Week of 6th January: HAPPY NEW YEAR!! SOUTH Sudan at the Frontline Club,, Asa Baako Festival Launch, Film night at the Mella Centre, Juwon Ogungbe’s Progress Ceremony, Soweto Kinch Trio, Adeose Wallace

Anuli Aro Ofuu (Happy New Year in Igbo),

All at Proud to be African Clothing hope you had a great Christmas and New Years celebration and enter 2014 with renewed energy and vigour.

Proud to be African Clothing garments are now being stocked at the Mella Centre, 73 Oxford Street, W1D 2EP, situated in the heart of Londons shopping district, business is roaring already!!

The International ROOTS Festival Trip to Gambia takes place between 9^th and 17^th May 2014. The Roots programme is designed to enrich and enlighten people of African descent, by integrating with various tribal groups as they go on a pilgrimage through different villages embracing Gambian traditions, customs, values and culture. The cost is £699.00 for 7 nights, £899.00 for 14 nights and £1,099.00 for 21 nights (inclusive of accommodation, bed and breakfast and airfare).  To secure a place a deposit of £250.00 is required with final payment by 31^st March 2014. For more details enquire by email or check the website or else phone Angie on 07903 591 426 or 07508 913 114 or Hughie on 07940 081 651 or: 0203 441 6277

A quiet week but some great events to look forward to.  

Tuesday 7^th January

At 7.00pm the Royal Africa Society presents Africa in 2014: Prospects and Forecasts at the Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS< Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. Chaired by Richard Dowden (Royal Africa Society), with Lanre Akinola (This is Africa), Razia Khan (Standard Chartered Bank), Yemisi Mokuolu (Hatch Africa) and Patrick Smith (Africa Confidential) . this panel of experts will consider some of the pressing issues and questions facing the continent this year. Followed by a drinks reception, register for this FREE event here. 

Wednesday 8^th January

At 7.00pm the Frontline Club presents South Sudan- What does the future hold for the worlds youngest country? at the Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, W2 1QJ. This panel of experts, journalists and aid workers will discus what the future holds for Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar as fighting between their respective supporters escalates. The panel will consist of Heather Pagano (Medecins Sans Frontieres), James Copnall (BBC) and Mukesh Kapila (University of Manchester). Tickets are £12.50 from here

Thursday 9th January

At 9.30am Chatham House presents Responding to Maritime Crime and Development Challenges in the Gulf of Guinea: Policy and Capacity Gaps in Fighting Maritime Crime at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE. This meeting draws on the outcomes of the G8+++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea Summit held in Abuja, focusing on commercial priorities and challenges to policy implementation. With Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei (Court of Appeal, Ghana), Clemens Beyer (INTERPOL), Robert Dussey (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Togo), Joanne Hamer (Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Christina Katsouris (Chatham House), Commander Loic Moudouma (ECCAS). To attend contact Adjoa Anyimadu

At 5.30pm Hatch Events presents Asa Baako Festival Crowd funding Campaign Launch at the Mella Centre, 73 Oxford Street, W1D 2EP. The Asa Baako, Music, Arts and Dance Festival in Ghana aims to use African music and culture to challenge perceptions about Africa and Africans. There will be presentations by the organisers, a performance by M3nsa of the FOKN Bois as well as networking and press inter views. RSVP this FREE event here.

Friday 10^th January

At 6.30pm The Soweto Kinch Trio will be performing at the Victoria and Albert Museum Cafe, Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 2RL. The saxophonist and hip hop artist will be performing in this iconic space with his trio. This is a FREE event.

At 7.00pm the Black Cinema Club will be screening The Intouchables at the Mella Centre. This French comedy set in Paris features a rich, quadriplegic aristocrat and Driss a young African immigrant. This is a FREE screening

At 8.00pm Adeose Wallace performs at Green Note, 106 Parkway, NW1 7AN. The legendary  master percussionist will be performing unplugged jazz, afro funk, blues and psychedelia. Tickets are £10.00 from here 

At 8.00pm is Juwon Ogungbe’s Progress Ceremony, Upstairs at the Ritzy, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG. This multimedia contemporary Yoruba ritual in Juwon’s trademark Afropera style with jazz and funk music by the band. Tickets are £5.00 from here or £8.00 on the door. 

Saturday 11^th January

At 6.00pm is the Afro-Cuban Dance Course at The Place, Dance Studios, 17 Dukes Road, WC1H 9PY. This 12 week Oshun and Elegua dance course with Damarys Farres will teach the steps, techniques, coordination and timing of Cuban orisha dancing . Early board booking starts from £79.00 from here

Sunday 12^th January

At 6.00pm is the Igbo Culture and Support Network January Meeting at Zubi Bar, 144 Holloway Road, N7 8DD, themed motivation it will feature Social Games, a presentation on Biafra, Networking, Motivational Talk, Open Mic and then dancing. Admission is £5.00, more info here.