Week of 28th October: Film Africa, Natural November, Tony Tokunbo Fernandez Black History Event at Parliament, Claudia Jones Lecture, Young Black Grads-Black History Stars, Gina Yashere, iCAN Social Networking, African Bridal Show, Africa Global Women in Business Forum

Iska Warran (hello in Somali)

Hope you are had a good week. Well Proud to be African Clothing has an even better one lined up for you as we try and keep the African sunshine going for just that bit longer.

This week we have Natural November 5, African Global Women in Business, The Great Debate Tour, Emerging Powers and a Rising Africa at the LSE, Tony Tokunbo Fernandez at the Houses of Parliament Black History Month Celebrations, Making Agriculture Work, the African Bridal Show and more

For Entertainment we have Somalia Seaton’s Crowning Glory UCLU BHM Film series and Film Africa.

Film Africa is the Royal African Society’s annual film festival celebrating the best of African cinema from across the continent,, with screenings, panel discussions, Q&A’s, family activities, workshops and other events, Film Africa also supports new talent with The Baobab Award for best Short Film worth £1,000.00 towards their next production. The festival runs from the 1^st to the 10^th of November across 6 venues.

Keep warm and have fun

Monday 28^th October

From 1.00pm to 7.00pm LPF Kiddies Club CIC hosts Inspired to Achieve at The African Community Center, Unit 2 Lyndean Industrial estate, Felixstowe Road, Abbey Wood, SE2 9SG, this family fun day and fundraiser will feature musical performances by Nigerian artist Ayan De First, Sierra Leonean storyteller Usifu Jalloh, Guest DJ and Alingo DJ Kashif Da Flash will be playing afrobeats, there will also be face painting, cakes, a pamper zone. Traditional Afro-Caribbean food on sale, stalls, arts and crafts and dancing. More details of this FREE event here

At 5.30pm UCLU BHM2013 presents BME Talks in the B40 Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT. This evening will consist of intelligent conversations with creative thinkers and networking. Register for this FREE event here. 

From 5.30pm to 8.30pm is the Black History Month Celebration Event at the Stephen Lawrence Centre, 39 Brookmill Road, Deptford, SE8 4HU. This evening of networking, discussions and entertainment will include a Peoples Question Time discussing mental health and wellbeing in the BME community, High rates of BME unemployment, climbing the property ladder, the Black family household and the black church. Hosted by Disciple Samuel Georgewill with guest speakers Rev Yaw Sarpong (Winning Grace Ministries), Fardah (Fathers Barbers, Deptford), Daniel Pink (Lewisham Way Black Fathers Support Group), Oladapo Paul (Light the World FC), Chris Balofin (Olympic Weightlifting Champion), David Nieta (Society of Black Lawyers) and Estella Weston (Family Health ISIS). RSVP this FREE event here. 

At 6.00pm Greenwich Bright Futures Society presents the Great Debate Tour in Room SL010, University of Greenwich, 30 Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9LS. This year’s topics are The Home Office (immigration and law and order), Integration policy, Enterprise, Voter Registration and the Lack of Women CEO’s. Panellists include Sylbourne Sydial (facilitators for a Better Jamaica), Lina Gradi (Start Young Global), Selena Gray (The Telegraph), TJ Morgan (NUPE) and Nabil Abdul Rashid (Comedian). Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.30pm is Looking for Claudia Jones at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, 42 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8NT, this documentary by Nia Reynolds profiles the civil rights activists life and actions. Register for this FREE event here.

  

At 6.30pm is Emerging Powers and a Rising Africa in LSE New Theatre, EAS171, East Building, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE. Chaired by Dr Chris Alden (LSE), this lecture will critically examine the trends and possibilities for Africa’s future development and the abilities of its leaders to capitalise on commodities driven growth. Speakers include Dr Ana Cristina Alves (South African Institute of International Affairs), Professor Vladimir Shubin (Russian State University for Humanities), Dr Mehmet Ozkan (SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research) and Dr Soyeun Kim (University of Leeds).No need registration for this FREE lecture.

At 6.45pm is the Claudia Jones Lecture 2013 in the First Floor Auditorium, Thomson Reuters, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 5EP. Keynote speaker Dr Nicola Rollock FRSA (Centre for Research in Race and Education) will speak on Race and racism in a post racial age. To attend this FREE event RSVP Lena Calvert by email.

At 8.00pm is Somalia Seaton’s play Crowning Glory at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN. The all female cast of fun feisty modern women share the trials and tribulations of their hair as they try to uncover what true beauty means. Running till 9^th November tickets start from £8.00 from here. 

Tuesday 29^th October

At 10.00am Chatham House presents Guinea-Bissau: Rescue from Collapse? at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE. Jose Ramos-Horta (UN Special Representative, Guinea-Bissau) will discuss the political instability prevalent in this country due to state failure and narco trafficking. Register for this FREE event by contacting Chris Vandome.

From 12.15pm to 2.30pm is Africapitalism: and how to advance it? at 1 Finsbury Circus, EC2M 7SH. Chaired by Patrick Orr (BCA UK), Lynne Featherstone MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DfID) will discuss DfID’s approach to working with and through the private sector in catalysing African economic growth. Inclusive of buffet lunch and refreshments, tickets start from £32.00 from here. 

At 4.00pm Chatham House presents Justice in Kenya: Impacts of the African Union’s ICC Decision at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House. Chaired by Alex Vines OBE (Chatham House) with George Kegoro (International Commission of Jurists, Kenya), L. Muthoni Wanyeki (Kenyan political scientist), the speakers will discuss the AU’s declaration calling for a suspension of the ICC cases against Kenyan President and Vice President and its implications for the victims of the violence. To attend this FREE event by contacting Chris Vandome. 

At 5.30pm Young Black Grads presents Black History Stars at Opal Bar, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6PA. This awards ceremony will begin with a drinks and finger buffet followed by awards for YBG Creative Star, YBG Star in the Community, YBG Academic Star and YBG Star Entrepreneur. Tickets are £10.00 (£15.00 for 2) from here. 

At 7.00pm UCLU BHM 2013 presents LOL Comedy at Mullys Bar, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT. This night of comedy hosted by Quincy aka The Cockney Prince will feature Kane Brown, Nabil Abdul Rashid, Ginger and Black and Thanyia Moore. Admission is £4.00 from here.

At 7.00pm the Royal African Society presents Challenging Police Brutality in South Africa today: The Legacy of Neil Aggett in the Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Chaired by Shula Marks (SOAS), speaker Dr Beverley Naidoo (author Death of an Idealist: in search of Neil Aggett) and respondents Dr Jonny Steinberg (Oxford University), Siphamandla Goge (SABC Radio News) will discuss state violence and police brutality in South Africa and the effect of impunity on today’s police culture. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm is Black History Month Celebration at PJ’s Community Service, Parchmore Place, 1-6 The Mews, 92a Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8LX. This educational and motivational event hosted by Claudine Reid MBE and Patrick Reid will feature a presentation by Dr Christopher Johnson on the History of Enterprise in the Caribbean Community and Gospel performances by Praise and Worship duo Clif and Marie. Book this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm the LIDC presents Making Agriculture Work for Nutrition at John Snow Lecture Hall, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E 7HT, this public discussion will see the launch of the Global Panel which will provide global research and policy leadership to maximise the contribution of agriculture and food systems to improving nutrition and health outcomes. Hosted by Peter Piot (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and Tony Burden (DfID) with speakers John Beddington (UK Chief Scientific Adviser), Jane Karuku (AGRA), John Kufuor (former Ghanaian President), Emmy Simmons (Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa) and Rhoda Peace Tumusiime (African Union). Register for this FREE event here.

Wednesday 30^th October

At 10.00am is Black History Month Celebrations in the Jubilee Room, House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, SW1A 0AA hosted by poet, Radio presenter and producer Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez with Helen grant MP (Minister for Women and Equalities), Adam Afriyie MP, Mr Kola Karim (Shoreline Energy International) and the Malawi High Commission Counsel for Trade. Guest speakers Alok Sharma MP, Pauline Long (BEFFTA Awards), Steve Sodje (Sodje Sports Foundation), Alistair Soyode (Ben Television), Dr Nkem (Motivational Speaker), Sam Onigbanjo (Women4Africa), Mrs Cecily Mugo (Utulivu Women’s Group), Mr Doherty (Pathway Sports), Deji Yusuf (Motivational Speaker) and Mrs Ngozi Fakeye (Sister Speaks). There will be performances by Fourfingaz, Elaka, Kafy Shyne and Israel Onoriode. More details here

At 12.30pm UCLU BHM 2013 will be screening a three films beginning with A Separation in Lecture Theatre B11, Seminar Room 4, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, WC1H 0EG, this film concerns a married couple facing a difficult decision whether to stay and improve their child’s life by moving away from Iran or to stay and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer’s. Register for this FREE screening here.

At 3.00pm is Mississippi Burning this drama thriller is loosely based on the FBI investigation into the real life murders of 3 civil rights activists in Mississippi in 1964. Introduced by Barry Longford (Professor of Film Studies) and followed by a Q&A, book your FREE place here. 

At 5.15pm is London: The Modern Babylon which reaches back to the start of the 20^th century to tell London’s story from the viewpoint of immigrants, bohemians, artists through archive material and the voices of Londoners past and present as the city prepares to host the 2012 Olympics. Book your FREE place here.

At 5.30pm the Msaada and Rafiki Project present Embracing Collaboration and Celebrating Mental Wellbeing at the Ortus Maudsley Learning Centre, 82-96 Grove Lane, SE5 8SN, where experiences about mental wellbeing in African and Caribbean communities will be shared, there will be spoken word, poetry and music from champions, hot food and refreshments, a selection of stalls and free training and much more. Register for this FREE event here. 

At 6.00pm is the Africa Global Women in Business Forum at Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, Euston, WC1H 9BD. Themed Accessing Finance to Bridge the Gap in The Women Economy, the conference seeks to discover financial options available for diaspora women to grow their businesses, understand the criteria for getting funding from financial and development agencies, explore opportunities in various sectors in different regions of the continent, share knowledge and experiences if building successful businesses, develop practical skills and knowledge, connect with global counterparts and given female entrepreneurs a voice. Confirmed speakers include Ndeye Rosalie Lo (NEPAD), Leora Klapper (The World Bank), Khadidjah Doucoure (IFAD), Sung-Ah Lee (alliance for Financial Inclusion), Mariam Dao-Gabala (OikoCredit), Francoise Foning (Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales), Elizabeth Ssendiwala (IFAD), Vimi Appadoo (National Women Entrepreneurs Council in Mauritius), HRH Muzvare Betty Makoni (GCNW), Suzanne F. Stevens (Ignite Excellence Inc, Canada), Kanini Mutooni (MyAzimia), Peter Ryan (MicroLoan Foundation), Egon Cossou (Africa business Report, BBC), Henriqueta Hunguana (International Capital Corporation), Ronke Lawal (RSL Management Ltd), Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan), David Smith (British African Business Alliance), Ida Horner (African Diaspora Issues), Francine Beleyi (African Diaspora Professional Women in Europe), Jacqueline Musiitwa Muna (diaspora African Women’s Network, USA), Guy Stuart (Microfinance Opportunities), Jacqueline Mugwaneza (Rwanda Bankers Association), Washington Kapiparo (association for African Owned Enterprises), Ada Maduakoh (Sundown Corporate Limited), Bella Ikpasaja (Zeitgeist Africa) and Pauline Long (BEFFTA). Tickets start from £50.00 from here.

At 6.30pm the One Theatre Company presents Plastic Manifesto-Take the booty to the Clinic at Goldsmiths College, University of London, Lewisham Way, SE14 6NW, this powerful drama will be followed by lively debate and discussion. RSVP this FREE show here.

At 6.30pm is the UCLU BHM 2013 Living History Exhibition Closing Night in the Roberts Foyer G02, Roberts Building, UCL, Torrington Place, WC1E 7JE. The exhibition which featured notable black people from all walks of life will close with a series of guest speakers. RSVP for this FREE event here. 

At 7.30pm Raise the Roof Kenya will host Hallow-Eve at the Bar Music Hall, 134 Curtain Road, Shoreditch EC2A 3AR. Covers band Undercover will be playing covers of popular songs from 6 decades with cocktails and other drinks. All the money raised goes to Raise the Roof Kenya to contribute towards building the second phase of their youth education centre in Barut, Kenya. RSVP this FREE event here. 

Thursday 31^st October

At 6.00pm is the iCAN Social and Networking Evening at Tompkins, South Quay, Canary Wharf, E14 9HN, this is an event where professionals of African and Caribbean heritage can mingle and network is a social gathering with no specific agenda. You can register for this FREE event here or just turn up! 

At 7.30pm is African Dancing to Live Drums with Frititi at the interchange Studios, Hampstead Town Hall Centre, 214 Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, NW3 4QP. This evening will feature live music and dance from as far afield as Gambia and South Africa, with the opportunity to learn the different dance steps as well as some of the history behind them. Tickets are £10.00 in advance from here, £15.00 on the door. 

At 7.30pm Gina Yashere will be performing at the Fairfield Hall, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG, she will be covering the year just passed from the triumph of the Olympics, plebgate to her purchase of reading glasses! Tickets are £17.50 from here. www.fairfield.co.uk 

Friday 1^st November

At xxx is the BME Dementia Awareness Conference at Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, HA9 9PE. Chaired by Paulette Harris-German with speakers Councillor Patrick Vernon OBE, David Trustwell (NHS), Mary Tilki (Irish Federation) and Janet (YECCO) all giving an insight into denmentia within BME communities. Included are light refreshments and a Caribbean lunch Admission is £15.00 (£6.00 OAPs) from here. 

At 12.30pm Chatham House presents Tunisia in Transition: Prospects and Challenges at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House chaired by Dr Claire Spencer (Chatham House) with HE Ali Larayedh (Prime Minister of Tunisia) who will discuss the changes taking place in Tunisia and outline the challenges facing the country’s current and future governments and opportunities for political and economic development. Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.00pm the Global Institute for Entrepreneurship presents GIE Question Time in The Keyworth Centre, London South Bank University, Keyworth Street, SE1 0AA. This Question Time will feature panellists Cheryl Henry (Purple Pages), Rev Dr Horace Wright (The Holy Qubtic Church), Dr Christopher A. Johnson (Journalist), Jacqui Grant (International Social Development Consultant), Michael Eboda (Powerful Media) and Craig Cordice (Engage Magazine). Hosted by Dr Darren Henry the panel will be filmed and take questions from the audience. Register for this FREE event here.

At 6.30pm the London African Cultural Event Celebrates Black History Month at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, Coram Street, WC1N 1HT. This show will be a combination of fashion and music with a fashion show  and live acts such as Liz Ogumbo aka Kensoul, Halii Ihonde and an auction for the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) with a buffet dinner. Tickets start from £20.00 from here

At 8.00pm is Let’s nyam words and food at The Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, SW2 1JQ. Come wearing your finest African traditional clothes and head dresses and share your fondest memories of food and words in this celebration of cuisine, and literature. Tickets are £5.00 from here.

Film Africa

At 6.45pm is A Good Report at the Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1HE, this intense South African film mixes sex and social commentary in the story of an introverted young teacher at a new school who has a sexual encounter in a bar with a young lady he later discovers is an underage pupil at his school. Shot in black and white this is a story of tragic obsession. Tickets from £10.20 from here.

Saturday 2^nd November

From 11.00am to 6.00pm is the African Bridal Show- London Autumn Edition 2013 at Stratford Old Town Hall, 29 Broadway, E15 4BQ, with Seminars on makeup and Gele artistry, Planning a cost effective wedding and Finding your perfect wedding dress, there will be traditional attire designers and suppliers, Cake and food tasting, skin care, make up and beauty consultations, decorators and venue stylists, photography and videography, wedding planners and much more., with giveaways and goody bags. Register for this FREE event here.

At 1.30pm is Africa in Motion at SPACe, 31 Falkirk Street, N1 6SD, this African Dance workshop inspired by Senegal with 2 workshops facilitated by Aida Dip and Batch Gueye. Tickets from £10.00 from here.  

At 2.00pm is the Queen Nzingha Lecture 12: How True African Dance was Corrupted in Room B36, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU hosted by choreographer Madee. Register for this FREE event here

At 6.30pm British Gospel Arts presents A Soulful Celebration at Gladesmore Community School, G2 Arena, Gladesmore Road, N15 6EB. The B.I.G. Choir and Norways Stavanger Gospel Choir will be celebrating 25 years of gospel music, Caribbean food; cakes and a non alcoholic bar will be available. Tickets are £12.00 (£8.00 concs) from here

Film Africa

At 11.00am are the Family Day Workshops at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Featuring Open the Gates signature The African Market and Numbi Family Photography workshop as well as the UK premieres of award winning Tunisian short film Les Souliers d’Aid (My Shoes) about a young village boys with passion running and his obsession with a pair of winged shoes his father is too poor to buy and When They Slept about a girl and her beloved grandfather who’s sudden death presents her with the dilemma of following the dictates of tradition and religion. All of this is FREE!!  Just turn up.  

At 12.00pm is Hoodrush at Rich Mix Cinema. This Nigerian movie is billed as Nollywood meets Glee with two brothers who dream of becoming music stars, who enter a TV Talent show, this debut movie was a 2013 African Movie Academy Award winner, director Dimeji Ajibola will be available for a Q&A after the screening. Tickets are £9.50 (£7.00 concs) from here.

At 7.00pm is Aya de Yopougon and La Radio at Hackney Picturehouse. These family friendly Ivorian animations are based on comic books by Marguerite Abouet; Aya de Yopougon is an upbeat story of friendship about Aya and her friends who live in the Abidjan suburb of Yopougon. La Radio is about an old man who buys a radio and hears a story of destruction on it and takes it to a repair shop convinced that the problems lies within the radio. Tickets are £8.00 from here

At 8.00pm is Horses of God, at the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG, set in Sidi Moumen a slum of Casablanca in which 2 brothers grow up in a golden world of football, close friends and hard knocks, all of which changes as adulthood gives way to poverty and violence. Tickets are £11.50 from here

At 8.00pm is JUJU! Film Africa Special: Seeds of Creation at the Upstairs, Ritzy Brixton, led by mandol and oud playing Algerian singer Seddik Zebiri their energetic music encompasses many different cultures from jazz, Berber, Afro blues to Greek, French, Italian and more. Admission is £6.00 in advance from here and £7.00 on the door 

At 9.00pm is On the Edge (Sur La Planche) and Archipel at Hackney Picturehouse. The first of these Moroccan films feature Badia and Imane who work in a shrimp factory in Tangiers by day and pick up men at night to supplement their meagre income. Presented by Fayzal Belifa this film captures the frenetic underbelly of a contemporary city and its youth. Archipel a poetic black and white short documentary is set in a tannery where the silence of the people that work there evokes an archipelago of modern ruins. Tickets are £8.00 from here

Sunday 3^rd November

At 11.00am to 7.00pm is Natural November 5 at Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW, this natural cultural hair, health, wealth and beauty event will feature special guests Alison Henry, Cushic Global, Excel Empresses, Kolade Kola Ogunbayode, Dr Lez Henry, Neil Mayers, Nibal Chenu Bechola Soweto and Jak Beula. Tickets are £10.00 from here and £15.00 on the door. 

Film Africa

At 11.00am is Industry Forum: The Business of Film in Africa in the Blue Room, BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, this day will feature industry experts and business leaders from Africa and the Uk maping the existing film and audio visual markets on the continent, explore investment and funding opportunities and discuss training initiatives. There will be a country focus on Nigeria (where else?), which is looking to follow the commercial success with good quality output. FREE but booking essential by email   

At 1.00pm is Crossing Borders: Maghreb Shorts Programme at Rich Mix, programmed and presented by Rosa Abidi, these are the stories of young Maghrebis; featuring The Project (Tunisia), Djouu (Algeria), The Young Woman and the Teacher (Morocco), Zanta Clauz (Baba Noel) (Tunisia) and Sofia (UK/ Morocco) followed by a Q&A with Sofia director Ani Laurie and Bila (producer/ actress/ singer). Tickets are £9.50 (£7.00 concs) from here. 

At 6.30pm is New African Voices at Hackney Picturehouse, this programme of short films features Beleh (Cameroon) , Split Ends (USA/ Ghana), Kwaku Anase (Ghana/ Mexico/ USA), Adamt (Ethiopia), Shoeshine (Tanzania). Tickets are £8.00 from here. 

At 6.30pm is Kontinuason and Dona Tututa at the Ritzy Cinema. The first of these Cape Verdean offerings Kontinuason is about dancer Beti who is offered a chance to leave Cape Verde and join a music show in Lisbon, setting off an internal conflict with the desire to flee and the desire to return. Dona Tututa is a documentary of Cape Verdean pianist and singer Epifania Evora. Introduced by programmer Isabel Moura-Mendes, tickets are £11.50 from here.

At 8.30pm is Mother of George at Hackney Picturehouse, set in New Yorks Nigerian community. When a Brooklyn restaurant owner Ayodele and his bride Adenike fail to have a child, Adenike is compelled to take desperate measures to save her marriage. Tickets are £8.00 from here.