Week of 2nd September: Africa Talks at the Africa Centre, NDYLS 2013- Nigeria Beyond Oil, The Griots Tale, Fahari Passion, Ghetto Lounge, Talk to Me Speed Dating, ICSN House Meeting, African Foreign Ministers at Chatham House

Hello good people,

This week Proud to be African Clothing has an interesting mix of education and entertainment. The Students
Association of Nigerians in Diaspora will be hosting NDYLS 2013- Nigeria Beyond Oil:  Opportunities in Enterprise and Development a 2 day summit exploring alternatives to Nigeria’s future economic development beyond the current oil dependency. Chatham House has not one but two Foreign Ministers (from Chad and Cameroon), whilst the Royal Africa Society discusses the Zimbabwe elections.

In case all of that is too heavy for you the Africa Centre plans to keep you from going home each evening with a week of FREE talks, performances, readings and shows. Add that to live music and afrobeat from Ghetto Lounge, African dance meets African Yoga (let’s see if you can Azonto in the Lotus position!!), Tanzanian fashion and a fine dose of Igbo culture.

As I said an interesting mix of education and entertainment!

Enjoy

Monday 2^nd September

At 10.30am Chatham House hosts Cameroon Across the Divide: Foreign Policy Priorities in West and Central Africa at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE. Chaired by Alex Vines, the Cameroonian Minister of Foreign Relations Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo will discuss the country’s foreign policy priorities, its role in combating regional threats and its key international engagements. Register for this FREE event by contacting Chris Vandome.

At 6.00pm the Royal African Society hosts Zimbabwe 2013: Why did ZANU-PF win? In the Brunei Suite, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Chaired by Chipo Chung (Actress and Activist) with Professor Stephen Chan (SOAS), Dr Knox Chitiyo (Chatham House), Chofamba Sithole (Journalist/ political analyst), Betty Makoni Girl Child Network Worldwide). The event will discuss the electoral process, why Mugabe won, what the future holds for the opposition and the preparations for Mugabe’s succession. Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm is Africa Talks: Getting Into Film at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, a panel discussion with Joseph Adesunloye (Screening Africa/ Dreamcoat Productions), Nadia Denton (author/ director), Saeed Taji Farouky (documentary filmmaker) RSVP this FREE event here.

At 7.30pm the Africa Centre hosts The Griot’s Tale at the Africa Centre. 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. Tickets for this final performance start from £15.00 from here.

Tuesday 3^rd September

At 6.30pm is Africa Talks: Performance with Femi Martin at the Africa Centre, this exciting literary voice offers a selection of modern stories and flash fiction. RSVP thisFREE event here

At 7.00pm is Inspirational Books at the Africa Centre. Looking at inspirational books within African Literature, this open forum hosted by Alexis Akwagyriam includes short talks by Bernadine Evaristo (poet and author) and Diriye Osman (writer and visual artist) RSVP this FREE event here.

Wednesday 4^th September

From 8.00am to 5.30pm Students Association of Nigerians in NDYLS 2013- Nigeria Beyond Oil:  Opportunities in Enterprise and Development in the Hong Kong Theatre, London School of Economics, Clement House, 99 Aldwych, WC2B 4JF. This summit will explore alternatives to Nigeria’s future economic development beyond the current oil dependency. Keynote speakers are Alhaji Atiku Abubaker (former Nigerian Vice President), Dr Isa Yuguda (Governor Bauchi State). Session speakers and panellists include Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development), Inuwa Abdul-Kadir (Minister of Youth Development), Prof Julius Okojie (National Universities Commission), Senator Adeseun Ademola ( Senate Committee on Capital Markets), Mrs Ngozi Olejeme (NSITF), Councillor Kate Anolue (Mayor of Enfield), Honourable Mohammed Zakari (NASS), Comrade Jude Imagwe (Presidential Special Advisor on Student and Youths Affairs), Shaheed Balogun (Nollywood actor), Dr Wanle Akinboboye (La Campagne Tropicana) and more. Book this fascinating and FREE event here. 
Diaspora presents

At 6.30pm is Africa Talks Performance: El Crisis at the Africa Centre. Poet and spoken word artist and  Proud to be African Clothing favourite El Crisis will be performing his trademark rap, poetry, song and chant. RSVP this FREE event here.

At 8.00pm is The Lovers Rock Monologues  at the Africa Centre, where music meets theatre to tell the inside story of the musical phenomenon that was Lovers Rock, starring Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson and Victor Romero Evans. Tickets are £10.00 (the freeness had to end somewhere!) from here. 

Thursday 5^th September

At 9.30am Chatham House hosts Strategy in Urgency: Chad’s Vision for a Secure and Prosperous Region at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, in which the Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moussa Faki will discuss how change within Chad has impacted the needs and aims of its foreign policy and it priorities, for regional cooperation and international engagement. Register for this FREE event by contacting Chris Vandome.

At 5.45pm is Passion for Homeland Dinner at Hilton Docklands Hotel, 265 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5HW. This is the finale to NDYLS 2013 Beyond Oil Seminar. Book this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm Lelas Lounge presents Talk To Me at Biagio Bankside, 32 Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark, SE1 9EU. Hosted by Mika this is for young, black singletons to mingle. There is a free platter for early arrivals, light entertainment and ice breakers and then the dates start at 7.00pm. Tickets are £10.00 from here. 

At 6.00pm is the Africa Centre Quiz Night at the Africa Centre, this Africa themed quiz will be hosted Africa Centre to register your team

by Richard Morgan (Anglo-American) with performances by musician James Lascelles, will have interesting and original themed questions.  Email the

At 6.30pm is Africa Talks: Young Innovators at the Africa Centre, where  students in their teens ill talk about 1^st century Africa and what it means to them. Hosted by Lwazi Sibanda with young entrepreneur Dami Olatuyi and Sholape Jegede. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm is Africa Writers Evening, Point of Protest at Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Authors Najat El Hachmi (Morocco/ Spain) and Jean-Luc Raharimanana (Madagascar) will present works that demonstrate the value of  protest moderating the discussion on whether point of view might be a point of protest in writing about Africa will be Jessica Horn (Uganda). Tickets for this event are £8.00 from here. 

Friday 6^th September

At 5.30pm London based 9 piece band Wara, will be performing in the Foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre. Playing tracks from their debut album Leave to Remain they combine Cuban rhythms with jazz, hip hop, songo jazz and rumba, with Congolese-Argentinean and Ghanaian lead vocalist this is Afro Latin at its finest and its FREE

At 6.30pm is Africa Talks: Uche Nwokedi at the Africa Centre, who is the co founder of the Playhouse Initiative for Youth Development as well as a leading commercial lawyer in Nigeria. He wrote and produced the critically acclaimed Kakadu the Musical. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm is the Africa Centre Club Night at the Africa Centre, with DJ’s playing the best of African inspired music from kuduru, South African house, coupe decale, afrobeats, hip hop, Azonto and more. Tickets are £8.00 from here, £10.00 on the door and £15.00 after 9.30pm.

Saturday 7^th September

At 1.00pm is Africa Talks Social Fabric: With Chris Spring, Hassan Hajjaj at the Africa Centre. Journalist Hannah Pool will explore trhe issue of African fashion and fabric with Chris Spring (artist and the curator of the British Museum African collections) and Hassan Hajjaj (acclaimed photographer, designer and gallery owner). Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm the Tanzania Women’s Association (TAWA UK) presents Fahari Passion 2013 at Tanzania House, 3 Stratford Place, W1C 1AS. This fashion showcase features collections from young up and coming Tanzanian designers. Tickets are £10.00 from here.

At 7.00pm is the second Africa Centre Club Night at the Africa Centre, with DJ’s playing the best of African inspired music from kuduru, South African house, coupe decale, afrobeats, hip hop, Azonto and more. Tickets are £8.00 from here, £10.00 on the door and £15.00 after 9.30pm

At 8.00pm is the Ghetto Lounge Autumn Special at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston, E8 4AA with live performances by Afrik Bawantu (Ghanaian Afro Funk), Kyazi Lugangir (Tanzanian Kihya blues and soul), Clapper Priest meets Koichi Sakai (Jamaica meets Japan dancehall set) and DJ’s Nik Weston, Huw72 and Aurelio LostGrooves. Admission is £5.00 before 8.00pm, £8.00 thereafter. More details here

Sunday 8^th September

From 11.00am to 11.00pm is the Africa Centre Family Day at the Africa Centre. Featuring a Rhythm Dance, Drumming and Voice Workshop led by Mosi Conde from 11.00am to 1.00pm (£10.00 -£5.00 concs). At 1.00pm a screening of Africa United, the story of 3 Rwandan kids who walk 3000 miles to watch the World Cup in South Africa (FREE). At 2.00pm there is Waxing Lyrical, music and spoken word featuring singer Floetic Lara, MOBO award winning singer songwriter Leke, Ayo-Dele UK/ Nigerian singer and actress, comedy by Prince Abdi and a kora performance by Mosi Conde (£5.00).  From 5.00pm to 11.00pm Mama Africa Club Night comes to the Africa Centre with DJ’s Oya Bun, Alaku Rebels, Bogossy, JP Kairo hosted by KMT (£5.00). At 6.00pm Africa Talks presents Soweto Kinch sharing insights into a life in music. Followed by Prince Abdi at 7.00pm presenting a spoken word talk on his comedy career (FREE).  From 8.00pm to 11.00pm is a Concert featuring Soweto Kinch and Yomi Bashiru and Naija Grooves and 9 piece Afrobeat, fuji and juju band (£10.00). Tickets for the whole day are £15.00 or individual events can be booked from here.

At 12.30pm Simplicious presents Africa in Motion: Where African Dance meets Afrikan Yoga at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Notting Hill, W11 2AY. This innovative dance/ yoga fusion will be followed by a finger buffet Tickets are £10.00 from here.

At 6.30pm is Musicool- The Live Event at Paradise Bar, 19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, W10 4AE. This spoken word, music and poetry eventosted by Amanda Star with spoken word by Errol McGlashan, performers, Shantel Rock, Chris Royal, Emmanuel Nwamadi, Ella Marie, E1ekric. Admission is £5.00, details here.

At 7.00pm is the Igbo Culture and Support Network General House Meeting at Claremont Project Islington, 24-27 White Lion Street, N1 9PD. Starting off with networking this month’s event is themed marriage. Admission is £5.00 for non members, more details here.