu, Joke Jacobs, Lemi Lala Akindoju, Bimbo Akintola, Doyin Owobamirin, Kenneth Uphopho, Bola Edwards, Ijeoma Agu, Toritseju Akiya, William Benson, Paul Alumona, Toyin Oshinaike and Fredrick Ekpu. Tickets are £8.00.

Jamaica House 2012 is the official house for the Jamaica Olympic Association and is based at the O2 (or North Greenwich Arena in Olympic non sponsor branding speak!!), Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX. And is open every day from 4.00pm until midnight. Entrance is FREE but register as capacity is limited.On opening day we have Live at the House: Black Slate, UWI Dub Poet and D J Chris Goldfinger (BBC Extra). The Olympics will be shown live and there will be shops and food

The play ‘King must dance’ shows again from 7.30pm to 10.00pm, tickets for the evening show are £10.00. The cast includes Segun Arinze, Najite Dede, Justus Esiri, Olu Jacobs, Ayo Lijadu, Joke Jacobs, Lemi Lala Akindoju, Bimbo Akintola, Doyin Owobamirin, Kenneth Uphopho, Bola Edwards, Ijeoma Agu, Toritseju Akiya, William Benson, Paul Alumona, Toyin Oshinaike and Fredrick Ekpu

At 7.30pm one of Proud to be African Clothing’s favourite spoken word artists El Crisis comes with another installation of the Dark Sea Scrolls- Word Power and Sound at Centreprise Bookshop and Cafe, 136 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2NS. The evening’s instalment features El Crisis, Mikee Majestic, Oracy, NimRock, Empress Imani, Melissa Melodee and CiFA SKRPX, as well as stalls, drummers and an Open Mic slot

10.00pm see's the After Party for the 15^th Year Remembrance of Fela Anikpulapo Kuti at Planet Nollywood, 319 Camberwell Road, Camberwell Green, London, SE5 0HQ. Proud to be African Clothing favourites Emeka Elendu and the Kalakuta Band will be performing live alongside our good friend DJ Deoba Authentic

Saturday 4^th August Olympics Day 9

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

From 10.00am till 6.00pm at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free Olympic viewing screens in the Foyer till 6.00pm

African Fashion Week London is back for 2012, after its success last year its back at Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, E1 6EW. This innovative show celebrates the work of African designers in the UK and is the only one of its kind. Last year it had over 4,700 an amazing achievement for a first timne event. There are over 50 designers, 100 Media Partners, 100 Photographers and over 10,000 guests. Can you really afford not to be there, especially as its FREE! Register here for this 2 day event. The Friday Show runs from 1.00pm to 7.00pm . VIP tickets are also available

At 3.00pm Ekhaya hosts a Fashion Showcase Highlighting 100 years of Urban South African History in the QEH Foyer going on until 4.00pm

Jamaica House 2012 opens up at 4.00pm with Live at the House, Black Slate and DJ Elaine, and Live Olympic Sports and food and shopping

The play ‘King must dance’ shows again from 7.30pm to 10.00pm, tickets for the evening show are £10.00. The cast includes Segun Arinze, Najite Dede, Justus Esiri, Olu Jacobs, Ayo Lijadu, Joke Jacobs, Lemi Lala Akindoju, Bimbo Akintola, Doyin Owobamirin, Kenneth Uphopho, Bola Edwards, Ijeoma Agu, Toritseju Akiya, William Benson, Paul Alumona, Toyin Oshinaike and Fredrick Ekpu

Kenya House will be holding a 3 day Tourism Day expo at Kenya House, East Thames Group, 29-35 West Ham Lane, Stratford, E15 4PH at 10.00am to showcase Kenyan Tourism. Kenya House will showcase the best of Kenyan arts, culture, cuisine and life. This expo is designed to showcase the best that Kenya has to offer in the tourism sector. Entry is FREE.

The African Bridal Show hits town at the Hallam Conference Centre, 44 Hallam Street London, W1W 6JJ, from 11.30am to 6.00pm, this event is dedicated to highlighting the traditional aspects of an African wedding as well as all the modern accessories, providing a one stop shop for the Afro Caribbean bride to be. There will be a free goody bag, free Gele (head tie) tying, Live African dancers as well as exhibitors offering traditional wedding services and attire, jewellery, Make up and beauty, hair service. Decorators, caterers, wedding cakes, sweets, photographers, videographers, photographers and lots more. Basically if you have not completed your wedding planning by the time you have finished here you are not yet serious! FREE entry if you book in advance here, or buy a ticket on the door for £5.00 

On Saturday at 4.00pm at the Africa Centre we have Music and Politics: Eugene Skeef. In which the South African musician and activist Eugene Skeef performs selections of his works. In addition to his work with the Black Consciousness movement with Steve Biko he is currently Artistic Director of Quartet of Peace an international project using music to bring about peaceful resolutions to conflict on poverty focussed on young people. This event is FREE

At 8.00pm we have another showing of ‘And the Crocodile are Hungry at Night’ the theatrical adaptation of Malawian poet Jack Mapanje’s prison memoirs at the Africa Centre.

Focus will be back at Zar Zar, 405 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ for Afrobeats Session, playing the very best afrobeats, coupe decale, kaduro, kwaito, Naija Beat Highlife and Azonto. Its £7.00 on the door, ladies FREE before 11.00pm.

Sunday 5^th August Olympics Day 10

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

African Fashion Week London starts at 11.00am on Saturday running to 7.15pm at Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, E1 6EW with African designers, glorious African designs and excellent African Fabrics again its FREE, with registration here

Second day of the Kenya Tourism Day kicks off at 10.00am at Kenya House, 29-35 West Ham Lane, Stratford to showcase Kenyan Tourism from the savannahs, to the cradle of Mankind to the Masai Mara, to sandy beaches and a thriving city nightlife, Kenya has it all. The event is open to visitors and Proud Kenyans as with 20 National Parks and Reserves you can go on Safari or just chill in your hotel, but to find out more register here and turn up to this FREE expo

At 10.00am at the Ekhaya Hospitality Centre, we have Provincial and Department Exhibitions as well as hourly African Dances and free Olympic viewing screens in the Foyer till 6.00pm

We have another Ekhaya Hospitality Centre Film Festival, today’s showings are Skin at 11.00am, Otelo Burning at 3.00pm and Retribution at 7.30pm

Also at 12 midday we have Creative Industries Development Project running till 10.00pm in the Headley Green Room at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East. This showcases the rise of dominance of Nigeria’s creative industries such as Nollywood, Afrobeat and Nigerian pop music with a series of talks, presentations, screening and performances

At 2.30pm at the Africa Centre 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT as part of the Africa Salon is Tebraa,Portraits of Saharawi Women. This is the UK premiere of this film about Western Sahara a disputed territory that is a holdover from Spanish Morocco populated by the Saharawi people who wish to be independent. Tebraa is poetry associated with Saharawi women and shows the work of 14 Andalusian filmmakers who portray the lives of 11 Saharawi women and girls, living in Spain, refugee camps or Moroccan occupied Western Sahara. After the viewing there will be a discussion with chaired by Michael Walling, Artistic Director, border Crossings with Saharawi’s in exile in London.

Jamaica House 2012 opens up at 4.00pm with Black Slate and DJ Daddy Ernie and food and shopping

At 7.00pm at the Buffalo Bar, 259 Upper Street, Angel, N1 1RU we have another Afrobeats Karaoke evening, with music provided by the Resident DJ, you choose your song from the song list, put your name down, and when our name is called get up front and do your best P Square, Omawumi or Wande Coal impression! For those of you a bit unsure about the Afrobeat lyrics there’ll be some hip hop, bashment, and RnB to keep you on side. Singing starts at 8.00pm, entry is £5.00 on the door and £3.00 on the guest list before 8.00pm, for guest list email 

Soukous Masters Kasai Masai will be playing at Zar Zar, 405 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ combining the djembe with the bass guitar and drums. Its £7.00 on the door, ladies FREE before 11.00pm.

And from Brixton we have the annual cultural festival Brixton Splash which this year in honour of Jamaica 50 has the theme ‘Out of many, one people’. Confirmed performers include Frenglish Connections, Ricardo McKenzie, Rico Band, Quality Diamond, Code 7 Community Champions, Raw Material, Empress Diana Ras and many more, as well as food stalls and exhibitors. This FREE event will takes over the centre of Brixton, covering Windrush Square, St Matthews Peace Garden, Coldharbour Lane, Atlantic Road, Electric Avenue and Electric Lane

Asa, Seun Kuti, Dele Sosimi, Tony Allen and how not to dance in the Theatre Royal Stratford!

Seun Kuti

Last night was a classic night at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East. The show was the Nigeria Diasporama All Star Band with Asa, Tony Allen, Dele Sosimi and Seun Kuti with the Egypt 80 Band.  A slightly more groovy line up than I have not seen in a long time. As well as all the cultural stuff there is a market in front of the theatre where Proud to Be African Clothing has a stall, which I abandoned early to get into the show, unfortunately it started late, but started well compered by Segun Arinze the first on was Kuku a US based Nigerian singer with the Diasporama band as back up singing in Yoruba and English and warming the crowd up for Dele Sosimi who got people dancing before he even got on the stage much to the ire of the friendly but flustered young ushers. However Afrobeat is infectious and the nyash shaking began, and before people blame badly behaved Nigerians, the first person to get up and start dancing was a middle aged white guy, like I said Afrobeats is infectious.

Dele Sosimi

After shaking nyash, Asa came on stage to the wild applause of the audience, she started with ‘Fire on the Mountain’, Asa is an endearing performer, with a raw and genuine passion. Halfway through she took off her high heel shoes so saying they made her uncomfortable and began to dance with even more abandon. Asa was rapidly followed by Tony Allen. For those of you that have never seen him he is notoriously reticent and is hidden behind his drums, which prompted some wags to question whether it was truly him! He answered them by starting to play, the response was instantaneous as nyashs began to shake again (cue the ushers trying to stop us this failed and they had to call security!), after Tony Allen, Asa and Dele Sosimi returned to sing Fela’s ‘Water no get enemy’, again more dancing, more ushers, more security, more dancing! It was very sweet.

Asa

Kuku returned and sang a beautiful ballad to Nigeria, which calmed the audience down and had the audience choking up and singing along. All very emotional

This was followed by Asa again singing another ballad which again got the crowd in a sentimental mood. After a looooooooong break the Egypt 80 band came in, introduced one by one Baba Ani as they started the first track they had to stop to repair a faulty monitor, which was very fortunate for the young men who were enjoying the gyrations of the back up singers. After the first song, Seun Kuti came in and began to play, again the dancing was infectious.

Before he started the next track ‘Slavemasters’ Seun complained that he was performing sober as he was prevented from smoking his weed before coming on stage! They began playing and inevitably we began dancing, the poor ushers had to get security again!

And then in true Nigerian fashion wahala started!!! Seun pointed out that he was contracted to play 9.45 to 10.15 (it was now 11.00pm) and he was only playing for the pleasure of his fans, so if the security prevented us from dancing he would stop playing, Security refused so he walked off!!!

Na so the evening take end, we all spilled out into the street arguing, laughing and shouting. All in all very Nigerian and despite the lateness and truncated show a good time was had by all

London African events 23-28 July-Wole Soyinka, Nneka, King Sunny Ade, Asa, Dele Sosimi ....

Week starting 23^rd July, Proud to be African Clothing spies with our little eyes something beginning with O...... but before that, there's a veritable all you can eat buffet of cultural goodness!!

Monday 23^rd July

Nigeria House kicks into its first full week at Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Raffles Square, E15 1BN  with the Market, Boutique and Gallery running from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

The week starts off on a literary note with the inaugural Igbo Cultural and Support Network (ICSN) Book Club, running from 7.00pm to 8.30pm at Madam Chi, 187 Upper Street, N1 1RQ. The book for this session is the African classic, Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’. This FREE event is open to all so you better start brushing up on your Okonkwo’s, Ikemefuna’s and so on!

Between 7.30pm and 10.00pm we have the evening show at Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Raffles Square, E15 1BN consisting of hip hop artiste and producer Naeto C who will be performing tracks from his Fela inspired Afrobeat/ Hip hop album Lagos City Hustla, Grammy nominated singer/song writer Tiwa Savage has been fusing R&B and Afrobeat since her 2010 debut single Kele Kele Love and Mi is a prolific songwriter, producer and lyricist who has collaborated with the crème de la crème of the Nigerian music. Tickets are £20.00and £25.00 for stalls


At 7.30pm we have 'What will survive of us' 5 short plays from award winning Nigerian playwright Janice Okoh at the Islington Community Theatre, 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF. Inspired and performed by young people, this FREE showing is innovative a highly sought after so RSVP by calling 0207 609 9651

At 7.45pm in the Purcell Room of the South Bank Centre we have the Vocal Ensemble of Africa the creation of pianist and vocalist Juwon Ogungbe (if you missed him at the Rhum Jungle last Thursday this is your chance oh!!) this ensemble consists of 6 singers from 5 African countries a 4 piece band and a combination of languages, harmonies and musical influences that will astound you, not one to be missed it features Juwon Ogungbe (Nigeria), Eugene Makuta (Congo), Eno William Uffort (Nigeria), Leila Lawton (Uganda), Joyce Moholoagae (South Africa) and Thomas Moyo (Zimbabwe). The band consists of Dele Ogundeko, Renell Shaw on bass, Soji Ijaduola on drums and Junior Balogun on percussion. Tickets are £15.00 from here, not to be sniffed at!!!!

Tuesday 24^th July

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

In the Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East Auditorium at 7.00pm it is a Naija Nu Soul mix as Keziah Jones returns for another set with his guitar hat and ever so funky individual style, he’s followed by amazing newcomer, Bez, whose Stupid Song has been a Proud to be African Clothing favourite is an alternative soul singer who is getting alot of time and airplay in the US and UK, a talent that will grow and grow. Then with have the legendary King Sunny Ade,who’s come a long way from his days in Moses Adejumo’s band in the ‘60’s, the first Nigerian Grammy nominee expect a mix of juju, afrobeat, funk, rock, soul and everything in between. Tickets are £20.00and £25.00 for stalls and dress circle

At 7.45pm we have Funmi Olawumi of the Yoruba Women’s Choir in the Purcell Room of the South Bank Centre.  She will be performing solo this evening with a 12 piece band and 4 piece harmony group Naija Soul Sisters, songs from her latest album Funmi Ti De. Funmi describes her music as faaji music so get ready for some body-moving and nyash-shaking. A feel good evening with, tickets for £15.00

Wednesday 25^th July

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East run from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Tony Allen-Master Drummer

Keziah Jones

Dele Sosimi- Gbedu Master!!

The evening show at 30 Nigeria House today is a Peach (not that the others have been slacking) from 7.00pm to 10.30pm is The Nigeria Diasporama All Star Band featuring such a sweet line up that I’m drooling all ready. First off we have global soul phenomenon Asa whose debut album fused Yoruba and English, pop, R&B, funk, soul and reggae into a unique and sublime treat, Keziah Jones is a committed guitarist artist who fuses so many genres from bossa nova to funk to Afrobeat, to produce his Blufunk sound. We then have Afrobeat stalwart Dele Sosimi started his career as  a youngster with Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and has since carved a niche for himself as one of the finest purveyors of Afrobeat, with monthly Afrobeat live shows in London and standout performances, this is Afrobeat par excellence. It obviously couldn’t get better but hey it just did! We have Tony Allen, Africa’s finest drummer and another Fela alumnus, with a huge pedigree of work behind him and global collaborations this legend of Afrobeat and world music will grace the stage followed by Fela’s pikin himself Seun Kuti and the Egypt 80 band, many of the band are old members from the Fela days so this has the potential to be the most awesome Afrobeat jam session known to man! In fact this is so awesome that the government has declared an immediate state of awesomeness around Theatre Royal Stratford, and ordered everyone to say “Ah ah!” don sunglasses and start shaking nyash with immediate effect!!!!  Tickets are £25.00 and £30.00 for stalls, NO EXCUSES!

Bez-Stupid Song Singer!

At 8.00pm Hackney Empire hosts Sweet Jamaica 50th! With Gappy Ranks, JC Lodge, Christopher Ellis, the Son of Alton Ellis, The Queens of Lovers Rock Carroll Thompson & Sylvia Tella, Peter Hunnigale, Roger Robin, Mr Fraser &  Jamaican Comedian Ping Wing. Hosted by Robbie Gee with music by Younger Melody with tickets from £21.00 from here

Thursday 26^th July

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm. 

From 6.30pm to 10.00pm is the Nigeria House Literary Series; a showcase of Nigerian literature presented through readings, conversations and book displays. Today’s authors are  Proud to be African Clothing’s good friend playwright Ade Solanke, playwright Seffi Atta, Diran Adebayo and Nnorom Azuonye. Ade is a screenwriter and playwright and creative director of Spora Stories nad has worked and lectured in the US and Nigeria and most recently had the excellent play ‘Pandoras Box’ on stage. Seffi is qualified chartered accountant whose debut novelEverything Good Will Come won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, Diran is an acclaimed author of novels and short stories a regular in the British media, on the culture Show and Newsnight he is known for his vivid take on modern Britain and is currently writing his 3^rd novel. Nnorom is the founder and editor of the Sentinel Literary Quaterly. His CV is so long it will fill the page so let us go with poet, playwright and novelist, his plays have been performed in Nsukka and his poems appeared in numerous books and anthologies. This interactive evening will be moderated by Lookman Sanusi, and will involve book readings, a conversation on ‘Imagine Nigeria!’ and book signings. It’s FREE, so RSVP and come and stimulate your minds

From 6.00pm to 10.45pm, the Young Black Grads presents... Speed Networking! Networking newbies or networking ninjas come down with your business cards and make friends, contacts and acquaintances. In business its 60% who you know so this is a good place to start. It’s at Poetry Café (The Poetry Society) 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX and is FREE just register here 

At 7.30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with have Beninois superstar Angelique Kidjo back for another performance of tracks from here 2012 live album Spirit Rising. A superb vocalist you’re in for an excellent performance in multiple languages with influences from multiple genres. I expect to see you all Wombo Lomboing in the aisles! Tickets £22.50 and £27.50

Team Zimbabwe will be officially welcomed at the Stratford Old Town Hall by the Zimbabwe Diaspora Olympics Support Network. This will be an opportunity for Zimbabweans to meet Zimbabwe’s past and present Olympians, network and show community spirit

Friday 27^th July OLYMPICS BABY!!!!!

Today na today!!! The Olympics comes to the wonderful city of London, the opening ceremony in Stratford will be shown at various places like Nigeria House, at Theatre Royal, Stratford East from 8.00pm to 11.00pm

Africa Village, Kensington Map

At 9.00am the Africa Village opens in Kensington Gardens. The Africa Village is the hospitality House of the 53 African countries participating in the London Games and is FREE from 9.00am till 10.00pm. There will be modern and traditional music concerts, fashion, dancing, photo exhibitions and African Food FREE entrance from 27th July to 12th August, 9am to 10pm. There will be performances on stage from 1pm to 3pm and 3.00pm to 6.00pm with Nigerian dancers, Tunisian musicians, French and English language storytellers, and fashion shows. Medal winners and athletes from African countries will be coming along to hang out so come along and see for yourself. The closest tube Station is South Kensington (Picadilly, District or Circle line) , exit and  follow the signs to the Royal Albert Hall. More details here 

During the day the Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm as usual

From 6.15 to 9.30pm BBM/BMC will be at Punch and Judy a health drink business for Garvey + Rasta +Music Part . Looking at the influences of Garveyism on Rastafarianism music and roots reggae in particular. This is a FREE event, RSVP and come 
and enjoy the drinks, debate and music


From 7.00pm to 10.00pm we have an Ice Reception at Emukay Bar and Restaurant, 91 Camberwell ROad, SE5 0EZ as part of WS- 78, The Mind of a Patriot. Featuring Tunji Oyelana

At Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Hackney, E8 4AA off Kingsland Road we have an excellent night with the Desert Blues  5 piece band consisting of Abdallah Oumbadougou, Kora player Modou Toure and Ramon Goose (guitar), with DJ’s Koichi Saka and Sun Bailante. Entry is £5.00 before 10.00pm and £8.00 after.

Saturday 28^th July OLYMPICS DAY TWO

The Market, Boutique and Gallery at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

At 11.00am we have the Festival of Yoruba Arts (FOYA) running till 9.00pm Clissold Park, this is the 3^rd incarnation of this Annual Festival which celebrates the rich and vibrant arts and Culture of the Yoruba people who stretch from Nigeria to Brazil to the Caribbean. FOYA has Salsa, Afrobeat, Juju, Arts and Crafts, competitions, delicious food and it’s FREE!!! This is a family friendly event with live bands and children’s games going till 6.00pm

Also at 11.00am we have the Uzima, Natural Holistic Expo at the Conway Hall, Holborn, 25 Red Lion Square, WC14 4RL. The aim is to enhance the lives of the African Community by providing an atmosphere that aids the mind, body and spirit. In the Main Hall from 11.00am to 6.00pm is the African Market and then from 7.00-9.00pm will be a Fashion and Culture Show. There are 3 other rooms as well with Workshops, Free Activities and a Therapy Room

At 3.00pm with have Dr Djibril Diallo in conversation with Baaba Maal and friends in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre. Dr Diallo is a Senior Advisor in UNAIDS and will be examining the role of sport in AIDS advocacy and empowering young people in the AIDS response. Although this is a FREE event, reserve your ticket online, by phone or in person.

Another groovy event will be Summer Soiree at the Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, London, E1 0HX, with an spectacular line up of Nigerian superstar singer Nneka, Proud to be African Clothing’s favourite grime artiste Afrikan Boy, Mikill Pane, Gina Yashere, Dotstar, Bigz, SAS, Fem Fal, Saeon, A Dot Comedian, Lyric L, Gfrsh, special set by DJ Abrantee hosted by Dont Jealous Me and Amal Fashanu. Doors open at 5.30pm event finishes 11.00pm, tickets from £27.00

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6.30-8.00pm we have Poetry Segment: Part I- Voices and Vocations- An exploration of poetry at Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East, a presentation and discussion of great poetry pieces from Nigeria and includes a screening of Remi Vaughan-Richards documentary on poetry and an invited mic poetry session. This event is FREE


At 5.30pm television talk show Effizi returns with a new guest in front of a live audience at Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1HE. This shows guest is Mrs Ogo Ogbata, business woman and author. More details can be found on the website and RSVP if you wish to be a guest

At 7.30pm in the Royal Festival Hall, for the final event of Africa Utopia the man himself returns to what he does best, Baaba Maal and Friends present Yele Yela- a Night from the Wild West of Africa. This performance brings this brilliant festival to an end and sees Baaba Maal joined by Malian ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouvate as well as Guinean vocalist/ kora player Mory Kant and many more special guests (don’t ask you’ll be surprised!!) Tickets are £25.00, £22.50, £20.00, £10.00

Nigerian author and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s latest project WS 78- The mind of a Patriot hits London on Saturday at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden. It starts off this Saturday’s with a lecture at 8.00pm – 9.00pm by Prof. Robert Fox entitled “From Tigritude to Transcendence: The Conscience and Conscientiousness of Wole Soyinka. This is followed by the play “Home” directed by Segun Ojewuyi from 9.00pm – 10:30pm. 

At the Nigeria House again from 8.30-9.00pm we have a performance of Sefi Atta’s play ‘The Naming Ceremony’. This one act play is directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa and is about the preparations for the naming ceremony (yeah the hint is in the title!) of a young couple Akin and Tola, with Tola dreading a day of disagreements with her mother, mother in law and husband. Tickets are £6.00

In Brixton, Upstairs at the Ritzy Picturehouse, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 IJG at 8.30pm we have Juwon Ogunbe (again! The man no wan rest!!!) performing tracks from his debut Life Force album. In collaboration with Colourful Radio with DJ Freestyle with his eclectic music choices on the decks an excellent night beckons. Tickets are £5.00 till midnight


Live at the Hootananny, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF this Friday we have Kalakuta, Blak Twang and Extra Curricular. Kalakuta is big band Afro-beat par excellence led by Fela Kuti’s long term lead rhythm guitar player Emeka Elendu they promise to take us to an ‘underground spiritual game’ Oya begin shake nyash! Extra Curricular is a rhythm, brass and vocal; ensemble that combines soul, rock and hip hop, while Blak Twang needs little introduction as a highly acclaimed legendary UK Hip-Hop artist with a well earned status, credited as an inspiration to the likes of Roots Manuva, Estelle and many others now on the verge of his 6th full length LP release. FREE entry before 11pm, £3 after, resident DJ’s, DJ Snuff and MC Honey Brown explore hip hops roots and keep the party going

At 9.00pm we join our good friends at Focus Organisation who will be at Zar Zars, 405 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ with special welcome party for all our 2012 visitors with an all night Afrobeats party with DJ’s Bogossy (Cote d’Ivoire), Patrick and Carlos de Carvalho (Radio Morali, Angola), they will be playing Afrobeats, Azonto, Coupe Decale, kuduro, kwaito, Naija beats, highlife and house all night till 5.00am. Tickets are £7.00, with ladies free before 11.00pm and all ticket holders from Africa Utopia’s Baaba Maal concert free entry until 1.00am. This is a definite number one choice to end the first full day of the Olympics, with some special guests promised who knows who you’ll bump into just fresh from the games?

At the if Bar, 71 Ilford Hill, Ilford, IG1 2DG we have the Ghana UK Olympic Party running from 10.00pm to 5.00am. D’Cryme will be performing live with Vibes Squad, Tribal Mangz, P Manand live PA’s from other supporting artistes, along with DJs, Frenchkiss, Abrantee, Macusa, Invisible, Yaw Apofo-Akora and many more

Sunday 29^th July

WS 78- The Mind of a Patriot at the Africa Centre resumes at 12.00pm with a dance workshop by Peter Badejo OBE. Then from 4.00pm to 8.00pm we have a blues dance tea party, a  Dance2Mesmerize presentation “Big City Blues” by Stanley Amah (£10.00 for tickets) and then from 9.00pm till 10.30pm another showing of the play ‘Home’

The Market, at 30 Nigeria House Theatre Royal, Stratford East runs from 7.00pm to 10.00pm, while the Boutique and Gallery run from 10.00am to 5.00pm. At 8.30pm we have another showing of Sefi Ata’s play- The Naming Ceremony. A very thespian Sunday!

Grooviness overload: Africa Utopia, BT River of Music Africa Stage, Nigeria House in Stratford!!!

Week starting 16^th July

Its obviously a good time to be living in London and a super good week is lined up for you. In effect you would be justified in pulling a sickie on Thursday and grooving, listening, watching and dancing all the way till Sunday it’s that good. However when you are being queried at work please do not blame Proud to be African Clothing!!!!

Monday 16^th July

At  7.00pm is the 70^th Birthday Celebration for Nigerian juju Music legend Chief Dr Ebenezer Obey at CLIWOM Sanctuary of Praise, 709 Old Kent Road, London SE15 1JZ, Free admission to this memorable event

Tuesday 17^th July

7.30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, South African choreographer and dancer Gregory Maqoma breathes new life into his Xhosa past with Exit/ Exists. The piece involves Gregory Maqoma and 4 other South African dancers summoning departed ancestors, linking the past and present in a blend of traditional and contemporary dance to music from Italian guitarist Giuliano Modarelli performing songs by Simphiwe Dana, set against a rich visual landscape created by Johannesburg based artist Nicholas Hlobo. Tickets are £10.00-£25.00 from here

Wednesday 18^th July

Oumou Sangare

At 7.30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre there is the sublime collaboration between banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck with Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangare performing original Sangare songs as well as tracks form Bela Fleck’s ‘Throw down your heart’ album. This album accompanies a documentary of the same name that explores the African roots of the banjo fro Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia and Mali. Joining them is a live band featuring Wil Calhoun on drums and percussion, ‘Benogo’ Diakite on kamele n’goni, Sekou Bah on bass, Dandio Sidibe on backing vocals. There will be a second show on the 19^th .Tickets are £10.00, £22.50, £27.50 50% concs available from here

Thursday 19^th July

At 10.00am Africa’s most dynamic and altogether awesome country (you can guess where this is leading can’t you!) celebrates its presence in London for the Olympic with an exhibition of sport, arts, music, fashion and distinctive products at the Nigeria House in the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, E15 1BN, start up with a Fashion show and audio visual show, with a Market running concurrently from 10.00am to 5.00pm. This is an initiative of New World Nigeria and will be delivering a huge range of fun and games over the coming weeks. Entry is FREE but register here

From 6.30 to 8.30pm at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JT we have African Awakenings? Interpreting Contemporary African Protest. This event hosted by Queen Marys University London explores the rash of anti government protest that have taken place across Africa. Frequently overshadowed by the Arab Spring, however protests against corrupt governments and unpopular decisions have taken place in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda and Mozambique. The Panel consists of Firoze Manji (Pambazuka Press) Yash Tandon (South Centr, SEATINI), Bayo Oyenuga (Enough is Enough/ Occupy Nigeria), Ayanda Kota (Grahamstown Unemployed Peoples Movement, South Africa) and Patricia Daley (University of Oxford) To book email: h.a.blockley@qmul.ac.uk, more details on African Spring

Bela Fleck

At 7.30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre  we get the second installation of the magical collaboration of banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck and Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangare performing original Sangare songs as well as tracks form Bela Fleck’s ‘Throw down your heart’ album.

In the Purcell Room at the South Bank Centre at 7.45pm is Catalyst Rwanda. Les Enfant de Dieu are a group of 130 Rwandan street children between the ages of 6 and 20 who were taught to hip hop dance by London B Boy Pervez. Their story is told in the film ‘Yes Man’ by Bret Syfert, which will be shown along with a conversation with Catalyst Rwanda’s visionary leader Rafiki Callixte, some of the boys and the team behind them. The night ends with music by DJ Biznizz (Tha En4cers) in The Front Room of Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tickets are £10.00 from here 

At 8.00pm Juwon Ogungbe’s Life Force Music comes to you live from The Rhum Jungle, Cottons, 70 Exmouth Market, Islington, EC1R 4QP. Juwon Ogungbe, mixes melds and manipulates Yoruba-Soul/ Latin infused reggae with his Life Force Band come down, pick up a Proud to be African T shirt, enjoy a rum/ fruit punch and get hit by the Life Force!!!  Also featuring DJ Freestyle (Colourful Radio) Eclectic Afro Beats, in association with Outerglobe.co.uk and Colourful Radio. Book here for tickets which are £8.00

Friday 20^th July

For you early birds The International Singles Conference 2012 starts at 7.00am at the Reading University Student Union, 360 Whiteknights Campus, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG6 6UR, themed ‘You like your arms on my shoulder, then put a ring on my finger’ this conference goes all the way to Sunday. This relationship conference will help you discover yourself, improve your self esteem, communication skills, dating skills and manage your emotions. Day 1 consists of workshops and seminars. Tickets are priced and found here

At 10.00am proceedings at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal, Stratford East continue with the Market, Boutique and Gallery running from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

At 11.00am is a presentation by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre entitled A New Frontier- How to do business in Africa.  A panel of UK businesses including the English Premier League, Tullow Oil, Osanimu, Standard Chartered Bank discuss how they do business in Africa and how UK companies can follow their success at this FREE event.

At 12.30pm in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre we have China Loves Africa a discussion on the nature of China’s relationship with Africa chaired by Funmi Otonisakin of African Leadership Centre, Kings College London with Henry Hall (editor China Africa News), Daniel Large of the Asia Africa Centre, Yiting Shen of Citigroup and others. FREE event.

At 1.00pm, in the Central Bar Foyer of the South Bank Centre is your FREE lunch time treat. Violinist Max Baillie and kora player Sura Susso, playing a mix of Baroque and West African pieces by Lully, Merula and traditional African spiritual pieces. Since meeting in Senegal in 2005 the pair have played in Womad, Moscow, Sydney and New Zealand and are now here to kick of Friday’s musical feasts

At 2.30pm in the Front Room at Queen Elizabeth’s Hall is Africa and the Technology Revolution with Marieme Jamme of Africa Gathering, Stephanie Busari, CNN Digital Producer, Idris Bello entrepreneur, and kiwanja.net founder Ken Banks discussing technologies role in boosting entrepreneurship and empowering communities in Africa founder of East-African Incubator and blog Appfrica Jon Gosier will be appearing by video. FREE event

From 4.00pm to 5.00pm we have Africa is not a Country: Reporting Africa at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, NUMBI founder and editor of Scarf magazine Kinsi Abdulleh , BBC Africa Current Affairs Editor Stephane Mayoux, Marcus Courage of Africapractice, and journalist and blogger Belinda Otas of New African Woman magazine discuss the perception gap between how Africa is reported and the reality of the continent. A topic close to my heart!!! This is a FREE event

We move to ‘Eco Africa: Why Green is the New Black’ at 5.30pm at the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. BBC Africa Editor Solomon Mugera, Jonathan Bhalla (Africa Research Institute), Jacqueline Shaw (Eco entrepreneur and Founder if the Africa Fashion Guide) discuss how Africa is embracing sustainability. This is a FREE event

More freeness at 5.30pm in The Clore Ballroom with Gregg Kofi Brown and Friends, this critically acclaimed artist’s live set consists of Afrobeat, African Jazz and Afro/Latinpop classics. He has performed with Carlos Santana, Osibisa, Youssou N’dour, Damon Albarn, Beth Orton and features Sting, Billy Cobham, Stanley Jordan, Des’ree and Gabrielle on his album, ‘Together as One’. Yup you guessed it, FREE

At 7.00pm we take leave of Africa Utopia and the South Bank Centre and head to South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH for Screen Africa’s showing of the Malian film ‘Bamako’.Abderrahmane Sissako;s film depicts a trial in Malis captila Bamako,in which two sides argue whether the World Bank, IMF or corruption are responsible for the poverty ridden state of many countries. Rwandan filmmaker Pascale Kasirabo will also present his short film ‘A Lifeless Life’ and there will be a Q&A. This is presented by Screen Africa’s Joseph Adesunloye, in association with Africa 2.0 and the Royal Africa Society. This is a FREE event but book online or by phone 020 7703 6120.

At 7.30pm the freeness ends (come on how much did you really want?) with the sublime Paco Pena: Misa Flamenca Africa at the Royal Festival Hall. This is a radical African interpretation of the Flamenco classic Misa Flamenca, in which Paco Pena collaborates with South African Composer Neo Muyanga to produce a classical beauty drawing of the emotional depth of Africa and passion of Spain. Tickets are £10.00 to £36.00 with limited 50% concs. available.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Saturday 21st July

The International Singles Conference 2012 continues at 10.00am at the Reading University Student Union, 360 Whiteknights Campus, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG6 6UR. Day 2 consists of picnic, fashion show, and in the evening from 5.00pm to 10.00pm Love Can Music Concert, featuring Diversity, Rachel Kerr, Latoya Newland, SOS, Lulu and 4Fingerz, James A, John James Newman, E TIZZ. The concert combines music, poetry and dance and is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

At 10.00am proceedings at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal Stratford East continue with the Boutique and Gallery running from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Nollywood or Bust: Africa at the Movies obviously knows its genre well with the dramatic titles and is on at 11.00am in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Don Omope, editor of African Screens and TV Director of Nollywood Movie Awards discusses the future of African cinema with David Somerset curator of the BFI’s African Odyssey season, Daniel Demissie (Town of Runners) Basia L Cummings (film writer for ‘ Africa is A Country’), and filmmaker Sheila Nortley. FREE event

In the Level 5 Function Room also at 11.00am is Afrikan Yoga. This FREE event is led by Pablo Imani to the beating of an African drum (bring your own mat though!!). Although it’s free, it requires a ticket which will incur a transaction fee of £1.75 (online) or £2.75 (phone)

At 12.00pm we need to step away and get to the London Pleasure Gardens, Royal Victoria Docks E16 2BS for the BTRiver of Music Africa Stage. This is part of the London 2012 Festival with stages all about London but of course the only place to be is here. At the Africa Stage!! Doors open at 11.00am and music goes on from 12.00pm to 9.30pm. Saturday’s line up is awesome, super groovy and marvellicious, as we have:

·         Seckou Keita & The Bantamba Syndicate: kora and djembe playing Seckou Keita (Senegal) is joined by a wide swath of guests from across West Africa (and Cuba) for a beautiful set

·         Modeste Hugues: Islands: Malagasy singer and guitarist draws singers from other African islands for his smooth African rhythms

·         Hugh Masekela: a second chance to catch this veteran trumpeter, if you missed him at Back2Black, performing his brilliant South African jazz, with a unique beautiful township sound, first with vocal group SAfricanto and then with Angelique Kidjo

·         Justin Adams & The Invisible Republic of JuJu: the guitarists is joined by guest artists from across North Africa

·         Angelique Kidjo: is back with her band in the UK, hopefully we’ll get to hear Wombo Lombo, if you grew up in West Africa and are of a certain age you will know what I’m talking about! Google it if you haven’t got anything to do!

·         King Sunny Ade: you will get to see a living legend in this British Council produced project as the Nigerian guitar and juju maestro shows why he is still up there when so many others have faded away

·         Baaba Maal: continues with the constellations of grooviness as the Senegalese singer closes the evenings proceedings

The DJ is our good friend Rita Ray of The Shrine (hope you’ll be wearing your Proud to be African T shirt!!!) and hosted by Eddie Kadi. This is the time to clone yourself and split yourself right down the middle because there’s too much groove going on for one day. Tickets are a tiny £3.00!!! so book now to avoid disappointment from here 

In the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall is Imagining Africa: A Granta Salon at 12.30pm. This event hosted by Granta Magazine brings together artists such as Aminatta Forna, Yinka Shonibare, Diriye Osman and Michael Salu to explore how the realities of life across Africa find expression through Art, film and writing. Yup FREE

At 1.30pm in the Clore Ballroom, The South Bank Centre is a special FREE treat for all you African fashionistas; Africa on the Catwalk a collaboration between Ola Shobowale Creative Director if Infinite Beauty Factory and Sabrina Henry, Fashion Director, Arise Magazine, there are an exciting selection of designers originating from or inspired by the glorious continent of Africa. Designers from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and the UK to name a few will all grace the occasion.

Come 3.00pm and its time to Arise and Shine in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. You lucky lucky people will get Nigerian soul singer performing songs from his debut album ‘Super Sun’, our good friend Inua Ellams will be performing as will South African poet Lebo Mashile, alongside designer Tsemaye binitie, Missla Libsekalo of Another Africa website. Celebrating all that’s groovy in African music, fashion and culture, it’s brought to you by ARISE magazine and it’s all FREE

Quick Hide Madonna’s Coming: Adoption and Africa is at 4.30pm in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, in which adoptees Lemn Sissay (Sierra Leonean/ Nigerian), Hannah Pool (Eritrean), David Akinsanya (Nigerian) and Professor Adele Jones (antecedents unknown!) of the Centre for Applied Childhood Studies discuss adoption, Africa and creativity. FREE event

At 6.30pm at 30 Nigeria House, Stratford East we have another fashion show, with red carpet and music running till 8.00pm

At 7.30pm at 30 Nigeria House, Stratford East comes a treat of Nigerian music with Waliyah, multi instrumentalist WizBoyy performing from his new album ‘Infinity’, stunning vocalist Waje and TuFace of African Queen fame performing in the auditorium until 10.00pm. If you like don’t carry your leg to Stratford as quickly as possible! No Naija time oh, Tickets can be obtained for £20.00 - £25.00

At 7.45pm freeness ends in the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, where we pay to see the superb Muntu Valdo, the Cameroonian one man band synchronising vocals, harmonica, guitar and percussion to produce a unique African sound. Tickets are £12.50

8.30pm sees The Ultimate Afrobeats Utopia, in The Clore Ballrom, The South Bank Centre; hosted by BBC1/1xtras DJ Edu with a special guest appearance of Nigerian superstar Ice Prince, also playing are DJ Neptixzzle, and afro house specialists Sef Kombo. Tickets for this funky mix of afrobeats, kwaito, naija pop, kuduro, azonto and kwaito are £10.00, with music from 9.00pm to 1.00am

Sunday 22^nd July

At 10.00am the Gallery and Boutique at 30 Nigeria House, Theatre Royal Stratford East, starts up again till 5.00pm with the market opening at 10.30am

Sunday’s Africa Utopia events kick off with the African Headwarp Workshop at 10.30am in the Level 5 Function Room. Dee McCalla of Wrappers Delight provides expert tuition for the perfect African headwrap. FREE event, but booking required either online (£1.75 fee) or by telephone (£2.75) or for free by visiting one of the South Bank Centre Ticket offices

In the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall we have Future Africa: Acceleration and Urban Spaces at 11.00am with a panel discussing the effects of population expansion on the future of metropolitan Africa. This is a FREE event

At 11.00am the doors open for another day at the Africa Stage of BT’s River of Music at the Pleasure Gardens, at the London Docklands

·         Tamarundi ft. Alhousseini Anivolla & Steven Sogo: Nigerien Alhousseini Anivolla meets Burundian Steven Sogo melding guitars with beautiful African traditional instruments for this unique sound

·         East Africa United: sees 4 powerful and brilliant vocalists Mim Suleiman (Tanzania), Dorothee Munyaneza (Rwanda), Ayub Ogada (Kenya) and Geoffrey Oyama (Uganda) combining to capture the spirit of East Africa

·         Muntu Valdo: The Cameroonian one man band is back on stage mixing, matching and blending in his unique way

·         Krar Collective: The Krar Collective of Ethiopia present 'Horn of Hope' a new show with special guests Hassan Fourshed (Djibouti) Ikran Araaleh (Somalia) MeakleE Ogubamicael (Eritrea) as well as a special dance show.

·         Noisettes: Shingai Shoniwa lead singer of this Indie rock band explores her Zimbabwean roots collaborating with a range of singers from across Southern Africa.

·         Staff Benda Bilili + Zao: this collaboration brings together the capitals of the two Congo’s Brazzaville and Kinshasa, in musical unity from these two superb bands

At 12.30pm is Women Inspiration and Leadership in the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, sees Beninois superstar singer/ activist Angelique Kidjo (hopefully rested from her performance yesterday), poet Lebo Mashile, Theo Sowa of the African Womens Development Fund, Jessica Horn and blogger Ms Afropolitan, discussing women inspiration and leadership (hence the title-Women Inspiration and Leadership!!). FREE event.

More Than Zebra Print: African Fashion Panel is in the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at 2.00pm  with Eyinne Owunwanne(founder of New York based fashion boutique Heritage 1960) , fashion blogger OneNigerianBoy, Hannah Pool (Eritrean Journalist/ Author), Christine Mhando (Chichia London) and Helen Jennings (founder of New African Fashion/ editor of ARISE magazine) talk fashion, Africa and fabulousness. Again this one is FREE

3.30pm at the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall is We Face Forward: Art from West Africa Today. Is hosted by The Manchester Galleries a season of contemporary art and music from West Africa, curated by Whitworth curator Byrony Bond. This is a FREE event

At 5.00pm in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall is Music, Art and Social Change, in which singer/ activist Baaba Maal, contemporary performance artist Jelili Atiku, architect and RSA fellow Elsie Owusu and jazz singer Jumoke Fashola discuss the power of music to create social change. Another FREE event

It’s all happening in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall this afternoon you might as well find a good spot and sit tight because at 6.30pm the Eritrean singer Miryam Solomon performs her eclectic set in Tigrinya. FREE, FREE, FREE!

At 7.30pm at 30 Nigeria House, Stratford East comes another slice of Nigeria’s gift to the musical world with Choc Boiz consisting of M.I., Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince and Brymo and Wande Coal performing in the auditorium until 10.00pm. Tickets can be obtained for £20.00

Also at 7.30pm at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Road we have Fernandos Kitchen a mix of modern Flamenco and North African music, tickets from £10.00 in advance and £13.00 on the door

At 8.30pm the Africa Utopia freeness ends but it is for a sublime treat as our good friend Inua Ellams brings his new play Knights Watch to the Royal Festival Hall.  In a world where tower blocks are In a world where tower blocks are stone mountains and city walls are urban tapestries retelling epic fights, Michael keeps away from the warring tribes until a passerby helps him out of a tight situation Instantly, he is pulled into the culture he has tried to escape. The city spirals out of control as battle lines are drawn and redrawn. In the quest for balance, loyalty, faith and friendships are tested, but will Michael succeed in ending the war In rich poetry, and with a live soundtrack from drummer Aki Fujimoto and flautist Mikey Kirkpatrick, while Inua is at his poetic best conjuring up a city not unlike London and pictures a more beautiful world beyond it. Tickets are a mere £10.00 so you can take a friend it’s worth it!

Day 3 of The International Singles Conference 2012 continues at 10.00am at the Reading University Student Union, 360 Whiteknights Campus, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG6 6UR. With more seminars/ workshops and a Summer Ball in the evening featuring a BBC DJ and MTV Base comedian.