Hugh Masekela, Africa Rocks, Imperial College Nigerian Society and Miss Nubian Paegent

Hello Peoples

Hope you are enjoying Black History Month and are wrapping up warm in Proud to be African Clothing's hoodys and sweatshirts as the cold weather creeps up on us.

Monday 8^th October

At the Whirled Cinema, 259/260 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction, SE24 0HN is a screening of ‘What the Times Cover Girl Did Next’, a documentary on Trinidad and Tobago covering everything from Dragon Boat Racing to Coconut Jelly. The show runs from 7.30pm to 11.00pm but early arrivals get a complimentary cupcake! Tickets are £6.00 from here.

Tuesday 9^th October

From 7.30pm at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch E1 6LA, we have Renaissance One, Tilt’s London Liming on Revolution and Change.  Spoken word artists Amiri Baraka, poets Kayo Chingonyi and Caroline Bird, singer songwriter Kay Remedy and journalist and writer Diana McCauley will be featuring, speaking and orating at this spoken word carnival. Tickets are £7.00 (£5.00 concessions) from here.  

Between 7.15 and 8.30pm is Natural Noire at Torridon Road Library, Torridon Road, SE6 1RQ, with advice on caring for Afro hair, with Sophie and Co providing live music. This event is FREE.

Wednesday 10^th October

KCL Elevation Networks will be hosting Ernst and Young Live at 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF. This unique learning experience is packed with stimulating activities to help guide you along your career path. Sign up here 

Proud to be South African

At 7.30pm at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ we have Songs of Migration starring South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela with Sibongile Khumalo. The show was created by the trumpeter and composer and features songs by Joseph Shabalala, Dorothy Masuka, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela himself. The music swings through the cotton fields of the American South to Lagos, Nigeria ending up in South Africa. An awesome sounding show not to be missed. Tickets are between £10.00 and £29.50 from here. 

Thursday 11^th October

Born in the UK Made in Nigeria

At 6.00pm we have the British Nigerian Law Federation (BNLF) Annual Lecture, on the topic ‘The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and other drivers for investment in the Nigerian Economy’. The keynote speaker is Gbenga Oyebode MFR, Managing Partner at Aluko and Oyebode and Chair, Section on Business Law, Nigerian Bar Association. The lecture will be held at Linklaters LLP, One Silk Street, City of London, EC2Y 8HQ. This is a FREE event but register by emailing or from here.

At 6.00pm KCL: ACS presents Soul Sessions at Tutu’s Bar, Kings College London, Macadam Building, Surrey Street, WC2R 2NS , an evening of poetry, spoken word, singing and more with acts such as Tony Blaize and Catherine. There is also an Open Mic Session at this FREE event.

At 6.30pm at Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR, as part of Southwark Black History Month, S.I. Martin will present a historical talk with archival material celebrating Black British culture. The event is FREE.

At 6.30pm Ooh La La Events will be holding a Speed Networking Event with a Twist, in which you and other networkers will connect and interact with different games and activities. It will take place at Zenna Cocktail Bar, 77 Dean Street, W1D 3SH, there will be a surprise artiste performing on the night as well! Tickets are £5.50 in advance from here.

At 6.45pm is the Book Launch of Gavin Westons novel ‘Harmattan’ about child marriage at The Hub, Kings Cross, 34B York Way, N1 9AB. There will be a presentation by the charity FORWARD a drinks reception, book signings and music by Bumi Thomas. RSVP by email.

Friday 12^th October

At 10.00am the Imperial College Nigerian Society Annual Symposium will be holding at the Great Hall, Imperial College, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ the theme is “Nigeria’s Economic Transformation Vision 20: 20:20; Myth or Reality”.  This is an all day event; from 10.00am to 2.00pm is a Careers Fair and Networking Session at the Queen Tower Room, from 2.00pm the Symposium begins with the following key note speakers

Dr Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of National Planning- Ideals and Vision behind the Nigerian Economic Vision 20; 2020

Professor Pat Utomi, Political Economist- Effective Leadership and its Impact on Economic Transformation

Caroline Harper Jantuah- The Role of the Nigerian Diaspora Youth in Nigeria Building

Alhaji Aliyu Dangote, CEO Dangote Group Plc- Driving Nigeria’s Economic Growth through Private Sector Partnership

Then there will be a Panel discussion and Q&A.

From 6.00pm to 10.00pm there will be a Networking Dinner with Live entertainment at the Queens Tower Room. 

This fascinating Symposium is FREE to attend, please RSVP here.

The dinner will be £30.00 

At 5.00pm, The Kwara State Association of Nigeria UK (KWASANG UK) will be holding its convention at the Hilton Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, W2 1JU. The theme is: "Contributing to the development of Kwara State through sustained engagement with Kwara state indigenes in the Diaspora” and will last all weekend. The Friday session is an education seminar running till 8.00pm with a presentation on Education and Youth Development as an Intervention to transform Kwara State, followed by a group discussion. This event is FREE RSVP via the website.

At 6.00pm we have a Film and Talk: Performing Black Bodies in White Spaces, running till 9.00pm at Peckham Plex, Rye Lane SE15 4RZ, this is a screening of such films as ‘Temporary Sanity: The Skerrit Boy Story’ about Jamaican dance culture in New York, ‘Ebony goddess: Queen of Ile Aiye’ about Brazilian women’s concept of beauty and dance. This will be followed by a talk by Dr Nathalie Montlouis and guests as well as a performance and discussion by Caribbean dance group Zil’Oka. Register for this FREE event here.

Also at 6.00pm is The Krios of Sierra Leone: Celebrating heritage and discovery at The Crypt at St Peters, Liverpool Grove, Walworth, SE17 2HH. This event celebrates the history and heritage of the Krio people and discoveries by two Krio doctors about sickle cell and the structure of human insulin. This event tells the story using performance, film, an exhibition and discussions it’s FREE but RSVP by email.

 At 6.30pm author Bernadine Evaristo will be at Camberwell Library, 17-21 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR talk about her life and read from her works including her latest work ‘Blonde Roots’ a reimagining of the slave trade with Europeans as slaves and Africans as masters. The event will include a Q&A and book signing. This is a FREE event but book by email or phone on 0207 525 1570.

Born in the UK Made in Nigeria

At 7.00pm at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Street, Portobello, W11 2AY, British Nigerian artiste Ayo-Dele launches her debut album “Forever Becoming”. Performing with her live band this album chronicles her journey of faith, self discovery and identity. This is an amazing singer and not an event to be missed, advance standard tickets are £10.00, advance VIP (with free album) is £20.00 from here, on the door is £25.00.

At 8.00pm Open the Gate presents Cameroonian musician Muntu Valdo live at the Hackney Attic, Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1HE with special live painting by Pia Cabble. He will be performing his unique Sawa blues with his guitar, feet, harmonica and voice. An outstanding performance every time! Admission is £7.00

Saturday 13^th October

The Kwasang UK Convention continues at 11.00am at the Hilton Metropole for a panel discussion on ‘Agriculture, Investment and Business Development in Kwara State’. At 1.30pm there is a Youth Engagement Forum for 18 – 25 year olds and lunch with Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed. From 6.00pm to 1.00am is a Gala Night, with a Fundraising and Awards Ceremony, Two course Dinner and Dance with live music. The Gala Night is £40.00 the rest of the events are FREE check out the website or email.

From 12.00pm to 8.00pm we have the Africa Rocks Expo at Hotel Russell, 1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, WC1B 5BE. This is the second incarnation of this one day event and promises to be bigger and better than last year. The Expo aims to change perceptions of Africa by promoting African culture and talents. There will be food, music, poetry African dance and competitions as well as 2 fashion shows all hosted by comedian Lateef Lovejoy. Tickets are £15.00 in advance and £20.00 on the door. This is a fascinating event and was packed and oversubscribed last year so get your tickets now from here!!

At 5.00pm The Igbo Cultural and Support Network (ICSN) will be holding their 9^th Annual Iri-Ji (New Yam) Festival at Petchey Academy, Shacklewell Lane, Hackney, E8 2EY. This annual celebration of the Yam Harvest is a beautiful representation of Igbo tradition and culture, celebrating the King of Crops YAM. There will be plenty delicious rice, meat, fish and of course Yam dishes, masquerades, traditional dances, Live Music by Kelechi Ify, a traditional play, resident DJ playing tunes till late and of course plenty Fine, Fine Igbo girls and guys. Dress is strictly traditional; tickets are £15.00 in advance and £20.00 on the door. Call 07940224313 or 07932232526 or email.

At 7.00pm our good friends at the Miss Nubian Foundation bring us the Miss Nubian UK 3^rd Annual Grand Finale at the Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, W2 1JU. The event will showcase an eclectic mix of attractions such as cultural displays, drama productions, auctions, awards, business expo, fashion shows, musicians, comedians, dancers and spoken word artistes. Tickets start from £15.00 from here. 

Sunday 14^th October

At 7.00pm is Fela Kuti’s Birthday Tribute with the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra at the Jazz Cafe, 10 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PG. This annual event celebrates the life and music of the originator of Afrobeat Fela Kuti, led by Proud to be African favourite Dele Sosimi former Egypt 80 keyboardist he will be covering Fela’s tracks as well as his own tunes from his albums ‘Identity’ and ‘Turbulent times’. Tickets are £17.50 in advance from here.