Week of 26th August: Emerging West Africa, The Griots Tale, Showcase Africa, Go Jazz Concert, Policing and Community Safety Debate, How Jamaica Conquered the World, I have a Dream

Happy short week!!

Hope you are enjoying the long weekend and upcoming short week, Proud to be African Clothing will be

relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. This week we have from jazz to Ethiopian music, afrobeat with Bukky Leo. ARISE at the Tabernacle, African movies, The Griots Tale at the Africa Centre. Debates on Children and Policing, poetry and spoken word and more.

On Friday Emerging West Africa will be taking place at The Museum of London showcasing business, trading, employment and charity opportunities in West Africa  

Monday 26^th August

At 6.00pm is the Go Jazz Concert at Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PG. This night of neo soul, jazz and spoken word will feature Yemi Sax (Nigerian contemporary Saxophonist), Kairos 4tet (MOBO Award winning UK Jazz band), Femi Temowo (MOBO Nominated UK/ Nigerian jazz guitarist), Floetic Lara (poet) and others. Tickets start from £27.50 from here

At 7.45pm is the UK Premiere of Big Words at the Stratford East Picturehouse, Salway Road, Stratford, E15 1BX, set in Brooklyn in 2008 on the eve of Obama’s historic election 3 friends once members of a promising hip hop group meet again and discover some things never change. Followed by a Q&A with director Neil Drumming. Tickets are £6.50 from here

Tuesday 27^th August

At 7.00pm Carpe Diem presents Poetry Meets Film and Photography: Arms Trade Special at The CLF Art Cafe, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST. This mix of live art photography, poetry, spoken word and film highlights the Arms Trade in Congo and features rapper and spoken word artist LyricL, Proud to be African favourite El Crisis, Nathaniel Nye, Kemi Taiwo and Mizan the Poet. Hosted by Emma Ako and Mizan the Poet

At 7.30pm the Africa Centre hosts The Griot’s Tale at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. Written and composed by Tunde Jegede this is a classic story of a young man’s search for truth. Drawing from the ritualistic aspects of African mysticism with music, poetry, dance and the visual arts, this fascinating performance is choreographed by Bode Lawal, directed by Patrice Naiambana, with visual artist and poet Taiwo Emmanuel Jegede and filmmaker  Sunanra Begum. Running till 2^nd September, tickets start from £15.00 from here. 

Wednesday 28^th August

At 7.00pm Apple and Snakes presents I have a Dream- Architects of our Republic at the Riverside Terrace, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. This is an open air collision of words, music and film celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jrs ‘I have a dream’ speech. Featuring visual displays and choirs, spoken word artists Hollie McNish, Salena Godden and Charlie Dark, musicians Zena Edwards, Drew Horley and Dizraeli. Poetry films by AJ McKenna, Conrad Kira, Vanessa Kisuule, Rik Sykes and Deborah Stevenson. This is a FREE event, more details here. 

At 7.30pm is Uncle  Errol’s Poetry Jam 10 at Vibe Gallery, 100 Clements Road, Bermondsey, SE16 4DG hosted by Uncle Errol with an open mic, singers, drummers, saxophonists, spoken word featuring Bunmi Hazzan, Mike Galsworthy, Ma’ankha Bast, Rikki RiktheMost Livermore, Jonas McCloud, Nathaniel Nye, Cezanne Poetess, Leah Bailey, David Lee Morgan, Emma Ako, Mark Mr T Thompson, Jah-Mir Early and John Paul O’Neill. Admission is £4.00 more details here.

From 12.45am to 3.00am The Femi Temowo Quartet will be performing at Ronnie Scotts, 47 Frith Street, W1D 4HT, playing at Ronnie Scotts famous Late Late show. Tickets are £10.00 (£5.00 students). More details here.

Thursday 29^th August

At 4.30pm SLIK presents a Public Debate on Policing and Community Safety at London City Hall, The Queens Walk, Southwark, SE1 2AA, featuring a diverse panel of speakers on this topic such as Stephen Greenhalgh (deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime), Stephen Rimmer (Home Office Director General of the Crime and Policing Group), Imran Khan (Human rights and Criminal Lawyer), Frances Crooke OBE (Howard League for Penal Reform) and Jamal Higgins (Lewisham Youth Mayor). Book your place at this FREE event here. 

At 7.00pm Black Arts Production Theatre presents  Bring Back The Love Part 4 at Unit 8, The Enterprise Building, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Tottenham, N15 4RX, hosted by Travis Knight and Cezanne Poetess, this event features drama and debate that explores relationship issues with sketches based on Cezanne Poetesses self help novel ‘Single, Spiritual...and Sexual!’. The guest panel will consist of long term couple Daphne and Michael Josephs, Glynis and Jak Beula. Admission is £5.50 in advance from here and £7.00 on the door

  

Friday 30^th August

At 5.00pm Divas on Demand presents Emerging West Africa at Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN. This event showcases business, trading, employment and charity opportunities. features keynote speakers  include Julian Robertson Jones (Enterprise Africa Ltd) discussing Trade and Emerging Markets, Michael Amaning (Invest in Africa) discussing Business Opportunities in Africa, Nana Ampofo (Songhai Advisory LLP) discussing Investing Opportunities  in Ghana, Clifford Lawrence Amankwah (Health and Fitness Mogul) discussing Funding Opportunities, Andrrea Opoku (Marketing Consultant) on Starting a Business in Africa, Rolake Akinkugbe (Ecobank), Alice Ukoko (Women of Africa) and Noreen Makosewe (The Motivational Listener). Hosted by Winnie Oudeman (Young and Connected) and the panel facilitated by Sena Kpodo (Business Council for Africa), with entertainment provided by poet Nathaniel Nye as well as a raffle and refreshments.  Tickets start from £7.00 from here. 

At 5.00pm is How Jamaica Conquered the World at 3 Olaf Street, Notting Hill, W11 4BE, celebrating Jamaican cultural success with a series of films and debates. At 5.00pm is The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff, at 7.10pm Marley, a biopic on the life, music and legacy of Bob Marley. At 9.40pm Jamaican Cultural Q&A with Mykaell Riley, Courttia Newland and others debate the cultural legacy of Jamaica around the world. At 10.30pm a screening of the podcast How Jamaica Conquered New York and then from 11.00pm a party with DJs Roifield Brown, Barrie K Sharpe, and Invasion Sound. This is a FREE event, register here.

At 6.30pm Star100 presents Development through Sports with Tom Vernon at Lewis SIlkin, 5 Chancery Lane, Clifford’s Inn Passage, EC4A 1BL. The founder £13.50 from here. 

of Right to Dream Football Academy in Ghana will be discussing social investment as a development tool, setting up and running a social enterprise in Ghana, the journey to founding Right to Dream and the potential and future of elite sport in Ghana. The Academy has grown from a few boys on a dusty pitch in Ghana to a successful fully residential international school offering scholarships to talented children. Tickets are

At 8.00pm Open the Gate presents Bukky Leo and Black Egypt meets Dennis Bovell Band at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston, E8 4AA. Afrobeat meets Dub reggae live on stage with DJ Koichi Sakai on the decks upstairs in the Ghetto Lounge. Admission is £5.00 before 10.00pm and £8.00 after.

At 8.00pm Zewditou Yohannes and Howard Williams will be performing at Cafe Otto, 18-22 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL, this unique husky voiced UK based Ethiopian artist will be singing in Amharic with her trio playing the masengo and krar. Tickets are £8.00 (£7.00 in advance)

Saturday 31^st August

At 2.00pm is A Taste of Africa at Adulis, Eritrean Restaurant and Bar, 44-46 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 6BT. The day will feature exhibitions of modern art, fashion, design, ancient art and artwork, followed by a buffet of Ethiopian/ Eritrean dishes all of which will be accompanied by entertainment hosted by Cezanne Poetess with posts, saxophonists and pianists. Admission is FREE from here. 

At 3.00pm is Senegalese with Cheryl- Lunch O’ Clock at The Mitch Pitch, Mitcham Market, Upper Green East, Mitcham ,CR4 2PE, where you will get the chance to learn traditional Senegalese cooking, prepare a pot luck recipe and share with others. Register for this FREE event here.

From 6.00pm till midnight is Showcase Africa at The Camden Centre, Euston Road, WC1H 9JE, featuring music from Ogga Kattalog and The Gentlemen, Heritage Survival Band, Fire Flex, Da Canine, Hyper Hype and Manny. Dancing from Unique Silver Dancers, Chippera Modern African Dance, comedian and poet Imhotep Oyortey and many more as well as children’s (or adults!) face painting, magician and other children’s entertainment. Tickets are £15.00 (£5.00 children) from here.

Sunday 1^st September

At 5.00pm is The Griot Tales Dance Masterclass and Screening at the Africa Centre, Tunde Jegede The Modern Griot and then a talk by Tunde Jegede and Sunara Begum about the show and how the main themes were developed. Tickets are £15.00 for the dance masterclass or £5.00 for just the screening from here.

will offer a dance masterclass with choreographer Bode Lawal, followed by a special screening of

At 6.00pm is The Flair Debate Show: there are no bad children, only bad parents’ at The Light Bar and Restaurant, 233 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6PJ. There will be 2 teams debating the topic as well as performances by May7even, Ashton Forde, Angela Ricci, Salman Malik, with Guest Judges DJ Spoony and Clencha. Tickets are £8.00 from here

At 6.00pm Black Cinema Club screens Night Catches Us at Black Grape Platinum Suite, 228 West Green Road, Tottenham, London, N15 3QR,  written and directed by Tanya Hamilton, the film is based in 1976 around Marcus who came of age amidst the Black Power movement and finds himself having to protect  a secret that could destroy old friendships, Admission is £5.00 (£2.00 concs), more information here

At 7.00pm is A.R.I.S.E. at The Tabernacle, Talbot Road, Powis Square, Notting Hill, W11 2AJ , hosted by Daddy Ernie interviewing presenter Evadney Campbell, broadcaster Eddie Nestor and comedian Slim in this TV chat show type event where luminaries from the African-Carribean community are interviewed about their lives and careers, with musical entertainment provided by the resident band d22 featuring Don-E. Tickets are £12.00 in advance from here, more on the door 

Week of 19th August: National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013, Crack Ya Ribs, ICSN BBQ, Discover Africa, Afropunk and Lets Read

How de body?

Proud to be African Clothing brings you another week of fun, education and entertainment from the National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013 to Lets read, the Igbo Culture and support Networks’  Annual Barbeque, talks on Carnival and South Sudan, Ghanaian street food, Nigerian comedy, Sierra Leonean music.Enjoy the week and the Bank Holiday Weekend

Monday 19^th August

At 7.00pm is Lets Read at 1920 Bar, 19-20 Great Sutton Street, EC1V 0DR, Reading Prisoner to the Streets by Robyn Travis, this book is about London’ postcode wars that have claimed over a hundred young lives. The author will take part in a Q&A at the end. Admission is £2.00, more details here. 

National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Black Super Heroes at Birkbeck University, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E  7HX a presentation by Nia Imara on Black Super Hero characters. Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm is Becoming and Being a School/ College/ Parent Governor at Birkbeck University with Nia Imara, Patricia Lamour and Maureen Lidette, this workshop will help explain the processes and duties of a school Governor. Register for this FREE event here.

Tuesday 20^th August

At 12.30pm Chatham House presents South Sudan’s Reshuffle and Reassessment: Towards Democratisation and Development? at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham Houe, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE, chaired by Thomas Mawan Muortat with James Copnall (BBC) and Mareike Schomerus (LSE), this discussion will cover the dynamics that will shape the country’s immediate future and the governments capacity to deliver. To RSVP this FREE event contact Chris Vandome.

At 6.30pm the Africa Centre hosts Carnival Tales at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. This masterclass by Paul Keens- Douglas a Trinidadian storyteller and creator of the famous Talk Tent which runs annually at carnival in Trinidad, will cover the importance of orality, the methods and inspiration behind his creation of colourful Caribbean characters and the construction of oral stories. Tickets are £10.00 from here or £15.00 on the door

National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is BIS Publications: Black Scientists at Birkbeck University,  a presentation which focuses on the contribution of scientists and inventors of African and Caribbean descent. Register for this FREE event here.

Wednesday 21^st August

At 6.30pm is Ebony Inspired- A Black Entrepreneurs Network at Beaufort House, 45 Kings Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UZ.  This networking event provides stimulating conversation where you can mix business and pleasure. Tickets are £10.00 from here. 

National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is A Second Voice with Autism in the BME Community at Birkbeck University this event seeks to create a sense of awareness in the community about autism, and create a better life for autistic loved ones. Register for this FREE event here  

Thursday 22^nd August

At 7.30pm is the Afropunk Showcase featuring The Connectors, Vodun, Spektrum and Dark Tides at the Windmill Brixton, 22 Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ. This live showcase of Afro punk music, a counter culture of a counter culture that expresses itself through music, art, comedy and fashion. Four bands The Connectors, Vodun , Spektrum and The Dark Tides. This is a FREE (and different!) event more details here

National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Fathers and Education: Our Role at Birkbeck University this event focuses on Male organisations that exist to support our children and how they can collaborate and work together. The session seeks to conclude with a concrete proposal for collaborative work on future developments. Register for this FREE event here.

Friday 23^rd August

At 6.30pm JCI London presents Discover Africa- Taste of Culture and Business Opportunities at

The Distillers Hammersmith, 64 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, W6 9PH. This taster event will help you discover new business opportunities, have fun, network with likeminded people, find out about business and volunteering opportunities, enjoy delicious African food and music and experience. African culture. Speakers  include Frances Mensah Williams (Interims for Development/ ReConnect Africa) who will outline some of the challenges and opportunities in Africa, Ben Oguntala (DevelopedAfrica) who will discuss the impact of internet technology in discovering opportunities in Africa and Howard Taylor (Building and Assisting Communities with Education) who will discuss his journey in setting up his charity. Tickets start from £19.00 here.

At 8.00pm Mama Jumbe’s hosts Sarah Ndagire and the Galaxy Band at Mama Jumbe’s 350 Katherine Road, E7 8NW. The Ugandan born singer is known for her eclectic performances that bring out the true soul of Africa. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

At 8.30pm is Africa Is A Film: We The Ragamuffin at Bold Tendencies, 95A Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST. This chronicle of a bygone Peckham captures the vibrant scene of ragamuffin music 20 years ago. Directed by Julian Henriques who will attend for a Q&A after the screening. Register here

National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Special Children’s Books Launches at Birkbeck University, Jennifer Carydice will be launching Aaron Apple and the Rain and Lashai and Tray-Sean Ben Salmi will be launching Kidz that dream Big.. Register for this FREE event here

At 6.00pm is Crack Ya Ribs with Julius D Genius Agwu at the indigO2, Millennium Way, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0AX. Featuring Julius D Genius Awgu, Eddie Kadi, Bovi, Akpororo, Senator, FunnyBone and Daniel D’ humorous. Tickets start from £25.00 from here

At 6.00pm is Business Essentials with Pauline Clarke at Birkbeck University with over 20 years experience this workshop will explain the essentials of starting a business, researching the market and present cases studies of New Start ups. Register for this FREE event here.

From 7.00pm to 10.00pm Zmirage Multimedia presents a Cultural Showcase Reception at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, featuring a performance of masquerades from Rivers State, Nigeria who will be performing at Notting Hill Carnival, RSVP for this FREE event here.

Saturday 24^th August

From 2.00pm to midnight is the Igbo Culture and Support Network BBQ  at Threshold Centre, 1 Ada Place, E2 9BA, where burger, chicken, suya and assorted meats will compete with jollof rice while DJ’s play a selection of afrobeats, bashment, highlife, suya and RnB. Tickets cover food and entrance and start are £10.00 from here more on the door.

At 7.00pm is Mister Africa International at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, the search for the most adorable man in the world of African Origin, with the winner raining money for small scale businesses in Africa.  Ticket start from £9.00 from here

At 8.00pm is Fresh Music- Rhythm Sessions, at Hackney Attic, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE. This is an opportunity to sample several acts on the Afro-pop circuit backed by a live band, headlined by FT Fresh, as well as Cece and Team Salut, as well as the music there will be a short Q&A session. Tickets are £7.00 from here.

At 8.00pm is Jazz RE:Fest at The Flyover Portobello, 3-5 Thorpe Close, Portobello, W10 5XL, live music starts at 9.00pm featuring Kaidi Tatham, Shabaka Hutchings, Steve Williamson, Vula (Diva Geek), Alex Bonfanti, Nathan Haines, Tello Morgado, V1anessa Freeman, Mike Pato, TURTL and Xantone Blacq, with DJUs Dego, Daz-i-kue and Eric Lau. Tickets are £20.00 from here.

Sunday 25^th August

At 2.00pm the Igbimo Agba Yoruba will be holding a Fundraising Dinner and Launch for A Yoruba Village in London at Grange Tower Bridge Hotel,  Prescot Street, Toer Hamlets, E1 8GP. The planned complex will have a museum, Library, supermarkets, wholesale retail units, restaurant, office and meeting rooms. The event will have a variety of Yoruba Royal Fathers and representatives of the Governors of the 6 Yoruba States. The event will consist of the official launch and dinner followed by entertainment from 7.00pm with music provided by Ade Royale. Tickets are £50.00, for information call 0777 496 2048, 0785 990 6080 or 0208 6995676  

At 3.00pm Zoes Ghana Kitchen presents Ghanaval at Dalston Roof Park, 18 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL a Bank Holiday Festival of West African Food, fashion, art and music, with DJ’s Ain Bailey and Charles Cut Class Diouf, Azonto Dancing, Fashion show, pop up art gallery and Ghanaian street food. Tickets are £5.00 from here or £8.00 on the door.

Week of Monday 12th August: Jazz in East Ham, Canary Wharf Jazz Festival, African Showcase Market, Bola Agbaje’s Take A Deep Breath and Breathe, Kenyafest, ICSN Igbo Dance School, National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013

Greetings and salutations,

This week see’s Proud to be African Clothing in jazz and music heaven with Jazz in East Ham and the

Canary Wharf Jazz Festival this weekend. Bumi Thomas performing in Islington, Mosi Conde in Brixton and Bola Agbaje’s play Take a Deep Breath and Breathe returns to stage, Kenyans will be rocking Kenyafest. The National Black Supplementary Schools Week 2013 and the Igbo Dance School start this weekend, there’s the Global Beats Festival and the Miss and Mr Afro-Caribbean Scholarship Pageant Launch Party.

Lots to do, enjoy!!

Monday 12^th August

At 6.30pm is Lets Talk at 1920 Bar,19-20 Great Sutton Street, EC1V 0DR. This monthly discussion and debate night with a touch of spoken word consists of strong opinions and discussion. Admission is £2.00 from here

At 7.00pm Black History Studies presents Young, Gifted and Black at PCS Headquarters, 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, SW11 2LN. This presentation will focus on the contributions and achievements of young people past and present in areas such as entrepreneurship, invention, the arts and more. Tickets are £5.00 (under 16’s FREE). RSVP by email more information here.

Tuesday 13^th August

At 7.30pm is Bola Agbaje’s new play Take A Deep Breath and Breathe at The CLF Art Cafe, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST. When Donovan dies in a unprovoked attack, his best friend Paul is bereft, Andrew can’t stop playing Xbox, Ryan is too vexed and their girlfriends are plotting to make them see revenge is bittersweet. Tickets for this refreshing play are £10.00 (£5.00 concs) from here

Wednesday 14^th August

From 10.00am to 7.00pm is the African Showcase Market in Market Square, Barking Town Centre, IG11 8DQ. Featuring cultural and artistic representations from 8 different countries, including drum workshops. Headtie wrapping seminar and more as well as over 40 stalls of African goods, products and services. More details about this FREE event here.

At 6.30pm Bumi Thomas will be performing live at The Islington, 1 Tolpuddle Street, Islington, N1 0XT. This acoustic singer songwriter will be performing her unique jazz, folk, blues reggae fusion with a few special guests such as Anna Phoebe. Tickets are £5.95 from here.

At 7.30pm is The Global Beats Festival at Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, E1 8JB. This 3 day festival brings together musicians from all over the world curated by Planetman. Featuring Seddik Zebiri and the Seeds of Creation (Algeria), Kadialy Kouyate (Senegal), Rodney Branigan (USA) and DJ Couscous (Armenia). Tickets start from £10.00 from here.

Thursday 15^th August

At 6.00pm is the SSCG Africa Briefing: Strengthening UK-Africa Trade and Economic Relations at 200 Aldersgate Street, EC1A 4HD. This event features industry experts and government official discussing the key drivers to increase trade between UK and African countries such as economic and trade opportunities, government trade initiatives, effective trade strategies, key factors for developing partnerships and joint ventures. Tickets are £25.00 from here.

From 6.30pm to 10.30pm is Under the Stars: Jazz in the Park in Central Park, High Street South, East Ham, E6 6BE featuring veteran British acid jazz funk band Incognito, British Soul Funk band The Brand New Heavies and jazz singer Ciyo Brown. DJs James Anthony and Ash Selector will be keeping things going and this is all FREE!! More details here

At 6.30pm is Fashion Africa Business (F.A.B.) August Edition at The Hub, Kings Cross, 34b York Way, Kings Cross, N1 9AB. This is an intensive 4 week program that gives design entrepreneurs the relevant tips, strategies, tools and resources to be able to successfully build and grow and African focussed fashion business based on sustainable design practices and ethical working conditions Tickets start from £175.00 from here

At 7.30pm The Global Beats Festival continues at Wilton’s Music Hall, with Hernando Arias and Su Conjunto Vallenato (Colombia), Luzmira Zerpa (Venezuela), Antonio Testa (Italy) and DJ Wala Danga (Zimbabwe) Tickets start from £10.00 from here

Friday 16^th August

At 7.00pm is the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival in Canada Square Park, E14 5AX this 3 day event features world class artistes and rising stars in an iconic setting. Featuring Roller Trio from 7.00pm to 8.00pm and Soweto Kinch from 8.30pm till 10.00pm. This is a FREE event.

At 7.00pm is Mama Africa at Arch 635, 15-16 Lendall Terrace, SW4 7UX. Hosted by KMT, there will be an African Dance Workshop and DJ’s Aluku Rebels, JP Kairo, Oya Bun and Bogossy Freshfrenchyon rotation playing latin, afrobeats, coupe decale and more. FREE before 9.00pm, £3.00 before 11.00pm and £5.00 after. More details here.

At 7.30pm The Global Beats Festival continues at Wilton’s Music Hall, with Abdul Tee-Jays Rokoto (Sierra Leone),Kasai Masai (Congo), The Turbans (UK, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece), Kabula (Brazil) and DJ Koichi Sakai (Japan). Tickets start from £10.00 from here.

At 10.00pm is The Funk, Soul and Rare Groove Review at the CLF Art Cafe, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST hosted by Jazzheadchronic, featuring Wunmi live on stage with a special guest percussionist, followed by special DJ’s. FREE entry all night

The National Association of Black Supplementary Schools (NABSS) hosts The National Black Supplementary Schools Week

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Hip Hop Meets Science at Birkbeck University, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E 7HX, an interactive workshop on music with scientific influence. Register for this FREE event here

At 6.00pm is Black People in Science: STEM Education and Black Contribution to Science at Birkbeck University with Dr Mark Richards discussing the Importance of STEM Education in the Community. This is a FREE event, register here

Saturday 17^th August

At 10.00am the Igbo Culture and Support Network (ICSN) Dance School returns to the Islington Arts Factory, Parkhurst Road, Holloway, N7 0SF with this 8 week course that will teach a variety of dances from across Igboland such as Atilugwu, Ogene, Mgbede and more. Open to males and females the course is £65.00 (£55.00 to members). More details here.

From 12.00pm to 8.00pm is Kenyafest at Lea Valley Fields, Chingford, E4 8AQ. Themed Celebrating Kenya at 50, there will be stalls with Kenyan fashion, arts and crafts, health and beauty, travel and tourism and much more as well as activities for the whole family like a bouncy castle, face painting, golf simulator, rock climbing, ball pond football, Tug of War, comedy, traditional dances, live music and performances and DJ’s. Tickets are £10.00 (£5.00 for children) from here.

At 1.30pm is the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival in Canada Square Park. Saturdays event features the Nathaniel Facey Quartet at 1.30pm, Troyka at 3.15pm, Soothsayers at 5.00pm, Yolanda Brown at 6.45pm and Omar Puente Raices Cubanas. This is a FREE event.

At 6.00pm CAMS Pro presents The Miss and Mr Afro-Caribbean Scholarship Pageant Launch Party at Arubar Lounge, 524 – 528 Forest Road, E17 4NB, this event has each contestant competing for an undergraduate degree. This is a FREE event, register here.

At 7.30pm The Global Beats Festival comes to an end at Wilton’s Music Hall, with the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra (Nigeria), Planetman and the Internationals (Yemen, Israel, Jamaica), Baajo Acrobats (Ghana), Catarina Moreno (Portugal) and Future Swing Stories (New Zealand). Tickets start from £10.00 from here

The National Black Supplementary Schools Week

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Gold Onyx Children’s Film Club screens Gifted Hands the true story of Dr Ben Carson, son of an illiterate single mother who rose to become one of the most respected neuro surgeons in the USA. Register for this FREE event here

At 6.00pm is Business, Publishing and the Music Industry at Birkbeck University, with YEAH Lives Lorraine James discussing ‘Business Start Up, Self Employment and Tax’, K.N. Chimbiri Launch Secrets of the Afro Comb  and ‘How to Publish Your Own Book’ and Kwaku from BTWSC on ‘Music Industry Income Stream: Understanding Where the Money Comes From and Goes’ . This is a FREE event, register here

Sunday 18^th August

From 11.00am to 3.00pm Numbi presents Numbi Workshops: X-Posed at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. In this workshop you will lean the fundamentals of photography and explore street photography, facilitated by Numbi resident artists Charity Njoki, Nadyah Aissa and Kinsi Abdulleh and will feature a photographic walk in and around the East End. Tickets are £10.00 (£5.00 concs or £10.00 for a family of 4) from here

From 1.30pm to 8.15pm is the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival in Canada Square Park. The final day FREE event

features the Zoe Rahman Quartet at 1.30pm, Jason Rebello at 3.15pm, Ian Shaw at 5.00pm and the Carleen Anderson Soul Trio at 6.45pm. This is a

At 8.00pm is the Africa Is A Film: Veejays in Dar Es Salaam at Bold Tendencies, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST, a documentary on video jockeying a popular East African culture in which popular Hollywood, Bollywood and kung fu films are translated into local languages, with the VJ’s offering hilarious commentary and insight becoming celebrities on their own rights. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm Mosi Conde and his band Kaira Kora Africa will be performing at The Hootannany Briton, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF. The Guinean griot will be playing with Dembele Sidiki (djembe), Baba Galle Kante (flute), Saba Tewelde (vocals), Mandin (dun dun) and Leah (harp).

The National Black Supplementary Schools Week

From 12.00pm to 4.00pm is Parenting in the 21^st Century at Birkbeck University an in depth workshop and interactive discussion on being a parent in modern times with Jennifer Lewis and Paul Lawrence from the 100 Black Men of London. Register for this FREE event here

At 6.00pm is Educational Advocacy with CEN and the Parents of Black Children Organisation at Birkbeck University, where you can get professional advice on exclusions, the Education Act 2011 and the national curriculum. This is a FREE event, register here

Week of 5th August: Inua Ellams Black T shirt Collection, Numbi’s Afropolitan Dance Party Ghana Music Awards, , The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his sexy wife Chipo, Zimfest

Greetings and salutations,

Well after this weekend’s frenetic hyper activity, things slow down to a more sedate pace but we still have
sufficient goodness to keep you busy as Summer settles down, takes its shoes off and makes itself comfortable.

The Africa Centre Summer Festival was our highlight event of the weekend (with so many worthy ones to pick from). This free event in Covent Garden saw African music and culture on display in lovely (and windy!) August sunshine, Proud to be African Clothing’s stall was well patronised as ever and it was good to catch up with familiar faces. The acts were sublime from Wale Ojo (actor/ singer/ afrobeat musician!) and the Kalakuta Express, Bumi Thomas, our good friend Afrikan Boy, Kasai Masai, Tunde Jegede performing the Griots Tale and then DJ Edu shaking the place with serious Afrobeat, I’m sure I saw a few policemen trying to Azonto!

The show closed with Nigerian superstar Nneka, performing in her usual inimitable style. No booty shaking or flashy stage tricks, just raw lyrics and sublime music, with tracks from her latest album Soul is Heavy, ending with Heartbeat.

An excellent event, kudos to the organisers, performers and all the young volunteers who were enthusiastic, hard working and friendly to the end.

This week South African politics, gender and otherwise will be discussed at Chatham house and Standard Bank respectively, our good friend Inua Ellams Black T shirt party returns in preparation for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Inspirational YOU will be holding a Summer Mobile App Design Course, all the Zimmies, Zimmers, Zimbos and Zimbettes will be heading to Zimfest,

Ghana Music Awards hits the indigO2, Numbi will be holding an Afropolitan Dance Party and there will be a Dessert Night in aid of Ugandan orphans

African arts and theatre keeps going strong with Tiata Fahodzi’s The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his sexy wife Chipo at the Tricycle Theatre and Aime Cesaire’s A Season in Congo starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and the week starting with South African pianist Tessa Uys playing Schubert.

Have a groovy week!

Monday 5^th August

From 1.00pm to 2.00pm South African pianist Tessa Uys will be performing a solo recital of Schubert andSt Lawrence Jewry, Guildhall Yard, Gresham Street, EC2V 5AA. This is a FREE event

Britten at

Tuesday 6^th August

At 5.30pm Chatham House hosts South Africa and the ANC Youth League: New Structures, New Strategies? at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE. Mzwandile Masina (Convener, ANC Youth League), will discuss the task of rebuilding and restructuring the Youth League as the South African 2014 elections draw closer and the generation born after the end of apartheid prepares to vote for the first time. To attend this FREE event contact Chris Vandome. 

At 7.00pm Inspirational YOU presents Summer mobile App Design Course at The Stephen Lawrence Centre, 9 Brookmill Road, Deptford, SE8 4HU, which weill teach you the basics of mobile application development, with the 5D process Discover, Define, Design, Develop, Deploy. Book this FREE course here. 

At 7.00pm is the Mothership Connections Black Book Club in Room G2, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. This is for African and Caribbean people with an interest in sci fi and other speculative fiction, the book for this meeting is Octavia Butlers Wildseed

Wednesday 7^th August

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.

Thursday 8^th August

From 7.00pm to 11.00pm is the Abstrakt Artists Launch Event at The Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PG, with live performances by RU1 Fam, Afrikan Revolution, Logic (People’s Army), The Thirst and Kwake Bass with special guest appearances by Stephanie Santiago, Cloudy Room, RXD and Drama Jemm. Admission is £10.00 in advance from here and £12.00 before 8.00pm. 

Friday 9^th August

At 6.30pm the SA Chamber of Commerce presents Addressing the Gender balance agenda and its impact on the Global Economy at Standard Bank, 20 Gresham Street, EC2V 7JE. Chaired by Debbie Thomas (Deloitte LLP), the panellists Frances Mensah Williams (connect Africa), Pamela Nomyete (South African actress, writer, producer), Jenny Knott (Standard Bank) and Lisa MacLeod (FT.com) will be discussing the issue of gender balance and the need for sponsorship, mentoring, networking to enable women move into positions of leadership. Tickets are £20.00 (£10.00 for members) from here. 

At 8.00pm Numbi Arts presents the Afropolitan Dance Party at 5 Cavendish Square, Oxford Circus, W1G 0PG. This pre launch, pre carnival , Eid party will feature The Sun Dunes playing an acoustic set, poetry from Nat Nye accompanied by Le Rouge et Le Noir David harries and cellist Mayda Narvey. Followed by a trio of DJ’s playing music from the 50’s and 60’s, garage, RnB, soul, ska and more. Tickets are £15.00 from here. 

At 8.00pm Fuel presents Inua Ellams Black T Shirt Collection at the BAC, Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TN. This modern fable uses animation and spoken word to tell the story of 2 brothers’ journey through the markets of Nigeria, sweatshops of China and nightclubs of Europe top build a global T shirt brand. As their business grows they can’t evade their secrets. Tickets are £12.00 (£8.00 concs) from here. 

At 9.00pm is the Ghana Music Awards 2013 at the indigO2, Millennium Way, Peninsula Square, SE10 0AX. Live on stage will be Sarkodie, Jojo Antwi, Fuse ODG, Pat Thomas, Efya, Onyeame Kwame and more. Tickets start from £20.00 here. 

Saturday 10^th August

From 11.00am to 5.00pm the BFI African Odyssey Programme presents the I Love Carnival Screening 2013 at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XT exploring the art, history, culture and politics of the Caribbean Carnival in London and Trinidad with screenings and previews of new works, live performance and discussions. Hosted by Michael La Rose (Savannah View) with special guest Horace Ove. Tickets are £7.50 from here.

From 12.00pm to 11.00pm is Zimfest London 2013 at Boston Manor Park, Boston Manor Road,
Hounslow, TW8 9JX. Featuring Blue King Brown (Australia), Thabo and the Real Deal (Zimbabwe/ UK), Tahuna Breaks (New Zealand), Desmond and the Tutus (South Africa), What Now (South Africa, Glen Aitken, Ngata Ranana, Bowie Jane, Munkinpurfe, Aaron Manatsa and the New Green Arrows, This Flight Tonight, Mocga Fooga, Jakob Deist, Abby Holden, Tafi Mushuku, Steve Gander, Ny Oh, Samantha Blackburn (South Africa/ UK), Musiq Ave (Zimbabwe/ UK), Mister Cee, Swift Tee, Dave Smallwood, DJ Mujay and Damian Tommy. Tickets are from £30.00 here.  

From 5.00pm to 10.00pm is Passion for Motherland at Amnesty International, 17-25 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EA. This event will bring together like minded individuals in fashion, music and poetry to celebrate and network. Tickets are £7.00 from here and all the funds go to the charity ‘Save The Congo’

At 6.00pm is Signature S.O’s Dessert Night at EPC, 378 Lee High Road, SE12 8RS. This charity night seeks to raise funds for a Charity trip to Uganda and will feature live jazzz, performances, comedy and off course exotic and delicious desserts, which pay tribute to the organisers Ugandan heritage. Tickets are £8.00 from here

At 9.30pm is the Jamaica Independence Dance at Cottons, 70 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QP. Hosted by Crazy T, featuring the Reminisce Reggae Band, a Bob Marley Tribute as well as DJ Old School T, Audrey Scott and Nairobi. Tickets are £6.00 in advance and £10.00 on the door. More information here.  

Sunday 11^th August

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. 

At 7.00pm the Igbo Culture and Support Network General House Meeting takes place at Claremont Project Islington, 24-27 White Lion Street, N1 9PD. This meetings theme is Health, with a selection of clinicians and health professionals coming to talk about the importance of good health and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. More details here