Week of 29th July: Africa Centre Summer Festival, African Fashion Week London, The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior, Q&A with Tim Campbell MBE, Brixton Summer Weekender, Ghana Party in the Park, Brixton Splash

You’re Welcome

Yeah I said it!

Because when you see how much stuff there is this week you will be saying 'Thank you Proud to be African!!!' and taking sick days from work, inventing and killing long lost relatives to avoid lectures to attend all the super groovy events lined up for this week. You better stock up on kola nut and pack your running and dancing shoes because you will be spoilt for choice.

The Africa Centre completely ruins all my plans for this weekend by holding their summer Festival in Covent Garden on Saturday and Sunday, headlined by Nneka and DJ Edu with Venus Bushfires (watch out for her unusual hair and even more unusual percussion instrument!!), Bumi Thomas etc visual arts, cinema, stalls and much groovy grooviness

African Fashion Week London 2013 runs from Thursday all the way to Saturday with fun, fashion, fine girls, trendy guys, press, TV and all manner of grooviness. Going from strength to strength they are taking over the Truman Brewery, with catwalk shows, Red Runways and traders stalls. It is going to be epic

African Theatre continues its renaissance with Tiata Fahodzi’s The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his sexy wife Chipo opening at the Tricycle Theatre. Watch the trailer for this Zimbabwean comedy here. 

The Brixton Summer Weekender takes place in Brixton. At the Weekend. In Summer (excellent naming strategy!) and features cakes, enterprise, films, Lovers Rock and so much more.

Also in Brixton is the Brixton Splash on Sunday a groovy free community festival.

Tim Campbell MBE winner of the first Apprentice TV show talks enterprise. 

The legendary US jazz, hip hop, band the Robert Glasper Experiment is in town. Ghana Party in the Park will be holding a party. Full of Ghanaians. In a park 

(this naming thing is catching oh!)

And then there is networking, speed dating and so so much more.

Don’t exhaust yourselves!!!

Monday 29^th July

At 6.30pm the London Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business Q&A with Tim Campbell MBE at the London Chamber of Commerce, 33 Queen Street, EC4R 1AP. The winner of the inaugural Apprentice TV show as well as the owner of the Bright Ideas Trust an entrepreneurial social enterprise will be discussing business leadership, social enterprise, youth opportunities and how to change the world. Come with your questions ready! Tickets are £20.00 (£12.00 for JCI members and £8.00 for students) from here. 

At 7.00pm Serious presents The Robert Glasper Experiment at Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, EC2A 3PQ. This Avant garde musician who is unbounded by genres be they jazz, hip hop, RnB or rock will be performing their Grammy Award Winning material at what promises to be another sell out show. Tickets are £17.50 from here.

At 10.15pm we have Naturally 7 at The BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP. This unique acapella group draws on gospel heritage with a unique style known as vocal play with unique musical arrangements. Tickets start from £6.00 from here.

Tuesday 30^th July

At 6.00pm Inspirational YOU presents IY Talks Global – Enterprise and growth in the UAE and Africa: The Rise of Generation X and Y , this live interactive studio debate about enterprise and career FREE tickets here.
opportunities in Africa and the UAE will be hosted by Garry Green (Tooks Chambers), with Rozan Ahmed (International PR consultant), Hamet Aguemon (VTB Capital), Ashley Chin (UK actor), Sarah Asafo-Agyei (Director Bank of Singapore UK) and special guest COO of an International Bank. This event will support students and entrepreneurs looking to set up in these markets and looking to network, register for your

At 7.30pm Olivier Award Winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in A Season In the Congo at the Young Vic, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8LZ. This fascinating drama by Aime Cesaire, directed by Joe Wright and choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui charts the rise and fall of the pioneer Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba and his passionate determination to free his people from Belgian rule. Filled with brilliant performances, dance and music as well it runs till 14^th August. Tickets start from £10.00 here. 

Wednesday 31^st July

At 7.00pm Words of Colour Productions presents Literary Bites with Courttia Newland and Alex Wheatle at Yum Yum, 183-187 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0LH. This new initiative seeks to connect ascribing writers with established authors for networking, tips and a bite to eat. Featuring Courttia Newland (The Scholar, A Book of Blues, The Gospel According to Cane) and Alex Wheatle MBE (Brixton Rock, East of Acre Lane, Brenton Brown). Tickets are £25.00 from here 

Thursday 1^st August

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At 11.00am African Fashion Week London 2013 begins in F Block, The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL. As Europe’s largest African fashion event enters its third year, it will feature over 100 designers and exhibitors hosted by the renowned artist Yinka Shonibare MBE and architect and business woman Mrs Fifi Ejindu. As well as exhibitors and runway shows there will be a Red Runway where you can be a star for the day and work your stride in your finest African attire for the cameras. 

There are 3 shows on the opening day; the 4.00pm show features LollyAde, Luciano Couture, Huda Dagnew, CN designs, Veronique, Ngozi, Agata of Barnets Creative Enterprise Social Club and Tumisola Ladega. The 6.00pm show featuring Elevation Networks Designers and finally at 8.30pm features Eldimaa Fashion, Sa4a Designs, Adopted Culture, LNK Designs, Zandy B Designs, Bello Designs, Afrolucious Designs and Mtofo Designs. Tickets are £15.00 from here. 

Proud to be Zimbabwean

From 6.00pm to 11.00pm Lelas Lounge presents Talk To Me at Biagio Bankside, 32 Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark, SE1 9EU. Hosted by Mika this speed dating evening ainmed at black singles between 21 and 29 off with a free platter, entertainment and light networking, before settling down to the dates with tunes from the resident DJ. Tickets are £10.00, more details here.

At 7.30pm Tiata Fahodzi presents The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his sexy wife Chipo at the Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR. This Zimbabwean comedy of epic epicness involves creating the ultimate African fable in 24hours unfortunately the hero is missing from the superstar cast; the sudden appearance of a goatherd on the horizon could be the saviour. Could he be the one.....? Running till 17^th August written by Denton Chikura and directed by Lucian Msamati, tickets start from £14.00 from here. 

Friday 2^nd August

Born in the UK Made In Africa

At 11.00am African Fashion Week London 2013 continues at The Truman Brewery, with the Red Run Way, exhibitors selling original African creations, celebrities and 3 runway shows. The 4.00pm show features Giberky, O’mak Designs by Uche, Moofa, RYA-V Jewellery, House of Jola and Crown Rose. At 6.30pm the show will have Halleros, Sally Intiego, Steve Mandy Designs, Ruutz Art and Creation, M shade, Sluu by Sluvin Designs wrapping up with the 8.30pm show with our good friends and stockists at Vou Brown, Alabi Coutrem Fay Designz, Liiber London, Asake Oge and Thula Sindi. Tickets are £20.00 from here

From 11.00am to 1.00pm the Inaugural Brixton Summer Weekender begins with the Food Makers and Bakers Competition at the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Oval, SW2 1JG, where you can get business advice from a panel of business experts through a fun competition. Register for this FREE event here.

Proud To Be African Sweatshirt

At 2.00pm is the Young Creative Challenge (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) at the Ritzy Cinema, for young people aged 18-30 with a creative business idea to come and compete with the best business idea winning prizes and cash. Register here for FREE entry.

At 5.00pm is Become a Conscious Millionaire (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) at the Ritzy Cinema, in which the AKNA Business School seeks to search, select, train and mentor prospective business people in a progressive business model. Get your FREE tickets here

Born in the UK Made in Nigeria T shirt

From 5.00pm to 10.00pm The African Peoples Advocacy hosts the 1^st African Diaspora Summer Festival at Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EA. There will be a screening of the multi award winning documentary Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, a 3 course dinner by African caterers, performances by the dancer, singer and story teller Usifu Jalloh, a debate on the topic ‘The vision of the African Diaspora for Africa in the 21^st Century’ with Rolake Akinkugbe (Ecobank), Sylvie Aboa-Bradwell (African Peoples Advocacy), Washington Kapapiro (Association for African Owned Enterprises) and Oba Nsugbe £75.00 each (£40.00 for groups of 2 or more) from here. 
(Pump Court Chambers) with Henry Bonsu (Colourful Radio) as the MC. Special guest is HRH Queen Naa
Tsotsoo Soyoo I of Ghana. Tickets are

 At 8.00pm is the premiere of Labo..Life is a journey at the Odeon Cinema Greenwich, Bugssby Way, SE10 0QJ. This latest Nollywood offering is the first ever trans cultural African movie that interplays transitional cultural values through the trajectory of The Caribbean, Nigeria and English customs. Tickets start from £20.00 from here. 

Saturday 3^rd August

From 11.00am to 3.00pm Rich Visions hosts How To Start Your Own Business at 1st Floor, Towpath House, 3-11 Limehouse Court, Dod Street, Limehouse, E14 7EQ. This workshop is intended to get attendees to turn their passions into profits and become their own bosses in 6-12 months. Hosted by Mavis Amankwah, this will cover writing a business plan, drafting a cashflow forecast and how to apply for a Start Up Loan amongst other things. Register for your FREE ticket here 

At 12.00pm is the Africa Centre Summer Festival 2013 in the Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 8JT.

Curated by Yinka Shonibare MBE (hmmm is this guy cloning himself?) it will showcase the best of contemporary African arts and culture (including Proud to be African Clothing!), headlined by Nigerian superstar Nneka, DJ Edu.

Other Musical acts include The Venus Bushfires, Tunde Jegede, Celloman, Wale Ojo and the Kalakuta Express, Kasai Masai, Bumi Thomas and DRB Las Gidi, a fashion show and visual arts exhibitions by Safaa Erruas, Otobong Nkaga and Nathalie Mba Bikoro. 

A film Screening of La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl who sold the Sun) and a pop up kitchen by Zoes Ghana Kitchen. Running till Sunday and till 10.00pm both days, this collection of awesomity is FREE!!!! More details here 

12.00pm – The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun (Certificate U)

 12.45pm – Official Welcome Message and Music programme start

 13.00 – Tunde Jegede and The Griot’s Tale – Dance performance

13.45 – Henry Bonsu to introduce Wale Ojo and the Kalakuta Express

14.30 – The Venue Bushfires

15.00 – Kasai Masai live set

15.40 – Bumi Thomas live set

16.05 – DJ Edu fashion show warm-up

16.20 – Africa Fashion Week London catwalk show (Part 1)

16.50 – 17.05 – Break DJ Edu Set Screening of  photography

17.05 – 17.35 – Celloman live set

17.45 – Afrikan Boy live set

18.05 – DJ Edu & photography screening

18.35 – Africa Fashion Week London catwalk show (Part 2)

18.35 - 19.05 DJ Edu 30 min set

19.05 – Wale Ojo and the Kalakuta Express live set

19.35 – DJ Edu live set

20.45 – 21.45 – Headline act: Nneka live

21.45 – Summer festival closing messages

22.00 – Close

Pink PTBA Ladies T shirts

At 11.00am African Fashion Week London 2013 continues at The Truman Brewery. There are 5 shows today in addition to the exhibitions with the 12.00pm show featuring Zarita Kouture, Arachnid Creations, Fee Uhssi, Kaveke and Sasha.

The 2.30pm show features Baah by Jessica Baah, Metisse, Monis Fashion House, Killian de Burgh, Bpink, House of Opiam Rouge Vallari, Otuedon and AAMAA ala mode.

At 6.30pm there is a solo show by Ella & Gabby

The 7.30pm show features Elegante by Tiannahstyling, Afro Fashion, Didi Creations, Yutees and Mademoiselle Anglia

The final show at 9.30pm features House of Farrah, Zizi Cardow, Simogieme, Alicia Mulllings, AFT (African Fashion Today) and our friends at Vou Brown again to round it all off in style

Tickets are £25.00 from here. 

Proud to be Ghanian Hoody

At 12.00pm the Brixton Summer Weekender continues with Yes! Food Africa/ Food Caribbean at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW 1EP, where you can taste and buy the best in new African and Caribbean food products. Register for this FREE event here

From 12.00pm to 8.00pm is Ghana Party in the Park at Trent Park, Cockfosters Road, Cockfosters, EN4 0PS. There will be music, food, a Chiefs Durbar, cultural dancers, a bouncy castle, face painting, fashion show, arts and crafts, dancing, competitions, DJ’s and MC’s. To experience all of this wonderful Ghanaian Ghanianity get your tickets for £10.00 (£20.00 for a family of 4) Azonto your way over here!!

From 2.00pm to 5.00pm is the Caribbean Film Corner Calypso Edition at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Notting Hill, W11 2AY. Screening Come with it Black Man: A biography of Black Stalin’s Consciousness a documentary about legendary Trinidadian calypsonian Dr Leroy Calliste aka Black Stalin. Tickets are £8.00 (£7.00 concs) from here. 

Born in the UK Made in Jamaica Hoody

At 6.00pm the Windrush Foundation holds a Commemorative Service to mark 175^th Emancipation Day at the Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common Northside, SW4 0QZ. Guest speakers include Bishop Adrian Newman, (Anglican Bishop of Stepney), Rev Ruth Gee (President of the Methodist Conference) and Rev Ernie Whalley (Baptist Assembly). RSVP this FREE event here. 

At 6.30pm is The Women’s Empowerment Project 10^th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner at The Wesley Hotel, 81-103 Euston Street, NW1 2EZ. This event is to support their Shalom House Project Launch to provide a safe nurturing environment for girls 13-23 in Accra, Ghana who are in the sex trade, providing them with a safe nurturing environment, offering counselling, health screening and vocational training. The event will feature a 3 course meal, raffle draw and items for sale Tickets start from £35.00 from here. 

At 7.00pm Zoes Ghana Kitchen hosts GK Cafe and Beer Launch at The African Centre Cafe, 2 Tudor Grove, E9 7QL. This unique beer tasting will see the launch of 2 new beers Chin Chin Banoffee Pie Stout and Scotch Bonnet Chilli Chaser Ale, with a Ghanaian canapé menu to accompany it. As they say its Ghana be tasty. Tickets are £25.00 from here.

At 8.00pm is Inua Ellams R.A.P Party at the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Curated by Proud to be African Clothing’s designer Inua Ellams, this night of hip hop inspired poems and hip hop songs  will feature Anthony Anaagorou, Patience Agbabi, Tim Clare, Salena Godden, Dan Cockrill, Sabrina Mahfouz, Keith Jarrett, Deborah Stevenson, Bohdan Piasecki and Belinda Zhawi, with DJ Khalil and VJ Dan Fenton Tickets are £12.50 from here

At 8.00pm is the Best 100 African and Caribbean Booklist Launch (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) at the Brixton Library, this will be a fun night of words, music and literature. Come and propose, defend and debate your favourite books. FREE entry.

At 8.00pm Passing Clouds presents Africa in Motion at Passing Clouds, 1a Richmond Road, E8 4AA. Featuring Adesose Wallace and Ibile this 8 piece band will be playing Afrobeat, funk and highlife. Also playing live is Kevin Haynes and Grupo Elegua, the British – Trinidadian saxophonist will be mixing jazz with Yoruba traditional rhythms in an original sound. On the decks will be DJs Freestyle and Volta 45. FREE before 9.00pm, £8.00 after. More details here.

At 9.00pm Focus Organisation hosts The Best from Africa: Kadialy Kouyate and Band at the Bedroom Bar, 62 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY. The Senegalese kora master will be performing live with his band supported by JP Kairo DJ playing afrobeats, azonto, coupe decale, Afro House and other African urban music styles. Tickets are £6.00 from here. 

Sunday 4^th August

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From 12.00pm to 10.00pm the second day of the Africa Centre Summer Festival 2013 continues in theCovent Garden Piazza. Curated by Yinka Shonibare MBE it will showcase the best of contemporary African arts and culture (including Proud to be African Clothing!), with music, film, a fashion show and visual arts exhibitions. And yes it’s still FREE!!!! More details here

From 12.00pm to 7.00pm is Brixton Splash 2013 in Brixton Town Centre. This increasingly popular event will feature a variety of sound systems on and around Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane. On the main stage there will be the following acts Ras Band, 8 Year Old Singer, ayday, Kid Corleobne, T Dot, Jamie Stimpson, Shelby, Jason Hayles, Cash Heat Ent, Bizzle, CSM, Lance Morgan, Rawpaw, Facetee, Jamila, JB, Brb Sonia, Timbar, Rueben Mystic, Sheeny BNoo, Mikey Foreigner, Keira, Kandake, Big Narstie, Lioness and Jah Meninites, Raw Material, Ram 1, Chicken Wing All Stars, 7 Suns, Cameron Jay and Kromatic.

The Peace Gardens Arts and Family Village will be holding a series of arts and crafts workshops and seminars. This is a FREE event, check out the website for more details of individual sound stages and Afterparties. 

At 12.00pm is Families United at Brixton Library, (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) a talk and a seminar about how families can cope with mental illness. Register for this FREE event here. 

Proud to be African Childrens Clothes

At 2.00pm is It takes a village to raise a child at Brixton Library, (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) a relaxed afternoon discussing the ins and outs of adopting a child accompanied by a scrumptious English afternoon tea. Register for this FREE event here. 

From 3.00pm to 7.00pm the Sincere Blog hosts the Fundraising for Carers Event at Lewisham Carers Centre, Waldram Place, Forest Hill, SE23 2LB. The day will feature a brief talk about the brilliant work of carers, the Carers Trust and Carers Lewisham as well as music, tasty appetisers, African and Caribbean food, a professional Nail technician and Massage Therapist, cup cakes and gorgeous jewellery and a Raffle with great prizes. To show your support for this undersung section of society get your tickets at £10.00 for adults (£6.00 for children) here. 

From 3.00pm to 5.00pm is Relocate Caribbean! Relocate African! (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) at the Vida Walsh Centre, a talk and discussion as to the best way in which to relocate. Register for your FREE tickets here. 

At 4.00pm is Creating Wealthy Families at the Vida Walsh Centre, (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender) a talk and a seminar of how to get the whole family on the right wealth path. 

PTBA-1 Ladies T Shirt

At 4.00pm is the Big Caribbean Fruit Cake Competition (part of the Brixton Summer Weekender)  at Brixton Library, open to anyone living in the UK who can make a Caribbean fruitcake and for 7-18 year olds a Caribbean Cupcake. This will be an afternoon of judging and tasting. Register for this FREE event here. 

At 5.00pm Word Power Festivals presents Akala and Friends at the T-Chances, 399 High Road, Tottenham, N17 6QN. The evening will feature a Health Workshop, Powersis Panel from the Everydaypeopleuk Show, The Incomparable Cezanne Poet performing her latest work I need a man, Jang Jang Bureh and Akala performing live. Tickets are £10.00 (£8.00 concs)

Inua Ellams

At 7.30pm Inua Ellam and Thenublk present T Shirt Stories. Screening & After Party at The Hackney Attic, 270 Mare Street, Hackney E8 1HE. T shirt Stories is a documentary that covers the world as different personalities weigh in on their thoughts about the T shirt, with a special introduction by directors Dimitri Paihe and Julien Potart as well as Proud to be African designer Inua Ellams who will be performing excerpts from his critically acclaimed play ‘Black T Shirt Collection’ ahead of its Edinburgh Festival debut, a tale about how the global T shirt industry affects the lives of two foster brothers in the heart of Nigeria. The after party will feature The Large, DJ Sid Mercutio and DJ Top Rock. Tickets are £5.00 from here £7.00 on the door. 

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At 8.00pm the Brixton Summer Weekender ends with Legendary Lovers Rock Stars at Brixton Library, with pioneers of the unique UK sound of Lovers Rock Carroll Thompson, Janet Kay and Victor Romero Evans and guests ending the weekend. Tickets are £10.00 here or £15.00 on the door. 

Week of 22nd July: Yoruba Arts Festival, The Africa Market, Governor Amaechi at Chatham House, China in Africa, Feferity, ICSN Summer Party, Afrobeat Vibrations, iCAN Networking, Poetry and Theatre

Eka ron, Kedu, Sannu

Another week of excellence is upon us, the Yoruba Arts Festival will give us 2 days of the rich Yoruba cultural diaspora from Nigeria to Brazil to the UK and beyond. Talks at Chatham House from Nigeria and Angola, Making Freedom Conference, The African Market at Old Spitalfields, the Igbo Culture and Support Network Summer Party and Feferity

Remember we are offering 10% off all garments with the voucher code SUN10 until the 12^th of August.

African Fashion Week London 2013 is inching closer, running from Thursday 1^st August to Saturday 3^rd August, featuring over 100 designers and exhibitors hosted by Yinka Shonibare MBE and Mrs Fifi Ejindu. Remember you can get your tickets for this extravaganza at The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL here 

Monday 22^nd July

From 9.30am the GUBA Foundation presents the Helping Your Child at Home Workshop at Barnbury Community Centre, Jays Street, N1 0TJ. This workshop by a professional autism therapist on how to aid your child at home. Admission is £5.00 from here. 

From 10.00am to 6.00pm is Meschac Gaba’s Museum of Contemporary African Art at the Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. The Beninois sculptor will be exhibiting the Museum of Contemporary African Art made up of 12 idiosyncratic rooms, with interactive displays, with a mix of decommissioned banknotes, religious artefacts and random knickknacks. Running till 3^rd September, more details here.

Tuesday 23^rd July

At 4.30pm Chatham House hosts Angola’s National Assembly: Negotiating Politics and Impacting Policy at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, St James Square, SW1Y 4LE, with Hon Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos (Speaker Angolan National Assembly)  who will be discussing the role of the Angolan National Assembly and how it is being strengthened to further hold the executive to account. Chaired by Elisabete Azevedo-Harman (Chatham House), to register for this FREE event contact Chris Vandome. 

At 6.00pm is China’s Aid and Soft Power in the Khalili Lecture Theater, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. This book launch by Professor Kenneth King (University of Edinburgh) of China’s Aid and Soft Power in Africa, is chaired by Richard Dowden (Royal African Society) with Dr Dan Large (Central European University and presents evidence from Egypt, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa and Kenya of the dramatic growth of Chinese soft power and the increasing impact on capacity building. RSVP for this FREE event here.

At 6.30pm the Africa Centre Readers Group will meet at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT to focus on the theme of change with guest speakers and open forum discussions eploring great authors such as Chinua Achebe, Ama ata Aidoo, Ngugi Wa’Thiongo, Bessie Head, Mariama Ba, Jean Sena and Ahdaf Soeif. This is a FREE event but a donation of £3.00 is kindly requested here. 

Wednesday 24^th July

From 9.30am to 10.30am Chatham House hosts Reform and Resource Governance in Nigeria at Chatham House with HE Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria),who  as  governor of the state with the second largest economy in Nigeria, will discuss his governments strategies for responding to competing priorities across the state and efforts to improve governance and transparency. To attend this FREE event contact Chris Vandome. 

At 6.30pm is The Performers Corner at the New Cross Inn, 33A New Cross Road, New Cross, SE14 6AS, this event revolves around anyone in the performing arts industry from actors to dancers, models, directors, writers, singers, musicians, photographers etc. You get a free headshot, free showreel material, there will be special industry guests and food served. Networking is encouraged so bring business cards; tickets are £7.00 in advance or £10.00 on the door.

At 7.30pm is David Lee Morgan’s show Science, Love and Revolution at the Vibe Gallery, 100 Clements Road, SE16 4DG. This London preview of the Edinburgh Fringe Show with music by Michael Harding  asks is it all over now the communist ideal is over and the great revolutions of the last century have been defeated..hosted by Uncle Errol the night begins with an open mic session and then  special guest performances by Tshaka Menelik Imhotep Campbell, Kat Francois and Zena Edwards, more information on this FREE show here. 

At 8.00pm is Cornel Campbell meets Soothsayers Album Launch at Cottons Rhum Jungle, 70 Exmouth Market, EC14R 4QP. The reggae legend will be appearing on stage with the Soothsayers to launch their new album. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

Thursday 25^th July

At 1.00pm Chatham House hosts Uncovering African Agency: Angola’s Management of China’s Credit Lines at Chatham House. Chaired by Elisabete Azevedo-Harman (Chatham House) with Lucy Corkin (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) author of Uncovering African Agency: Angola’s Management of China’s Credit Lines arguing that a wide range of different countries have demonstrated very different capabilities and experiences of engaging with china of whom Angola has been the most successful. With discussant Ricardo Soares de Oliveira (Oxford University) she will assess how different African countries exploit this relationship to their advantage. To attend this FREE event contact Chris Vandome.

At 6.00pm is the iCAN Social Networking evening at Tompkins, South Quay, Canary Wharf, E14 9HN, this informal networking event is a great place to meet fellow African Caribbean professionals, network, make friends, contacts and relax with a drink after work. RSVP for this FREE event here.  

Friday 26^th July

From 10.00am to 4.00pm the Institute for the Study of the Americas presents Making Freedom: Community Conference in The Chancellors Hall, Senate House, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU. RSVP for this FREE event here. Speakers include Carol Dixon, Sharon Tomlin (Genealogist), Dr Denise Noble (Ohio State University), Dr Christer Petley (University of Southampton), Dr Robbie Shilliam (QMUL), Dr Hakim Adi (University of Chicester), Dr Kimani Nehusi, Dr Lez Henry, Dr Ron Ramdin, John Siblon, Professor Gad Heuman (Warwick University), Sir Keithlyn Smith and others. Discussing topics such as Emancipation 1838: Caribbean Freedom, Caribbean Freedom, Caribbean Family Life after 1838, Finding Caribbean Ancestors, Education, Labour, Emigration and more. Register for this FREE 2 day Conference here.

At 6.30pm Star100 hosts Development through Sports with Tom Vernon at Lewis Silkin, 5 Chancery Lane, Cliffords Inn Passage, EC4A 1BL. This talk by social entrepreneur Tom Vernon who founded Right to Dream Football Academy in Ghana at age 19 will cover, social investment as a development tool, setting up and running a social enterprise in Ghana, the journey to founding Right to Dream, their unique business model and the potential and future of elite sport in Ghana. Tickets are £13.50 from here 

Saturday 27^th July

From 10.00am to 8.00pm is the 4^th Annual Yoruba Arts Festival in Clissold Park, Green Lanes, Hackney, N16 9EJ there will be a series of exhibitions, workshops, competitions and live performances from artists from around the world who have been influenced by Yoruba culture and art.

• 11.00am -2.00pm-DJ Juanito will kick things off with Latin, Brazilian and African beats
• 2.00- 3.00pm- Cultural Performances Brazilian Samba Percussion Band
• 3.00pm -4.00pm Niyi & Co playing Highlife, jazz and Afrobeat
• 4.00-5.00pm- Variety show with Komo (UK/ Nigeria), 4Fingaz (UK/ Nigeria), Africa Entsha (South Africa)
• 5.00-8.00pm- Prince Leye and The Miliki Band playing Juju, Highlife,Faaji and Fuji music. This is day one of this FREE 2 day event. More details here. 

From 11.00am to 5.00pm Open the Gate hosts The African Market at Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Liverpool Street, E1 6EW with a wide variety of African designers, cuisine, literature, health and beauty. FREE entry all day.

At 3.00pm the Africa Centre hosts Africa on Film: Whats ‘The New’ in Film and Digital at the Africa Centre a Screening and discussion event that will introduce audiences to some of the most exciting and popular videos and channels in the African digital sphere. There will be a Q&A with Millennium TV’s founder Winston Bell Gam. Admission is FREE but a £3.00 donation is appreciated here.

At 5.00pm Young Hackney presents Youth Create 2013 at the Young Hackney Forrest Road Youth Hub, 29 Forest Road, E8 3BY. This event will showcase the work that has been undertaken by Young Hackney throughout the year with workshops and performances by the likes of MOBO winning rapper Akala, hosted by comedian Kat, buy your tickets here.

At 6.30pm is Caribburtons Jamaican Pop up Restaurant at the West Indian Ex-Servicemens Association, 161-167 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham. SW4 6BD with a 3 course delight of a Caribbean menu for just £22.00 from here.

At 7.30pm Serious presents Jagwa Music at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY, this Tanzanian collective from Dar Es Salaam who perform with instruments made from recycles goods with a pair of dancers and singer/ MC, this is punk, hip hop and African rhythm all in one. Tickets are £15.00 from here.

At 8.00pm is Summer Party at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, E8 3JT featuring Hi Life pioneers Paapa J Xperienze, soul jazz Funk band Future Groove, JP Kairo and the Yaaba Funk FJs on the decks playing Hi life, afro beat, funk, Latin groove, broken beat, reggae, soul n’ funk. Tickets are £5.00 from here. 

At 9.00pm is Afrobeat Vibrations Late Summer Edition  at The New Empowering Church, 1a Westgate Street, E8 3RL with Dele Sosimi and his Afrobeat Orchestra and special guests. DJ Koichi Sakai will be on the decks with a film screening at 9.30pm. Tickets are £8.00 before 10.00pm, £12.00 after or £10.00 in advance fromhere.

  

At 9.00pm is the ICSN Summer Party at Festac Bar/ Restaurant, 148 Holloway Road, N7 8DD. This is the first Summer Party by the Igbo Culture and Support network and music will vary from afrobeats to bashment, funky house, old school, hip hop and RnB. Entry is £10.00 (£5.00 to members before 11.00pm). More details here.  

Sunday 28^th July

From 10.00am to 8.00pm is 2nd day of the 4^th Annual Yoruba Arts Festival in Clissold Park, Green Lanes, Hackney, N16 9EJ there will be a series of exhibitions, workshops, competitions and live performances from artists from around the world who have been influenced by Yoruba culture and art.

• 11.00am-2.00pm- DJ Osa Jatt playing Afrobeats, Azonto, Naija and UK Pop
• 2.00-3.00pm Cultural Performances with Ayo-Dele (UK/ Nigeria) and Batala (Brazilian Samba Percussion Band)
• 3.00pm -4.00pm Niyi & Co playing Highlife, jazz and Afrobeat
• 4.00pm -5.00pm – Agemo playing Afro- jazz, highlife and Afro funk
• 5.00pm -6.00pm- The Cyclones
• 6.00-8.00pm- Prince Leye and The Miliki Band

This is a FREE event. More details here. 

At 1.00pm is Accessing The Mainstream-African Art and Fashion- Street Style at Calvert Avenue, Shoreditch, E2 7JP. There will be a pip up African themed live model photoshoot, Q&A with Calvert Street designers, Children’s area, DJ and live acoustic music set and more. FREE but everyone must have an item of African clothing or accessories (maybe a Proud to be African T shirt! Hint Hint!). Register here

At 2.00pm the Africa Centre will be screening Karmen Gei at the Africa Centre, this is a modern day adaptation of Georges Bizet famous opera Carmen set in a women’s prison in Senegal. With a brand new score that draws on pop, jazz and afro pop this is an interesting one. Admission is FREE although a £3.00 donation is politely requested here.

At 2.30pm is Feferity at Bar 414, 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF. There will be films such as The Family Legacy about sickle cell and looking for Sierra Leone and from 6.00pm live music from Khadijatou Doyneh (K2) a multi talented singer-songwriter as well as great African cuisine. Tickets are £5.00 from here. 

Week of 15th July: Wole Soyinka’s WS79, Beres Hammond and Friends, 100Black Men of London Graduation Ceremony, National Theatre Walk in the Light Series, PFA Networking, , Mosi Konde, Uzima Natural Holistic Expo, Djembe Thunder, ICSN’s Sports Day

Hello good people,

Its Sunny!!! 

Proud to be African Clothing and we like the sun so much (or we’re suffering from sunstroke) that we are SUN10 until the 12^th of August. 

offering 10% off all garments with the voucher code

With that in mind you have a week long celebration of black Theatre at the National Theatre culminating on Saturday, Nobel Laureate and literary giant Wole Soyinka at the Africa Centre specially focussed on young people, Professionals for Africa brings their popular networking evenings to the city, in fact so popular that they have to split it in two, the weekend begins with the Ivana Jane Foundation cocktail party and music from Mosi Konde and Mama Africa. FOCUS brings their awesomeness in again with Djembe Thunder, BBM/ BMC will host a tea party and then wrap up their season with a video night, Beres Hammond will be wrapping up his UK tour in Brixton, the Igbo Culture and Support Network will be holding their sports day (less sports more drink, eat and chillax!) and Juwon Ogungbe will be performing Progress Ceremony at Rich Mix.

African Fashion Week London 2013is inching closer, running from Thursday 1^st August to Saturday 3^rd August,  featuring over 100 designers and exhibitors hosted by Yinka Shonibare MBE and Mrs Fifi Ejindu. Remember you can get your tickets for this extravaganza at The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL here 

Oya, go and sweat and enjoy an African British summer

Monday 15^th July

At 3.00pm the National Theatre hosts In the Wings...1960-1980 In Conversation with Don Warrington at the Olivier Theatre, The National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PX. Chaired by Giles Terera and with Carmen Munroe (Talawa), they will be discussing the 1960s-1980s and their experiences in the inaugural event in the National Theatre Platform Series Walk in the Light celebrating 50 years in British theatre of Black Artists. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs) from here.

At 5.45pm the National Theatre hosts In the Wings...1960-1980 In Discussion with Yvonne Brewster, Oscar James (Temba Theatre Company) and Mustapha Matura (Black Theatre Cooperative) at the Olivier Theatre, chaired by Giles Michael Billington, this is part of the National Theatre Platform Series Walk in the Light celebrating 50 years in British theatre of Black Artists. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs) from here.

At 6.00pm the Royal African Society presents The Great African Land Grab at the Brunei Suite, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Chaired by Camilla Toulmin, Lorenzo Cotula (International Institute for Environment and Development) will be launching his book The Great African Land Grab. Aiming to debunk many of the myths surrounding land acquisitions in Africa and the implications for African stakeholders and foods security. RSVP for this FREE event here.

At 6.30pm New Direction Partnership hosts the NPD Evening Event at National Westminster Bank, 204 High Street, Walthamstow, E17 7JH, with Yvonne Douglas as guest speaker, come along to learn, network and mingle. Tickets are £10.00, RSVP by email or phone 07958 646723.

Tuesday 16^th July

 At 1.00pm Bosse & Baum present my Granddad’s Car: Sayed Hasan and Karl Ohiri at 7-9 Tryon Street, SW3 3LG, this exhibition is the first collaboration between the two artists using a series of photographs and video to document the importation of their grandfathers’ cars from Pakistan and Nigeria to London. Running till 2^nd August

From 6.00pm to 10.00pm Professionals For Africa hold their Summer Networking Event at the Cape Bar, Love Lane, EC2V 7JQ. This networking event is so popular that it is being split into 2 with 6.00pm to 8.00pm being designated Business Networking and 8.00pm to 10.00pm for social networking. Register for this FREE event here. Bottom of Form

At 7.30pm Olivier Award Winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in A Season In the Congo at the Young Vic, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8LZ. This fascinating drama by Aime Cesaire, directed by Joe Wright and choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui charts the rise and fall of the pioneer Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba and his passionate determination to free his people from Belgian rule. Filled with brilliant performances, dance and music as well as, it runs till 14^th August and tickets start from £10.00 here. 

Wednesday 17^th July

At 6.45pm the African Caribbean Book Club will be reading Giovannis Room by James Baldwin at 5^th View, 5^th Floor, Waterstones Bookstore, 203-206 Piccadilly, W1J 9LE. Register to attend here. 

At 8.00pm is Beres Hammond and Friends UK Tour at The Indigo O2, Millenium Way, Greenwich, SE10 0AX. Featuring Marcia Griffiths and Morgan Heritage, the King of Lovers Rock will be starting his UK tour here performing his classic hits. A definite for reggae lovers tickets are £35.00 from here. 

Thursday 18^th July

At 3.00pm the National Theatre hosts Onto The Stage...1980-2000 In Conversation with David Harewood and Gary Wilmot at the Olivier Theatre, chaired by Burt Caesar, this is part of the Walk in the Light Series celebrating 50 years in British theatre of Black Artists. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs) from here.

At 3.00pm the National Theatre hosts Into The Spotlight...2000-2013 In Conversation with Clive Rowe at the Olivier Theatre, chaired by Adjoa Andoh this is part of the Walk in the Light Series celebrating 50 years in British theatre of Black Artists. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs) from here

At 6.00pm the National Theatre hosts Onto The Stage...1980-2000 In Discussion with Bonnie Greer, Winsome Pinnock, Hugh Quarshie and Paulette Randall at the Olivier Theatre, chaired by Burt Caesar, as part of the Walk in the Light Series. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs) from here

At 6.00pm the National Theatre hosts Into The Spotlight...2000-2013 In Discussion with Nicholas Hytner, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Tanya Moodie at the Olivier Theatre, chaired by Genista McIntosh this is part of the Walk in the Light Series celebrating 50 years in British theatre of Black Artists. Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concs)

At 6.30pm is Uptions Half Year Check at 25-28 Field Street, Kings Cross, WC1X 9DA, for entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals featuring speakers such as Dele Ogun (Legal/ Professional development), Dr S Navti (IT/ Business Development), Councillor Michael Situ, Tunde Makinde Career Development), Clare Eluka (Healkth and Beauty) and Susan Popoola  (Personal Development). Tickets are £6.00 for two from here or £10.00 on the door. 

At The Knight Webb Gallery, 54 Atlantic Road, Brixton SW9 8PZ is Poppable: New Paintings by Adjani one of the most captivating Afro-Expressionist artists of recent time. Running till 1^st August more details here. 

Friday 19^th July

At 6.30pm the Ivana Jane Foundation presents the Pearls and Ties Cocktail Launch Party at Bloomsbury House, 2-3 Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2RL. This classy evening of cocktails, fashion, music and dancing is in aid of the Sensory Room Project for the Multikids Academy in Ghana. The Ivana Jane Foundation was set up in 2012 to educate and empower people living with disabilities in Africa. Tickets are £25.00 from here. 

At 7.00pm is Mama Africa at Arch 65 15-16 Lendall Terrace, SW4 7UX, featuring the best fashion, dance and music from across the African continent, featuring Oya Bun, Aluku Rebelsm, J.P. Kairo, Bogossy frshfrenchy Freshafrohouseflav. Hosted by KMT, admission is FREE before 9.00pm, £3.00 before 11.00pm (FREE with African or fancy dress) and £5.00 after 11.00pm

At 7.30pm is Mosi Conde Kaira Kora Afrika at Green Note, 106 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7AN. The first half of the show will see the immensely skilled Guinean artist performing solo and then backed by his band in the second half. Playing songs from his debut album Kaira Kora Afrika, this is not to be missed by fans of beautiful African classical music. Tickets are £10.00 in advance from here, more on the door.

Saturday 20^th July

From 10.00am Exiles Rugby will be hosting Savannah Sevens at Egham Hollowegians RFC, Kings Lane, Englefield Green, Surrey, TW20 0UE. This is the first Sevens Tournament for African exiles with 16 sides competing for their nations pride. Accompanied by a Braai style BBQ, authentic African beer and live music from Zimbabwe’s Karizma. The event will be supporting the charity Friends of Rwanda. Tickets start from £5.00 in advance from here. 

From 11.00am to 2.00pm is The 100 Black Men of London Community Mentoring Programme Graduation Ceremony 2013, in the London Road Building, London South Bank University, 100-116 London Road, Elephant and Castle, SE1 6LN. This is the 12^th anniversary of the 100BMOL’s four mentoring programmes Me I can Be, Youth Leadership Academy, Peer Mentoring Programme and Parents in Partnership Programme. This is a FREE event, come and share with the children and their parents, register here. 

From 12.00pm to 10.00pm Calabash Hub and presents Uzima- The Natural Holistic Expo 2013 at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL. Promoting health and lifestyle, hair and beauty, fashion and culture with stalls, presentations, demonstrations, workshops and activities. Workshops include Holistic Hair Care, Dermatology, Living Raw, Health Awareness and the Power of Fasting. In the evening here will be live performances of spoken word, music, singing, traditional music, drumming, dancing, fashion and more, all hosted by Proud to be African Clothing favourite El Crisis. Entry to the African Market is FREE, the All day tickets including cultural evening is £15.00 and evening only is £7.00 from here.

At 1.00pm BBM/ BMC hosts Blooming Great Tea Party And Lets Make Deals Bargains Fundraiser at the Coming Soon Club, Wembley, 5-7 Wembley Hill Road, Wembley Triangle, HA9 8AF. This is an opportunity to buy a cup of tea, some biscuits and pastries, while networking and listening to British Black music, all the while raising funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Cure. Minimum donation of £1.00 here.  

From 3.00pm to 6.00pm is WS79-Memoirs for Our Future, in which renowned Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka will launch his anthology, Memoirs for Our Future at The Africa Centre, 8 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, to an audience mainly of young people 12-21 and their families. RSVP this FREE event here. 

At 7.00pm BBM/ BMC hosts Your Fave BBM Video Club Night Upstairs at the Ritzy, Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG. This finale to British Black Music Month 2013 with strictly British Black Soul, R&B, jazz and reggae on the decks with Lindsay Wesker, Pressure Drop, DJ Marky J, Eon Irving and more. There will also be a countdown Britain’s favourite top 20 Black British music videos. And it’s all FREE!! Register and make video submissions here.

At 9.00pm Focus Organisation presents Djembe Thunder (Le Tonnerre du Manding) live from Mali at the Bedroom Bar, 62 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY. This band of Malians led by Idris Traore will be performing their raw music on the djembe, kora, flute and balofon backed up by Mandinka vocals. A piece of pure African music unchanged from the days of the Songhai Empire. Admission is £5.00 in advance from here, £7.00 on the door. 

Sunday 21^st July

From 11.00am to 3.00pm is the Numbi Workshop at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA, teaching the fundamentals of creative photography and exploring street photography, facilitated by Numbi resident artists Charity Njoki,, Nadyah Aissa and Kinsi Abdulleh, with photographic walks in and around the East End. Tickets are £10.00 (£5.00 concs) or £10.00 for families with 2 adults and 2 children

At 1.00 pm the National Theatre hosts Centre Stage..... A Celebration at the Lyttelton Theatre, this is the final event in the Walk in the Light Series, a unique performance capturing the 50 year journey of Black British theatre with Adjoa Andoh, Sharon D. Clarke, Noma Dumezweni, Clint Dyer, O-T Fagbenle, David Harewood, Lenny Henry, Trevor Laird, Cyril Nri and Clive Rowe.  Tickets are £10.00 (£8.00 concs) from here

From 1.00pm to 6.00pm The Igbo Culture and Support Network will be hosting a Sports Day and Picnic at Finsbury Park, Endymion Road Entrance, N4 1EE. Bring food and drink to share, there will be lots of old school games, like the sack race, egg and spoon race, tug of war as well as football and much more. Come and see a bunch of grown ass people hopping around on one leg! It’s fun, its FREE, friendly and its full of fine fine Igbo boys and girls so pop along. More details here. 

At 2.30pm the Black Book Club will be reviewing Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi at Waterstones, 203- 205 Piccadilly, W1J 9HD. This stunning debut novel relates the story of the Sai family which tears itself apart and the incredible lengths people go to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

At 3.00pm is Juwon Ogungbe’s Progress Ceremony at Rich Mix,. This new piece inspired by Yoruba ritual and interspersed with songs about tolerance and development in Africa and the diaspora. Featuring Ahmed Dickson Cardenas on guitar, Steve Rossell on bass, Euston Libard on drums and Roger Allotey on percussion

At 7.00pm is the launch of The Vessel Programme at The Forge, Camden, 5-7 Delancey Street, Camden, NW1 7NL. This programme seeks to support 16-4 year olds in self development and adults to effectively develop and deliver projects that benefit young people in Africa. the event ill feature speakers and entertainment and delicious African and Caribbean food. To register for this FREE event get in touch by email

At 8.00pm is Beres Hammond and Friends UK Tour at The O2 Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, Brixton, SW9 9SL. Featuring Marcia Griffiths and Morgan Heritage, the King of Lovers Rock will be ending his UK tour here performing his classic hits. A definite for reggae lovers tickets are £35.00 from here.