Week of 1st April: TeDX Euston Salon, Chibundu Onuzo, KPMG, Somali Business events, Somi at Jazz RE:Freshed, Igbo Language Conference, The Black Market

Hail good friends, 

We are now into April and Proud to be African Clothing hopes British Summer Time will bring British Summer weather! No matter, this week we have play readings, Caribbean movies, Women's conferences  Ghanaian food and relocating, Igbo Language Conference and TedX Euston Salon. Again something for everyone.

Have a groovy week

Tuesday 2^nd April

From 8.00am to 6.00pm is an art exhibition Black Women in Focus in the Marble Hall of Congress House, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3LS curated by Zita Holbourne and Antonietta Torsiello and runs till the 14^th April, exhibitors include Zita Holbourne, Antonietta Torsiello (Visual Artist and Textile Designer), Nxsh (artist and photographer), Zemamnesh Campbell (textiles), Elizabeth Awoyemi (painter) and Mimi Yvonne (printer). There are evening viewings with the Artists of Friday 5th April from 6.00pm to 8pm. More details here for this is a FREE exhibition.

At 6.00pm the Africa Centre will host FAMA a play reading curated by Ery Nzaramba and Rasheeda Nalumoso at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. The play focuses on the struggle for individual identity through the conflict and the history of the development of East Africa. the reading will be followed by an open forum discussion. This is a FREE event although a £3.00 donation is kindly requested here.
 

At 6.00pm SD Event Managements present s B.A.M.E Ladies Talking KPMG at 15 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, E14 5GL. The event seeks to dispel all myths about working for KPMG with tips on making your CV stand out, how to secure an internship, placement or job at KPMG, how to achieve application and interview success and lots more. Tickets are £8.00 (£10.00 for two) from here.

From 7.30pm to 11.30pm is Soul Food USA at Workshop Coffee Co. 27 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RN. A multi serving menu with Cajun, Floribbean, Kentucky, Louisiana and Creole Low Country cooing with alcoholic and no alcoholic beverages. All for £63.00 from here.

                                                        Thursday 4^th April

From 10.00pm to 4.00pm the Reach Society will be holding their 2^nd Careers Conference at The Charing Cross Hotel, The Strand, EC2N 5HX, where professional men from the black community inspire children aged 14+ to discover pathways to success, explore career options in higher education, the media, medicine, law, engineering, technology, media services, civil and uniformed services, politics and more with KPMG, the Royal Navy, The Voice etc (all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). Register for this FREE event by email and check the website for more details  

At 6.00pm the Institute of Commonwealth Studies presents World War 2: The Colonies and colonials in Room G22, Senate House, University of London, Russell Square, WC1E 7HU. This new book by Marika Sherwood outlines the wide range of omissions from standard literature about the Second World War, the lecture shall focus on the Home Front and military contributions, this is a FREE event.

At 6.00pm the Somali Economic Forum hosts a Business and Professionals Event at Hilton London Hyde Park, 129 Bayswater Road, W24 RJ. This annual event is geared towards helping businesses and professionals achieve best practice through networking, with potential customers, partners, and suppliers. There will be 2-3 topics presented by experts speakers; Abdi Abdullahi (Dahabshiil)- Striving for a prosperous tomorrow, Mary Harper(BBC)- Positive Signs of Somalia and Nouman Khalid (Barclays) The Next African Frontier. Special guests include Dr Ismail Ahmed (Worldremit), Akok M. Madut (Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan) and Michael S. Mandu (Kenyan High Commission). Admission is £20.00 from here.

At 6.00pm The Royal Africa Society will be launching the book African Textiles Today in the Brunei Suite, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Chaired by Dr Atta Kwami (Cambridge), the speaker will be the author Christopher Spring (British Museum) and respondents Leo Asemota (artist), Bella Ikpasaja (Zeitgeist Africa) and Elvire Dyangani Ose (Tate Modern). RSVP this FREE event here. 

At 8.30pm Jazz RE:Freshed presents Somi Live at the Mau Mau Bar, 265 Portobello Road, W11 1LR. Born in the USA to Rwandan and Ugandan immigrants, this soul singer will be performing tracks from her new album The Lagos Music Salon based from her Lagos travel journal. Tickets are £10.00 from here

Friday 5^th April

At 6.30pm the Soho Kitchen Club hosts Love Gift Vegan Caribbean Cuisine and Baking Class at the Soho Kitchen Club, 34-35 D’Arblay Street, W1F 8EY. There will be a demonstration on baking without animal products and a buffet served from 7.30pm.  Tickets are £25.00 from here

Saturday 6^th April

From 9.00am to 8.00pm The SOAS Centre for African Studies presents the Igbo Language Conference

London in Room G2 School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG.themed ‘Igbo Language and Performance, this 2 day conference will have plenary panels and Igbo language performance with live musicians, singers, a short drama, film screenings and spoken word. Admission is £50.00 for both days or £25.00 for a single day (students £35.00 both days) from here.

From 10.30am to 6.30pm FORWARD presents Mobilising African Women in the Diaspora Conference at Greencoat Place, 24 Greencoat Place, SW1P 1RD. Themed Creating a movement for African womens, leadership, rights and development the conference seeks to provide a platform for discussion, learning, skills building and networking, Speakers include Naana Otoo-Oyotey (FORWARD), Saria Khalifa (FORWARD), Rainatou Sow (Make Every Woman Count), Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan.com), Patricia Lamour (Aspire Education Group), Barbara Kasumu (Elevation network), Marie-Clare Faray-Kele (Womens International League for Peace and Freedom).Madeleine Kennedy Macfoy, Anita Koroma (Girl Child Network Sierra Leone), Suzanne Harris (Changing the Face of Africa) and Mwenya Chimba (BAWSO). Admission is £15.00 (£5.00 concs) from here.

From 12.00 to 9.00pm Black History Studies presents The Black Market at Platanos College, Clapham Road, Stockwell, SW9 0AL. There will be stalls selling African Arts and cracfts, jewellery, fashion, skincare, food, haorcare, books, toys and DVDs. There will also be film screenings. Tickets are £10.00 for adults £5.00 for children, more on the door from here. 

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm SILK Solutions hosts  Making the Move: Ghana Workshop at  Voluntary

Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2TJ . Facilitated by Elvina Quaison the workshop seeks to give you essential information in order to plan effectively if you are planning to visit or relocate to Ghana. Admission is £30.00 from here.

At 1.00pm the Caribbean Film Corner will be screening Chrissy at Shortwave Cinema, 10 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN. This critically acclaimed movie is about the triumph of faith and friendship in difficult circumstances. Admission is £8.00 (&.00 students and £5.00 children) from here.

From 2.00pm to 5.30pm  we have Excuse Us London at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. Victor Ehikhamenor will bereading from his best selling nonfiction book Excuse Me and Nkem Ivara will be reading from her romance e novel Closer than a Brother. Moderated by Ike Anya with conversations led by literary critic Ikhide Ikheloa and poetry by Proud to be African Clothing designer Inua Ellams. This is a FREE literary gem not to be missed! 

From 5.30pm is TEDX EustonSalon at Eight Private Members Club, 1 Change Alley, EC3V 3LF.  This is a relaxed networking evening with two engaging speakers, Chibundu Onuzo (author of The Spider King’s Daughter) and Jessica Horn (founder of Akiiki Consulting). Tickets are £10.00 from here and selling fast.

At 7.00pm Black History Walks presents The Black History of Comedy in Room B35, Birkbeck College, University of London, Torrington Square, Malet Street, WC1E 7HX, this interactive session brings together a visual tapestry of the best historical comedy from the 1960’s till date. Register for this popular FREE event here.

From 8.00pm to 11.00pm Zoe’s Kitchen hosts Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen-Azonto Flavour at Studio Gi, 2 Tudor Grove, E9 7QL. You have a choice of lamb, fish or vegetarian 3 course, Ghanaian menu, accompanied by a DJ playing Azonto beats, with dancing and projections as well!  Tickets are £20.00 from here.

Sunday 7^th April

At 6.30pm is Kojo’s Comedy Fun House at the Sports Bar,  80 Haymarket, SW1Y 4TE. With special£12.00.

guest RnB star Angel and stand up comedians Thaniya Moore and Adot Comedian. Special guest DJ Chuckie Online and after party from 10.30pm till midnight. Tickets are

At 6.30pm is Another Level Open Mic Artist Takeover at The Soul, 300 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 5DQ for local emerging and established artists, admission is £5.00, for inclusion in the line up email.

At 7.00pm author Taiye Selasi will be in conversation with Hannah Pool at the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE18XX discussing her debut novel Ghana must go a rich intergenerational drama of separation and reunion spanning cultures from West Africa to New England to New York and London and back again. Tickets are £8.00 from here.