Week of 24th June: Eko-Ile: Lagos to London, The African Market, Jimmy Cliff, Africa Centre Games Night, African Space Scientists, Ghanaian perspectives

Hello All,

Another busy week from Proud to Be African Clothing. We started the weekend at the Funmi Olawumi Concert where a lucky competition winner got to see the virtuoso performance. This week we have classical music from an Award winning black female composer, perspectives from the Ghana High Commissioner with Star100 and Ghanaian career events, Israeli –African musician Ester Rada, African Women in Europe Awards, Lekan Babalola and the Afrobeat Messengers with Eko Ile at Rich Mix on Sunday. Another excellent mix of education, entertainment and career development for Africans and friends of Africa.

Enjoy!!!

Monday 24^th June

From 9.30am to 6.00pm is Tribute to Aime Cesaire at Cine Lumiere- Institut Francais du Royaume-Uni, 17 Queensbury Place, SW7 2DT. This is a celebration of the poet Aime Cesaire who is recognised and one of the leading Francophone poets of the 20^th Century and leading prophets of Negritude. There will be an array of distinguished speakers a well as selected readings and recitals of his poetry. Tickets are £20.00, email Dr Philip Crispin for more information 

At 3.00pm the Olivier Theatre hosts In Conversation with Adrian Lester at the National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX, in which he talks to Al Senter about his current role in Othello and his

career as well as an interactive Q&A with the audience. Tickets are £5.00 (£4.00 concs)

From 6.00pm to 9.00pm is Senegalese Sabar Drumming Summer School in College Buildings, Russell Square,Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG running till 28^th June, this class instructed by Master Drummer Modou Diouf who will be teaching students a number of traditional compositions as well as the culture, history and playing techniques of this family of drums. The Course is £95.00 (£75.00 concs) from here. 

Tuesday 25^th June

At 5.30pm Chatham House hosts The Rule of Law in South Africa: Measuring Judicial Performance and Meeting Standards at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE. Chaired by Suella Fernandes (Africa Justice Foundation) the Chief Justice of South Africa the Hon Mogoeng Mogoeng will discuss the South African justice sector and the Constitutional Courts achievements in what is widely regarded as one of the strongest constitutions in the world for human rights and political freedoms. To attend this FREE event contact Chris Vandome

At 7.00pm the legendary Jamaican Singer Jimmy Cliff will be performing at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherds BushGreen, W1 8TT. Singing a selection of hits songs from his stellar career as well as new songs from his 012 album RE.BIRTH. The Jamaican singer will be supported by Natty Acoustic from 8.00pm to 8.30pm and joined by special guests. Tickets start from £27.50 from here.

At 7.45pm Errollyn Wallen will be performing at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, Wapping, E1W 3ST. The Ivor Novello Award winning classical pianist (all the more unique for a black female classical musician!) will be performing a selection of her piano works and songs as part of an installation Memory, Reflection and the Passing of Time. Tickets are £12.00 and can be ordered by phone 0207 680 2080 or on the door or from here. 

Wednesday 26^th June

From 6.30pm to 9.00pm is the Africa Centre Games Night at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. Come and play an eclectic assortment of games like chess, oware, Lagos edition Monopoly, draughts dominoes and senet. A fun and different way to socialise and meet people. Come in teams of 4-6 or as an individual. FREE but a donation of £3.00 is appreciated here.

At 7.00pm Enchanted Tunes presents Ester Rada at Momo’s Kernia Bar, 25 Heddon Street, Piccadilly, W1B 4BH. The Ethiopian Jewish singer will draw on her roots as well as her experiences growing up in Netanya a tough Tel Aviv neighbourhood. Tickets are £10.00 on the door

Thursday 27^th June

From 6.00pm to 11.00pm is the iCAN (informal Caribbean African Network) Social Evening at Tompkins, 4 Pan Peninsula Square, South Quay, Canary Wharf, E14 9HN. With an area reserved this is a relaxed informal networking event for African and Caribbean professionals. Either register here or just turn up for this FREE event

At 6.30pm Space Scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock will discuss The Power of Dreams at The Crystal, One Siemens Brothers Way, Royal Victoria Docks, E16 1GB. The eminent scientist will discuss how she turned her childhood dreams of being a space scientist into a reality. This is a FREE event but register here. An inspirational must for young people. 

At 7.30pm the Mama Jumbe Book Club will be discussing short stories at Mama Jumbe’s, 350 Katherine Road, E7 8NW. This instalment is ‘Misss Lora’ by Junot Diaz with music by DJ Gabe. FREE event just turn up.

Friday 28^th June

At 8.00am is the Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDDIS 2013) at The Grand Hotel, 8 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY. This summit seeks to help Nigerians in the Diaspora to go home to invest in Nigeria. Confirmed speakers include Dr Dalhatu Sakir Tafida, (Nigeria High COmmisioner), Olusegun Aganga (Nigerian Minister of Trade and Investment), Alhaji Muhammad Nadada Umar (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), David Smith (British African Business Alliance), Clive Carpenter (Business Council for Africa), Bimbo Roberts Folayan (CANUK), Kingsley Aikins (Diaspora Matters) and Barnaby Briggs (Shell International). Running till Saturday evening, tickets are £100.00 from here.

At 9.30am Machair Social Enterprise hosts African Diaspora Entrepreneurship: Social Enterprise in Africa at Machair Social Enterprise, 3Space, 58 Victoria Embankment, EC4Y 0DS. Delivered by Isebail Mackinnon, this workshop will give you an action plan as a social entrepreneur, clarify your ideas and income stream, overview of legal structures, market research and a business plan. Tickets are £35.00 from here.

At 6.30pm Star100 presents Personal Views on Ghana’s Political Journey- 1957 to the present day at 13 Belgrave Square, Westminster, SW1X 8PX. This event will offer three personal views from 1957 to the present day with Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo (Ghana High Commissioner to the UK),   Dr Michael Amoah (Author; Nationalism Globalisation and Africa) and Yaw Afriyie (Political History student). There will be a short presentation, an interview and a quiz with light refreshments. Tickets are £11.50 from here. 

At 6.30pm is the VC4Africa London Meetup at Cape Bar, Corner of Wood Street and Love Lane, City of London, EC2V 7JQ. This is an informal event for Africans, entrepreneurs, friends of Africa, to meet, socialise and network in a relaxed environment. This is a FREE event, sign up here.

This Friday from 6.30pm to 9.00pm is the Black Solicitors Network Networking Night at Cape Bar, Corney & Barrow, 10 Parternoster Square, City of London, EC4M 7DX. This is a relaxed informal event for Black professionals (not just lawyers) from all sectors. This is a FREE event just turn up.

Saturday 29^th June

From 9.30am to 6.30pm GUBA Awards and NFDP Ltd present Ghana Careers and Opportunities Fair- 2013 at Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, 18 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TJ. There will be a Business and Investment Roundtable Forum exploring business and career opportunities in Ghana with Mr Roland Agambire (RLG Communications), Ebele Edwin Ogboe (UBA Capital Ltd), Herman Chinery-Hesse (The Softribe Ghana), Dr Mark Ankrah (State Housing Company), Mrs Pearl Esuah-Mensah (UT Bank), Eric Vincent-Guichard (Homestrings) and Mrs Mawuena Trebarh (Ghana Investment Promotions  Centre). The keynote speaker will be Ghanaian High Commissioner to the UK Kwaku Danso-Boafo. Following the round table discussion will be a Careers Fair for Banking, finance, software engineers, programmers, oil and gas mining etc. Admission is £15.00 from here.

From 9.30am to 1.00pm Machair Social Enterprise hosts African Diaspora Entrepreneurship: Business Start Up Workshop at Machair Social Enterprise, 3Space, 29-31 Oxford Street, W1D DR. Hosted by Isebail Mackinnon, this workshop will give you an action plan as an entrepreneur, clarify your ideas and income stream, overview of legal structures, market research and contact and resources to help with your move to Africa. Tickets are £35.00 from here

From 11.00am to 5.00pm Open the Gate will host The African Market at Old

Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, E1 6EW, this unique alternative market will feature a selection of African designs, arts, literature, music homeware, jewellery, accessories and natural beauty products. FREE entry throughout. More details here

At 2.00pm the African Women in Europe Awards 2013 hold at Holiday Inn, Kensington Forum, 97 Cromwell Road, SW7 4DN. Themed ‘Acknowledging and Empowering African Women investing in Africa’, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm are workshops, with the Awards Ceremony starting at 6.00pm. Tickets are £45.00 from here.

From 4.00pm to 11.00pm is the Nigerian Events Awards 2013 at the Docklands Hilton Hotel, 265 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5HW. This event is organised by Event Planners with the primary objective of creating awareness of and celebrating and rewarding the vast skill and professionalism of the people who work behind the scenes of private, social corporate or public events. There will be music/ comedy, buffet drinks and dinner, raffle draw, goody bags, networking opportunities and a mini exhibition. Tickets from £50.00 from here. 

From 5.00pm to 10.00pm is the AFRUCA Fundraising and Variety Evening at Amnesty International, 17- 25 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EA. This event is part of AFRUCA’s ‘7 Days against human trafficking’ campaign. Hosted by Princess Deun Adedoyin- Solarin there will be an African musical drama, poetry recital by Dumi Senda, a fashion show and classical music by Georgina Whitehead. Tickets are £20.00 from here £25.00 on the door.  

At 6.00pm is the Charity Quiz Night in support of Somali Relief and Development Forum at Oaktree Centre, Osborne Road, W3 8SJ. Team can have up to 6 members and prizes will be given out on the night. Tickets are £10.00 from here. 

At 8.30pm Palo Santo Stage Show presents a quadruple bill of Horn Dogz featuring Breis, Kalakuta featuring Emeka Elendu, Artikel, Unexpected Guest featuring Chima Anya and DJ Snuff and MC Honey Brown at Hootananny Brixton, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF. Horndogz are an eclectic French trio playing everything from P- Funk to jazz, BREIS is a dynamic hip hop artist who fuses hip hop, soul and Afrobeat. 12 piece Afrobeat band Kalakuta featuring Emeka Elendu of Fela Kuti’s Afrika 70/ Egypt 80 will perform Afrobeat standards as well as new compositions, 6 piece heavy funk/ jazz/ hip hop band Unexpected guest will feature Oxford/ London MC Chima Anya, Artikel blend electronic, hip hop and jazz to create a unique sound with DJ Snuff and MC Honey Brown on the decks. All this for FREE before 10.00pm and just £3.00 after!!!

At 9.00pm is Shrine On You with the Classica Orchestra Afrobeat at the New Empowering Church, 1a Westgate Street, Hackney, E8 3RL a homage to Fela Kuti the Afrobeat master. Directed by Marco Zanotti this unusual chamber orchestra formed by 11 classical and jazz musicians, featuring Seun Kuti and Kologbo, with DJ’s Koichi Sakai and Kyazi Lugangira Acoustic live duo. Admission is £5.00 in advance and £8.00 on the door. Don’t miss this! 

At 2.00pm is Tales of the not entirely unexpected: fair trade coffee, tea and flowers in Ethiopia and Uganda in the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG Professor Christopher Cramer discusses recent SOAS research from DfID funded projects in investigating the Fairtrade experience in Ethiopia and Uganda with journalist Orla Ryan. Followed by a Q&A, for more details about this FREE event contact by email or phone on 0207 898 4041. 

Also at 2.00pm at SOAS is the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony in the Japanese Roof Garden, Brunei Gallery. This ceremony will be conducted by Father Berhanu and his wife and is an integral part of Ethiopian social and cultural life for more details about this FREE event contact by email or phone on 0207 898 4041. 

At 9.00pm Rachel Kerr will be performing at Rock the Belles at the Bedroom Bar, 62 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY. This exclusive set backed by a full band will see Rachel perform new songs from her EP including her new single ‘Iwill love me’. Tickets are £5.00 before 10.00pm if you email to get added to the list 

Sunday 30^th June

From 10.00am to 5.00pm is the Annual NSUUK Annual Nigerian Students Football Challenge at Power League Catford, Canadian Avenue, Catford, SE6 4SW. Register your teams on the day or contact 07567804081 or 07988756682 or email 

At 12.00pm Osasu presents Le Marche Africain at 5^th Base Gallery, 23 Henbeage Street (off Brick Lane), E1 5LJ with African products, designs, food, skin care, arts and more. FREE entry register here.

From 1.00pm to 10.30pm Lekan Babalola and the Afrobeat Messengers presents Eko Ile- Lagos to London at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. The twice Grammy award winning percussionist will be hosting this celebration of the spirit of Lagos with the Ifa-Yoruba Contemporary Arts Trust with film, talks by John Mawell Worrell, Juwon Ogungbe, Moji Kareem, Ekua Andrea Agha, Majemite Jaboro and others, visual arts by Olumide Onigbogi., music by Folabi Lipede, food by Aso Rock and fashion. The Evening concert will be led by Lekan Babalola. For your taste of Naija in London pop into this awesome event. FREE daytime events, evening concert £10.00 (£8.00 concs) more details here.

From 4.30pm to 6.00pm the Africa Centre will be screening Hollow City at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. This Angolan film follows the travails and adventures of Bie who is taken to the Angolan capital Luanda after his family is massacred by soldiers. Whilst there he runs away from the group and journeys into the heart of the giant city. FREE but a £3.00 donation is kindly requested here.

At 5.00pm is the Star TV Launch at Double Tree Hilton Hotel, 2-8 Hangar Lane, Ealing, W5 3HN. This new channel will feature family and youth oriented shows in Somali and English, focussing on everyday issues affecting youth in the UK and the diaspora, as well as insights into Somali culture. Tickets for this event are FREE from here.