Proud To Be African Clothing: London Black History Month and African Events for the week of 15th October

Hello good people,

Black History Month is well and truly upon us as can be seen by the wide variety of events below and Proud to be African Clothing is fully into the swing of things. From book readings, children’s story telling and mask making to exhibitions and carnivals there’s something for everyone from Jamaica to Nigeria to Somalia. Beneath the selection below there are links to some of the Black History Months of a few London Boroughs as you’ll see they are a little too many to all mention!

Monday 15^th October

Between 3.30pm and 5.00pm we have African Animal Face Painting at Alexandra Park Library, Alexandra Park Road, Wood Green, N22 7UJ, this FREE children’s event will let the little ones transform themselves into different animal characters.

Between 4.00pm and 5.00pm, Proud to be African Clothing favourite El Crisis will be at the Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3HZ for a spoken word session for the Forest Hill Library’s 12-18 theatre group, however this FREE event is open to all.

At 7.00pm is a screening of the ‘Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman’ at Wood Green Central Library, 187-197A High Road, Wood Green, N22 6XD. This film tells the story of 110 year old Jane Pittman as interviewed by a New York journalist in 1962 of her memories of life in the US predating the end of slavery, her long walk to freedom and her son’s life as an educator and civil rights worker. This is a FREE event

Tuesday 16^th October

At 7.00pm is the Kings College London (KCL) ACS: Movie Night at the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Hodgkin Building, KCL, Guys Campus, London Bridge, SE1 1UL, the series will have a selection of African and Caribbean movies.

From 6.00pm to 9.00pm at the Lecture Theatre M, University of Surrey, Stag Hill Campus, Guildford, GU2 7XH is the first iteration of The Great Debate Tour. Its targeted at Black Students in UK universities to explore the issues of employment, crime and education. This event is FREE.

At 6.15pm we have Jamaica’s 50^th Anniversary: Reflection of the Past 50 Years at the Homerton Library, Homerton High Street, Homerton, E9 6AS. This FREE workshop explores Jamaica’s 50 years of independence through interactive dance and song, from reggae music to sporting success. The first 2 attendees will get a free book celebrating Jamaica’s independence, so turn up early!!!

At 7.30pm at The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG, we have the Lovers Rock Monologues, in which music and theatre combine with the inside story of Lovers Rock the UK reggae sub genre, think ‘Silly Games’, ‘I want to wake up with you’ which dominated the 70’s and 80’s. Starring Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson and Victor Romero Evans, its running till Saturday (no show on Friday). Tickets range from £12.00 to £18.00 from here.

Wednesday 17^th October

At 5.30pm is I have a dream.. Yes we can. This workshop is for 16 year olds and over and discusses leadership using the examples of Martin Luther King and Barack Obama and questioning what makes a good leader. This FREE workshop takes place at Stamford Hill Library, 120 Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, N16 6QT.

At 7.45pm is the world premiere of ‘Amina’, the latest Nollywood production to premiere in London starring Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Van Vicker, Vincent Regan, Alison Caroll, Nicole De Souza and Wil Johnson at the Empire Leicester Square, 5-6 Leicester Square, Piccadilly, WC2H 7NA. Directed by Christia Ashaiku it tells the story of Amina a gifted woman whose life is turned upside down by an unplanned pregnancy. Tickets range from £20.00 by calling 07946 811 253 or by mail with the after party continuing at Jewel Bar, 4/6 Glasshouse Street, Piccadilly Circus, W1B 5DQ from 10.30pm, with DJ Abass and DJ Wil Johnson. More details on the website.

Thursday 18^th October

At 6.00pm our friends at Ghanaian networking group Star 100 present the second event in the Ghana: Big Issues Discussion Forum Series at the Shell Centre, 4 York Road, Waterloo, SE1 7NA. This event will examine Ghana’s predicted economic growth by analysing Ghana’s key sectors and discussing which sectors contribute most to this growth, areas of opportunity for Diaspora investment, which government policies would attract entrepreneurs and investors, and sectors Ghana must solidify to qualify as a middle income country. The panel discussion will be moderated by Komla Dumor (BBC) and confirmed panellists include Simon Merchant (Jacana Partners), David Warwick (MASDAR Corporate Farming), Amone Gbedemah (Vodafone), and Professor John Sutton (London School of Economics). The event runs till 10.30pm, early bird tickets are £20.00, standard; £25.00 and FREE for Star100 subscribers from here.

At 6.00pm Queen Marys ACS presents Afro centric Fashion Show and After Party with Adrita Vierra London. As well as the fashion show there will be dancers, poets and singers, this show is part of Black History Month and is FREE. There will be an After Party at 9.00pm at the Drapers Bar and Kitchen, Drapers Square, Queen Mary Students Union, 432 Bancroft Road, E1 4DH with DJ’s playing Afrobeats, bashment, Hip hop, R and B and more again, this is FREE

At 6.00pm at Dalston CLR James Library, 60 Roseberry Place, Dalston Square, Hackney, E8 3BQ we have Finding the Spotlight: Supporting the next generation of Black Female Leaders. In which a panel of leading women such as playwright Bola Agbaje, politician Kate Osamor, author Verna Wilkins and Lorraine Martins MBE of the Olympic Delivery Authority will debate black female leadership in 2012, moderated by Joy Francis. This is a FREE event.

At 7.00pm we have Sudanese poet Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi at The Mosaic Rooms, 226 Cromwell Road, Earls Court, SW5 0SW. Saddiq will read and discuss his new poems and reflect on his stature as an Arab language African poet and his residency at The Petrie Museum. This is a FREE event, register here.

Friday 19^th October

At 12.00pm Nubian Jak Community Trust in association with The Jamaica High Commission and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will be unveiling a Blue plaque in honour of Jamaican legend Arthur Wint- Doctor, RAF pilot, diplomat and Jamaica’s first Gold Medallist at 22 Philbeach Gardens, SW5 9DY, special guests include the Jamaican UK High Commissioner Mrs Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, the Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Valerie Wint and Dr Alison Wint.

The Somali Week Festival starts at 6.00pm running till 28^th October. This year’s theme is ‘Courage’ and will hold at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, E2 6HG. Special guests are Hon Rushanar Ali MP, Mr Lutfur Rehman Mayor of Tower Hamlets, poet Said Salah, Muuse Ali Faruur, Hassan Qawdhan, Abdidhuuh Yusuf, James Byrne, Claire Pollard, Abdilahi Bootaan and Mohamed Warsame ‘Hadraawi’. Admission is £10.00 and the event will be in English and Somali

At 7.00pm we start our Friday evening in style with UK Jazz legend Courtney Pine at the Islington Assembly Halls, Upper Street, Angel, N1 2UD. Debuting material from his 15^th studio album ‘House of Legends’, the sax maestro will be bringing together musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe with a mix of ska, mento and calypso. Supported by Dominican guitarist Cameron Pierre tickets are £20.00 from here.

At 7.00pm London South Bank University ACS presents Kultur: Rep Your Country at the LSBU Students Union, Thomas Doyle Street, Elephant and Castle, SE1 6NG. The event will see open mic slots, performances by Electrik, Shillouettz in the Dark, Chunky, Azonto dance competition and many more. The After Party starts at 12.00am. Tickets are £3.00 in advance for LSBU students (£5.00 on the door and £7.00 after 9.00pm), £5.00 for non students in advance (£7.00 on the door, £9.00 after 9.00pm).

At 7.30pm there is more jazz with the Jambo Jambo Charity Concert 2012 at St Marys Church, The MT, Acton, W3 9NW, with the John Evans Trio and other local singers and musicians in aid of the local charity Jambo Jambo which sends disadvantaged young people on life changing experiences to Africa where they work on local improvement projects. Tickets are £7.00 from here

At 7.30pm at the Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG instead of ‘The Lovers Rock Monologues’ we have the documentary ‘The Story of Lovers Rock’ a behind the scenes look at the show, presented by Victor Romero Evans and featuring live guest PA’s. Tickets are £12.00 (£10.00 concessions) from here.

Saturday 20^th October

At 10.00am we have the Nigerian Carnival UK, at Kennington Park, Kennington Park Road, SE11 4BE. This event is FREE, with a kids zone, cultural events, performances, stalls and exhibitions more information here

From 11.00am to 3.00pm 100 Black Men of London will be holding an Education Through Film event at London South Bank University, 100-116 London Road Elephant and Castle, SE1 6LN, these are educational and/ or entertaining films for or by or about the African diaspora. This is a FREE event, for more details check the website or email.

At 12.00pm begins the Algerian Cultural Festival in celebration of Algeria’s 50 years of independence at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch E1 6LA. The day long event starts off with an Algerian lunch, whilst you can browse through a book stall, big screen Algerian exhibition, and mingle with artists in the expo space. There will also be a children’s workshop with games and drumming up till 1.30pm

From 1.00 to 2.15pm is a film screening of ‘Africa Rocks the Qasbah’ followed by a talk with Mireille Mendes and Dr Leo Zeilig. From 2.30 to 4.00pm is the panel discussion ‘Algeria: between the colonial past and legacies of independence, a nation looking ahead’. From 4.15 to 4.45pm there will be a performance by Diwan El Malouf performing a combination of Issawa sacred songs, Gnawa and Maalouf music. 5.00 to 6.30pm are screenings of short films ‘Prends Ta Place (Take Your Place)’ and ‘Mollement, un Samedi matin (Softly One Saturday Morning)’ followed by a talk by Zahia Smail Salhi and a Q&A.

At 7.45pm the evening entertainment begins (this part is ticketed) events kick off at 8.00pm with a screening ‘HarragaUK’ followed by a short Q&A with director Slimane Ouguenoun. At 8.45pm is the Farah Dance Troupe a dance collective representing the different regions of Algeria. From 9.30pm to 1.00am is the festival party featuring live music from Algerian Uk based artists such as YADi, Diwan El Maalouf, Cheb Nacim, Sid Ahmed El Bahi, The Papers, Raouf Adear and many more covering different Algerian genres from Andalusian, Chaabi, Malouf, Indie, Rai, rap etc. The Day events (Midday to 6.30pm) are all FREE, evening performances (from 7.45pm) are £10.00 in advance, £12.00 on the door (£6.00 concessions) from here or by calling the box office on 0207 613 7498. You can’t say Algerians don’t do their things in style!!

At 2.00pm Somali Week Festival continues with Oral to Written Language: Celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the Somali Script at Oxford House, Bethnal Green. There will be a panel discussion, poetry, and talks by Somali language experts. This event will be in Somali language, admission is £5.00

At 3.00pm is Steal Away: The Story of Harriet Tubman at Peckham Library, Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR an hour long FREE monologue by storyteller Sandra Agard for adults and children about the legendary Harriet Tubman

At 3.30pm the London Afro-Caribbean Book Club will be discussing Alex Wheatle’s novel ‘Brenton Brown’ at Cottons, 70 Exmouth Market, Islington, EC1R 4QP.

From 6.00pm to 9.00pm you have Through Southwark’s Eyes: the greatest black sporting heroes at Culture Space, Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7AR, with sporting legends joined by future sporting talent to discuss their achievements, inspirations and celebrate through film, photography and spoken word past sporting heroes. Speakers will include Ade Adepitan MBE (wheelchair basketballer and TV presenter), Percy Hutchful (London 2012 torchbearer), Joshua Lee (Multi Sports Coaching Company), Mrs Deirdre Mills (Jamaican Deputy High Commissioner), Sam King MBE (Southwark’s first Black Mayor and World War 2 veteran). This is a FREE event but booking is essential form here.

At 8.00pm our friends at Ghanaian Londoners host their Black History Month Networking Party at Abacus, 24 Cornhill, City of London, EC3V 3ND. Meet up with old friends and make new ones at this African themed networking party. There will be guests speakers, Golden One Minute opportunity for entrepreneurs and attendees to tell everyone what they do and who they are, speed networking session and informal networking (i.e. mingle!). After 10.00pm is an Old Skool Party by Akwaaba UK going till 4.00am, so if you’re 25+, Ghanaian, African or a friend of Africa come along. FREE tickets for the first 50 to sign up, £7.00 thereafter.

From 8.30pm to 10.30pm Somali Week Festival goes musical with the king of lute Hudaydi with New Orleans jazz band Lejazzebel, at Oxford House, Bethnal Green. This fusion of New Orleans jazz and Somali Qaraami music, contrasts not just the different traditions but the different cultures. This will be followed by the band for Aar Maanta and Fuad Omar. Admission is £10.00

Sunday 21^st October

From 12.00pm to 6.00pm is the Black Market with PCS Learning Centre, 3^rd Floor, 231 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EH

At 2.00pm our friends at Mwalimu Express return to Rich Mix, 35- 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA with another installation with kids yoga, music, movies, book stalls, with tunes by the Shrines Max Reinhardt and Rita Ray

At 2.30pm at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, we have Babylon UK, the classic reggae music film set in 1980’s South London portraying the young black community at the sharp end of inner city survival, starring Brinsley Dan and directed by France Rosso. This is a FREE event RSVP from here.

At 6.00pm we have Education Africa Teachings Fundraising Screening of ‘The Story of Lovers Rock’ at the Heritage Inn, 301 Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, NW2 6PG. The group is raising money to take 25 young people to Ghana to learn about its culture and history. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

At 6.00pm Conversation with Musse Ali Faruur: Heritage and Classical poetry and Djibouti Fusion at Oxford House. Chaired by Mohammed Bashe, Muuse Cali Cige ‘Faruur’ will share his poetry and experience of Somali traditional knowledge. The second part of the evening a mixture of poets, dancers and musicians from Djibouti will present Djibouti Fusion Admission is £10.00 and is in Somali.

The Mahogany Bridal Show, the largest African Caribbean bridal fashion show in Europe at City of Westminster College, Paddington Green, W2 1NB, with over 50 exhibitors, fashion shows, wedding planners, makeup artists, hair stylists, bakers, caterers, photographers, you can get your entire wedding done in a single walk of the venue!. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

BLACK HISTORY EVENT LINKS