Week of 28th January: the ANC, There Was a Country, V&A Museum, Live Jazz, Tropical Vibes and Movies

Hello My Good Friends,

Divas on Demand

As we come to end of February there a whole series of fascinating events to keep us warm and engaged. Last week Proud to be African Clothing had a great time at the Divas on Demand Networking event with Jenny Garrett, Claudia Liza and Gemma Feare, we look forward to the next one! As we enter the US Black History Month this week we have Ethiopian coffee documentary's  book talks on the ANC and Nigeria, Igbo Dancing, live jazz, Chadian movies, African art at the V&A Museum.

Monday 28^th January

At 7.30pm the Africa Centre presents South Africa, The new ANC leaders and an uncertain future at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT, a talk with journalist Fiona Forde (author of ‘An inconvenient youth: Julius Malema and the new ANC’) with author Gillian Slovo about the changing face of the former liberation movement as it governs modern South Africa. Although this is a FREE event a £3.00 donation is politely hinted at here. 

At 6.00pm the Lets Events team will be screening the documentary Black Gold at Bar 19.20 19-20 Great Sutton Street, Farringdon, EC1V 0DR. The film follows an Ethiopian coffee producer as he goes around the world attempting to get a fair price for his high quality coffee. Admission is FREE and the film starts at 7.30pm sharp

Tuesday 29^th January

At 7.00pm the Igbo Culture and Support Network (ICSN) Book Club returns to review Professor Chinua Achebe’s new book ‘There was a Country: A personal memoir of Biafra’ at Madam Chis, 187 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1RQ. Come along have some excellent nibbles and discuss this brilliant and deeply controversial book

Thursday 31^st January

At 5.00pm Chatham House presents Land Reform in Zimbabwe Revisited: A Qualified Success? at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St James Square, SW1Y 4LE, with former UK Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Joseph Hanlon (LSE), Jeanette Manjengwa (University of Zimbabwe), Teresa Smart(Institute of Education). They will be discussing a new book ‘Zimbabwe takes back its land’ which argues that despite hyperinflation and political violence, the new farmers are doing relatively well and becoming productive countering the dominant media narrative. This is a FREE event register here.

At 6.30pm Millers Jazz Lounge presents Alim Kamara Live Hip Hop Night at O2 Water Margin, 23 Entertainment Avenue, Greenwich, SE10 0DY. Hosted by G.R.E.E.D.S with special guests Andrew Muhammad, Ego-Ella May and the NuVibez band. Along with the live poetry and music there is also a buffet. Tickets are £20.00 from here.

At 8.00pm Supa Fine presents Lumiere, Julivaa, Flexie Musio, Missbee and Modupe at the Hideaway, 114 Junction Road, N19 5BL performing live jazz, soul and folk music followed by Resident DJ’s Citizen K and Speedy, GUBA Award winner Juliyaa will be performing her African inspired soul vocals with guitarist Tom Povey, Lumiere will be performing her unique blend of acoustic folk and slow soul, Missbee will be fusing classic Ella Fitzgerald sounds with latin, soul  and old school jazz, ranging from sad to soulful with Carl Harris on vocals and Keeling Lee on guitar, Modupe is a soulful vocalist with effortless stage presence and finally Nigerian vocalist Flexie Muiso. Tickets for all this soulful, jazzy goodness is £5.00 from here. 

Friday 1^st February

At 6.30pm in the Lunch Room of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) Museum we have Africa: Speed, Search, Sound at the V&A museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 2RL. Where you can speed date with historians about their favourite items, search for hidden representations of Africa, make recycled accessories, learn drum calls and party. There will be live music by the Thabani Nyoni Band in the V&A Cafe at 8.00pm. This is an uber groovy FREE event with many never seen before African art treasures. More details here

Saturday 2^nd February

At 10.00 am the ICSN Dance school returns to Islington Arts Centre, 2 Parkhurst Road, N4 0SF for 2013. With a fusion of dance styles as well as core Igbo dancing this course lasting till 23^rd March 2013 is only £65.00. Email for more details 

From 1.00pm we have London Tropical Vibes 2013 at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL, there will be a Tropical Market with delicious foods, cocktails and other products on sale in the main hall, a festival showcase, exciting workshops and a buffet of French Caribbean cuisine followed by a party with all flavours of tropical music including a Latino band Cajunto Sabroso followed by Sunbailante DJs. All of this tropical goodness can be yours with tickets ranging from £5.00 to £27.00 from here.

From 2.00pm to 5.30pm the LCSI presents African Diaspora in Development of Africa at London West Valley College, 218 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BJ. The seminar will cover African development needs, donating skills and time for development, establishing partnerships, funding opportunities, working with international organisations etc. Reserve your place at this FREE event here. 

At 6.30pm Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen will be hosting Its Ghana be Meze at Carlton London Cafe, 4 Roach Road, E3 2PA. This is a 6 course meze madness of delicious Ghanaian street food, with vegetarian options. There are two sittings one at 6.30pm and the other at 8.30pm. All for just £20.00. 

Sunday 3^rd February

At 2.30pm the Africa Centre has a screening of the Cannes Film Festival winner A Screaming Man at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. This Franco-Chadian drama by Mahamat Saleh Haroun is about Adam a former swimming champion who is now a pool attendant at a 5 star hotel, forced to give up his job to his son by the new Chinese owners, he becomes resentful all the while the country is in civil war with the District Chief harassing Adam for his contribution to the war effort, but being penniless he only has his son. RSVP for this FREE screening here.