Week of 4th February: South African Opera, Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation launch, Kenyan elections, jazz, fashion, movies and Nigerian comedy

Proud to be African

Hello Friends,
Another week rolls by with plenty of interesting events, talks, performances, debates and screenings. We have classical music from South Africa, talks on Mali, networking, jazz from Femi Temowo, movies from Chad and South Africa, fashion, media briefings on Kenya, the President Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation launch, the  Economists  Africa Summit, Afropunk, Nigerian comedy.
And of course its Black History Month for our American friends

Its a fun packed week for Proud to be African Clothing so browse and enjoy

Monday 4^th February

From 5.15pm to 6.30pm SOAS Professor Jeremy Keenan will be presenting Two weeks in the Sahara/ Sahel: A Long term view of the conflict in Mali and Algeria at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Room 467, College Buildings, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG.

Proud to be South African

From 7.30pm to 9.30pm we have Kick Ass Networking at The Folly Bar, 41 Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0BT, hosted by Paula Hemmings and Sacha Anthony, the evening starts off with Networking and Nibbles until 8.30pm and then an Interrogation Topic on a chosen case study rounded up with Report backs from participants about successful strategies from previous sessions. Tickets (which include a glass of Prosecco) are £28.00(early bird) and £35.00 standard from here. 

At 7.30pm prize winning South African baritone Njabulo Madlala and pianists William Vann and Maya Irgalina will be performing at Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, W1U 2BP. They will be performing South African folk tales as well as Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler), Go, Lovely Rose and Now sleeps the crimson Petal (Quilter), Ave Maria, Auf dem Wasser zu singen, Der Doppelganger, Erlkonig (Schubert/ Liszt), Image, Series 2 (Liszt), El fandango del candil from Govescas (Granados), Die Lotosblume, Stille Tranen, Du bist wie eine Blume an Belsatzar (Schumann). Tickets for this wide ranging performance are from £8.00 to £15.00 from here. 

Tuesday 5^th February

From 8.00am to 4.50pm The Economist presents The Africa Summit at The Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street,  Kensington, W8 4PT chaired by Daniel Franklin (The Economist), the summit will be opened by Mark Simmonds (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office). Part 1 themed: Todays Leaders Building Tomorrows Institutions will start with a keynote policy address by President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia on Africa Unchained: A strategy for turning the corner, followed by an interview with Mo Ibrahim (Mo Ibrahim Foundation) by Daniel Franklin on Governance and Business in Africa and the a presentation on Institution building and the next generation by Babatunde Osotimehin (United Nations Population Fund). Part 2 themed Investing in Africa- Uncovering the African growth Story moderated by Komla Dumor (BBC Focus on Africa) starts with What’s the Strategy for Achieving Long term sustainable Investment? By Obiageli Ezekwesili (Open Society Foundations), followed by How Badly has the financial crisis hit Africa? and then How is the Intra African FDI shaping the continent? by Richard Sezibera (East African Community), The Future of Finance in Africa- Thoughts from the next generation by Ladi Balogun (First City Monument Bank) and winding up with a panel discussion on Critical Success Factors for the Future of African Investment, Finance and Integration with all the previous speakers. Part 3 of the event starts with The African Middle Class: What does it mean and what are the growth dynamics? by Charles Robertson (Renaissance Capital), Who is the African Consumer (Diageo), How will the Middle Class Consumer societies evolve across the continent? by Strive Masiyiwa (Econet Wireless) and ends with a panel discussion with all the participants on Realising the opportunities with the African Middle Class.

The final segment Part 4 is themed The Next Generation: Innovation and entrepreneurs and is moderated by Becky Anderson (CNN International). The first talk is Getting Africa to Innovate by Herman Chinery-Hesse (SOFTtribe) and Ranveer Chauhan (Olam) followed by Aspirations for Africa: A discussion with the African Leadership Academy with Frank Aswani (African Leadership Academy) and 2 of the Academy’s students  Joshua Oluwasanumi Oyenuga and Priscilla Takonduwa Semphere.

Admission to this packed and high level event  starts at £995.00 although discounts are available from here.

At 7.30pm we have the Femi Temowo Trio Live at the Vortex, 11 Gillett Square, Dalston, N16 8AZ.  The Proud to be African Clothing favourite and 2012 MOBO nominee will be performing with Karl Racheed Abel on bass and Troy Miller on drums selections from his latest album Orin Meta. Tickets for this little slice of awesomeness are £10.00 from here. 

Wednesday 6^th February

At 5.30pm the African Leadership Centre and Kings College Conflict Security and Development Group present Rising radicalism in the Sahel: Mali and Regional Destabilisation in Room 3B20, Strand Campus, Kings College, The Strand, WC2R 2LS. Chaired by Professor Jack Spence OBE (KCL) with speakers Mr Ali Soufan (The Soufan Group) and Dr Funmi Olonisakin (African Leadership Centre). Focusing on Mali this event looks at the wider implications for the Sahel of the fall of Ghaddafi and its effects from Algeria to Nigeria. To attend register for this FREE event  here

At 7.00pm the Mayor if Islington will be hosting a Fun Quiz Night at the Assembly Rooms, Islington Town Hall, 222 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1XR. Held in aid of Manor Gardens a charity that aims to help black, minority and refugee communities’ access health services, reduced isolation of the elderly, help children leave foster care and much more. There will be good food, entertainment, quizzes and lots of prizes including tickets for Arsenal vs Manchester United, a crate of wine, a free cut and blowdry. Tickets are £25.00 (discounts for bulk purchase) and include a free drink a hot and cold Turkish buffet from here. 

At 8.00pm there is a screening of ‘A Million Colours’ (South Africa 2012) at Riverside Studios, 1 Crisp Road, Hammersmith, W6 9RL. The film is inspired by the true story of Muntu Ndebele and Norman Knox, black and white child stars of a 1976 South African film, eLollipop and explores how their lives and loves were radically changed during this period in South African history, from fighting on opposite sides of the apartheid struggle to becoming friends again after the Mandela became President. This inspiring story of South Africa is intended to raise funds for the African Caribbean LeukaemiaTrust (ACLT). Tickets are £9.50 (£8.00 concs) from here.   

Thursday 7^th February

Proud to be Kenyan

From 10.45am to 12.30pm the London African Media Network (LAMN) and Commonwealth Journalists Association will be holding a Foreign Media Briefing on the Kenyan Elections at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association room, Westminster Hall, SW1A 0AA. The briefing seeks to provide a platform for journalists to dialogue and engage with Kenyan players in the run up to the Kenyan elections asking questions such as what has the local and international media learned from the 2007/2008 election, what challenges face the media, what are the ground rules and the roles of social media. Chaired by Topi Lyambila (Kenya London News/ LAMN), panellists will include Joel Kibazo (Royal African Society), Dr Nic Cheeseman (Hugh Price Fellow in African Politics, Oxford University), Dr Bitange Ndemo (via video link, Private Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication, Kenya)  and many mores to be confirmed. This is a FREE invitation only event, email Rita or Agnes to RSVP.

Proud to be South African

At 6.00pm The National Archives host Tracing Your Family History at the Bloomsbury Institute, 50 Bedford Square, WC1B 3DP, chaired by the National Archives Audrey Collin with Peter Christian (author The Genealogists Internet) who will be revealing the most useful sources fir family history research and how to navigate them, Andrea Smart (author Sugar in the Blood) will discuss her fascinating family history and the resulting book and Guy Grannum (author Tracing Your Caribbean Ancestors) who will discuss family history sources, genealogy websites and indexes at the National Archives. The evening starts with drinks at 6.00pm and then the talk at 6.30pm, tickets are £8.00 (£4.00 students) from here. 

At 6.30pm the Institute of International Visual arts (INIVA) presents Ingredients for Debate? At INIVA, 1 Rivington Place,EC2A 3BA in which author, playwright and memoirist Gillian Slovo will be in conversation with Tamar Garb (UCL) about how she has drawn on personal  history and experience to debate South African politics Tickets are £6.00 although concessions available from here.

Friday 8^th February

At 6.00pm we have Mutsa Mutsaa Fashion and Beauty Cocktail Party at the 5* Doubletree Hilton Courthouse Hotel, 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HL. This pre London Fashion Week Extravaganza will involve fashion shows, pampering and beauty, samples, discount shopping vouchers, live music and DJ’s and cocktails, 3% of all ticket sales will be donated to AMREF UKs Stand up for Africa campaign. Tickets are £10.00 earlybird or £15.00 standard from here.

Proud to be Nigerian

At 6.30pm the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation will be holding its Launch Gala at Grosvenor House Hotel, The Great Room, 86-90 Park Lane, W1K 7TN. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo will be launching his foundation aiming to promote the advancement of human security for the most disadvantaged in Africa, hosted by Richard Attias (Richard Attias and Associates) The keynote speech will be by Sir Bob Geldof (Musician), followed by a conversation with President Obasanjo moderated by Lord Peter Mandelson and then a Presidential panel moderated by Makhtar Diop (Vice President, World Bank, an Investment and NGO panel introduced by Strive Masiyiwa (Founder, Econet Wireles) and moderated by Robert Guest (The Economist) with Subodh Agrawal (Euromax Capital), Oby Ezekwesili (Open Society Foundation) and Cecilia Attias (Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women). This is a FREE formal invitation only event, please register here.

At 7.00pm we have Afro 360 Upstairs at the Ritzy, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW2 1JG, where you can experience music, fashion, dance, art and culture from Africa from every angle. There will be fashion shows by BOT I LAM, music by Oya Bun and Bogossy. Admission is £7.00 in advance and £10.00 on the door

From 8.00pm to 3.00am is the Lyrically Challenged 3^rd Birthday Celebration of Love at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston E8 4AA. Downstairs will be hip hop Cypher open to all conscious MC’s, with Nonadic Souls (street dancers), SBG (freedom to mankind), M9, Bass6, Lyrically Challenged Collective and the Lyrically Challenged House Band, MC Angel, Shay D, Sonority, Sirena Reynolds, Emma Prior, Mr T12Bs and DJ Shorty. Upstairs you’ll get DJ Baby Blu, Laura Steel, Antarma and live graffiti from Pixie. There are also 8 Open mic spoken word slots available. £5.00 before 10.00pm, £8.00 thereafter.

Saturday 9^th February

Born in the UK Made in Jamaica

From 5.00pm to 9.30pm INAPP is hosting General Peoples Assembly towards a National Black Peoples Day of Action 2013 at Queen Mother Moore School, Clapham Methodist Church Hall, Nelsons Row, SW4 7JR aiming to bring together all peoples from the African diaspora in a consultation process about issues affecting the black community Check the website for more details of this FREE event. 

At 6.00pm UCL African- Caribbean Society presents Panafrik 2013 at Logan Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL. This show will involve dance, fashion, poetry, singing and drama all tying into a fun and eclectic mix of African Caribbean culture and heritage. Tickets are £10.00 (regular) and £16.00 (VIP) from here. 

At 8.00pm Numbi presents A Night of Afropunk at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. With chanteuse Miryam Solomon, afrobeat Bronzehead, Zena Edwards, Malika Booker, resident poets Dorothea Smartt, Sai MuRai and Elmi Ali along with dancer/ choreographer  Funmi Adewole  all hosted by writer and artist Diriye Osman. DJ Zhao will be on decks. Tickets are £10.00 in advance, £5.00 (concs) and £12.00 on the door. More details here. 

Sunday 10^th February

From 2.00pm to 5.30pm Family Matters will be hosting Positive Conversations between Generations at Global Cooperation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, NW10 2HH. This intergenerational event for ages 12 and up, will involve professionals, family members (both nuclear and extended) in an interactive event on bridging the communication gap between generations. Speakers will include father and artist Liam de Souza-Thompson, Myriam Cotret (Educator), Jennifer Lewis (100Black Men of London) and Paul Lawrence (Life Skills Training Consultancy). This is a FREE event

From 6.00pm to 10.00pm the Igbo Cultural and Support Network will be holding its Valentine’s Day Special meeting at The Fleetwood, 36 Wilson Street, Moorgate, EC2M 2TE. Themed Ahuru m gi n’anya (literally means ‘I look in your eyes’ in Igbo i.e. I love you), there will be a special presentation, open mic, mini speed dating, blind date and secret admirer box. All good fun for just £5.00! More details here 

At 10.00pm we have Basketmouth and D’African Kings of Comedy at the indigoO2, The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX, the line up so far consists of Bovi (Nigeria), Ndumiso (South Africa), Daliso (Malawi), Kojo (Ghana), Eddie Kadi (Congo), with music by Timaya (Nigeria), more to be confirmed. Tickets range from £25.00 - £75.00 and they are selling out fast from here..