Week of 10th March: Gospel 2014, Aminatta Forna, The Pan African History of Basil Davidson, Poetry Meets Art, ACS TV, Mwalimu Express, Homecoming Africa London Expo, South Africa @20, Ghana Independence Dinner Dance, ICSN Language course, Sidi Toure, Wedding and Bridal Shows, Caribbean Tourism

Jambo, (Hello in Swahili),

Proud to be African Clothing has another packed week of music, expos, business and investing, networking, seminars, media events and presentations.

Have an enjoyable week

Monday 10^th March

At 7.30pm IG Music presents Gospel 2014 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. featuring Men of Gospel, Women of Gospel, Guitars of Gospel, Raymond and Co, The Golden Chords, The Company, Bishop R.L. Edwards and family, EKKlesia Artist, Israel J Allen, Lurine Cato, IDMC, MOR Youth Choir and the Igospel UK Choir led by D ‘Bishop’ Thomas all supported by the IG Band. Early bird tickets are £10.00 from here. 

At 6.00pm the Bloomsbury Institute presents International Women’s Day with Aminatta Forna at Bloomsbury Publishing, 50 Bedford Square, WC1B 3DP. The Orange Prize shortlisted author will discuss her novel The Memory of Love set during the Sierra Leonean Civil War, there will also be a short film presentation by Womankind. Tickets are £15.00 from here, with all proceeds to charity

Tuesday 11^th March

At 5.30pm is A Fusion of Worlds: Ancient Egypt, African Art and Identity in Modernist Britain Exhibition at The Petrie Museum, Malet Place, Camden, WC1E 6BT. This exhibition is an exploration of the ways in which modern artists have been inspired by Ancient Egypt. This is a FREE event, register here.

At 7.00pm the Royal African Society presents The Pan African History of Basil Davidson: Episode 1- Different but Equal in the Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG. With Mick Csaky (Series Executive Producer), Gus Casely-Hayford presenter Lost Kingdoms of Africa), Professor Stephen Quirke (UCL). This screening and Q&A marks the 30^th anniversary of Basil Davidson’s  documentary film series Africa: A Voyage of discovery produced in collaboration with Channel 4, the Nigerian Television Authority, MBTV, and RM Arts. This episode features Senegalese mathematician, philosopher and Egyptologist Chiekh Anta Diop. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm Carpe Diem presents Poetry Meets Art 6 at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston, E8 4AA. Featuring poets and spoken word artists Amen Noir, Michelle Madsen, Niyat Remedy Asfaha, Pete the Temp, Dream Catchers Collection and The Goddess Effect.  Vava Tampa (Save the Congo) will discuss the issue of the conflict in the Congo. Tickets are £5.00 before 9.00pm and £7.00 thereafter.

Wednesday 12^th March

At 5.30pm UCL Institute of the Americas presents Caribbean Tourism: Consumption of Places and the Growth of the Sin Industries in Lecture Theatre 103, 51 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PN. This presentation by Dr Emilio Pantojas Garcia (University of Puerto Rico) focuses on sex tourism, gambling and money laundering offering a comparative perspective with competitors in Asia. This is a FREE event, register here. 

At 6.00pm is Private Equity Africa- 4th Annual Deals and Funds Review Seminar at Allen and Overy, 1 Bishops Square, E1 6AD. This Seminar offers insights into the previous year’s deal making and fund raising trends and outlook views from leading investors. Tickets start from £85.00 from here

Thursday 13^th March

At 11.00am British African Business Alliance hosts British Africans Meet at Elephant and Castle at Rockingham Somali Support Centre, Rockingham Community Centre, Falmouth Road, SE1 6RU. This event presents the opportunity to meet African Business leaders particularly Somali’s and look at the roles and opportunities being created by SME businesses in Africa. Tickets start from £3.00 from here. 

At 5.30pm the UCL Institutes of the Americas presents That Jamaica: Women, Secrets and Battyman Business in Lecture Theatre 103, 51 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PN. This seminar by Thomas Glave (University of Warwick) considers the possible connections between outlawed and romantic desire. This is a FREE event, register here. 

At 6.30pm is the Sable Reading Series: Art is the HeArt of The Nation at All Nations Cafe and Bar, 8 Sandringham Road, Dalston, E8 2LP. In celebration of International Women’s Month this event features poets and authors Dorothea Smartt,  Kadija Sesay, Wangui wa Goro and 5 open mic slots. Tickets start from £3.00 from here.

At 7.00pm is ACS TV: The Launch in LG02, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Way, SE14 6NW. This is the website launch for a new platform that aims to promote and showcase the work of African and Caribbean societies and discuss issues pertinent to African and Caribbean students and communities, followed by drinks and networking. Register for this FREE event here.

Friday 14^th March

At 12.00pm is the Ethnicity Network Forum in Room AG05, City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. This is a networking opportunity for black Asian and ethnic minority students to brainstorm ideas, gain leadership experience or apply for other roles in the network. RSVP this FREE event here. 

At 7.30pm Zoë’s Ghana Kitchen presents Ghana Get Irish! at Britannia Works, 56 Dace Road, E3 2NG. The eponymous Ghanaian pop up kitchen will be celebrating St Patricks Day with a Ghanaian/ Irish Mash Up menu, complete with ZGK Beer. Get your tickets for £25.00 here. 

At 7.30pm Sidi Toure performs at The Forge, 3-7 Delancey Street, Camden, NW1 7NL. The Malian bluesman will be playing acoustic Songhai blues drawing inspiration from African tales. Tickets start from £10.00 from here. 

At 8.00pm Simo Lagnawi Gnawa London at Green Note, 106 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7AN. The Moroccan Gnawa music master is the UK’s leading Guembri player and combines African Islamic spiritual tradition with poetry and singing. Tickets start from £10.00 from here. 

Saturday 15^th March

From 9.00am to 4.30pm is Homecoming Africa London Expo at the Olympia Conference Centre, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX This 2 day expo seeks to demonstrate the advantages of returning home, with stands on jobs, property, education, services, investments and entrepreneurial opportunities in sub Saharan Africa, with exhibitors such as Barclays Africa, Standard Bank Group, KPMG Africa, Africa Health Placement, American Tower, Aperture Group, Bain and Company, The Boston Consulting Group and more. There will be workshops on Careers, relocation, investments, property and entrepreneurship. Tickets start from £20.00 from here. 

From 10.00am to 5.00pm is the National African and Caribbean Wedding Show 2014 at Central Hall Westminster, Storeys Gate, SW1H 9NH. Register for this FREE event here.

At 10.00am the Igbo Culture and Support Network begins the ICSN Igbo Language Course, Beginner Level at Bloomsbury Square. This 10 week course is for beginner, be you young, old, Igbo, non Igbo, African or non African, this is a chance to learn this awesome language. The course costs £150.00, email Nneka to register your interest, more details here. 

From 11.00am to 6.00pm Brides of Culture presents the 9th Multicultural Bridal Exhibition-Spring 2014 at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA. Showcasing 50 wedding service providers, with a fashion showcase featuring Ade Bakare’s Diffusion Collection, giveaways, wedding planner seminar and  wedding coordinator seminar. Register for this FREE event here.

From 12.00pm to 5.00pm SOAS African Development Forum presents Creative Africa at SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, this panel discussion, will debate how creative industries are challenging the political landscape, driving economic growth and celebrating culture and heritage in Africa. Register for this FREE event here.

At 3.00pm NABSS hosts Black Supplementary Schools and the Role of the Church at Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E 7HX. This panel discussion hosted by Stephen Brookes (Excell 3) will feature Keith Davidson (Seven Day Adventists Church), Dr June Alexis (former Head teacher), Reverend Hughie Andrew (Queen Mother Moore Methodist Church), and will debate the impact of churches on education in the black community. Register for this FREE event here.

At 7.00pm the Ghana Union and Ghana High Commission hosts the Ghana Independence Dinner Dance at the Selby Centre, Selby Road, N17 8JL. You can dance the meal off to tunes by DJ Maxi Sounds. Tickets including dinner are £35.00, by phone from 07734 312 820, 07958 648 234 or 07956 181 100.

At 7.30pm Evolving Creative’s hosts Everyday Life in an Early West African Empire-DVD Launch at Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Way, SE14 6NW. Based on the book of the same name this DVD details the rise and fall of the great West African empires. Register for this FREE event here.

At 8.00pm is the Ekumfi Etsibeedu Trust Afrobeats Launch Party at Upstairs at the Ritzy, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG. Hosted by comedian and presenter Reuben Christian, this event is to raise money for the Ekumfi Etsibeedu Trust that supports school children in Ekumfi Etsibeedu, Ghana. Headlined by musician Tigger da Author with spoken word artist WordPlay and Azonto dance act Jay and Bonkz. Tickets are £5.00

Sunday 16^th March

From 9.00am to 7.00pm is South Africa @ 20 in Room DLT, SOAS, Thornhaugh Road. This one day interdisciplinary conference to debate 20 years of democracy in South Africa a key note address on The South African Constitution by Janet Love (South Africa Human Rights commission and 4 panel discussions on Governance and Political Economy, Foreign Policy and International Relations, Contemporary Society and arts and Culture, followed by a drinks reception with South African music and poetry. Register for this FREE event here. 

From 10.00am to 4.30pm is Homecoming Africa London Expo at the Olympia Conference Centre, The final day of this 2 day expo seeks to demonstrate the advantages of returning home, with stands on jobs, property, education, services, investments and entrepreneurial opportunities in sub Saharan Africa, with exhibitors such as Barclays Africa, Standard Bank Group, KPMG Africa, Africa Health Placement, American Tower, Aperture Group, Bain and Company, The Boston Consulting Group and more. There will be workshops on Careers, relocation, investments, property and entrepreneurship. Tickets from £20.00 from here. 

At 11.00am is Numbi’s Rhythm Workshops at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA this is a girls and women only introduction to the djembe, with lessons in basic techniques by guest artists Miriam Dubois and Kay Smith and residents artists Charity Njoki Mwaniki, Kinsi Abdulleh and special guest. Tickets are £10.00 (£5.00 concs or £10.00 for familys) from here. 

From 2.00pm to 5.00pm is Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix, , London’s finest pan African family adventure returns with poetic performance’s Lucy Angell Johns Parent and Toddler Dance Session, Awale with the Oware society, tunes from hosts Max Reinhardt and DJ Rita Ray and much more. And it’s all FREE.

At 7.00pm is Word4Word with Kat Francois at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN. This monthly spoken word, comedy and music show will feature ShortMAN aka MattBlack and Rhythm of Men. Open mic slots are available and DJ Sloetry will be providing drops and choons. More details here.