Music, poetry, Networking and more

 It’s a sunny Sunday and it’s been another weekend of wonderful African events, with Proud to be African well represented.

This Friday there were 2 excellent events that are worthy of mention, at Catford Broadway Theatre, The Spirit of Africa, musical show had its last performance, this gratifyingly well attended show, encompassed several musical themes from about Africa, with Zulu dancers, an evil herbalist and solo singing in the first act, warming up for a scintillating and second portion of which my personal favourite was the Ethiopian dancers but the crowd loved the whole thing particularly the village drunk and the herbalist who had seen the error of her ways and demonstrated her repentance with  some excellent dance moves. As the team said this is just the first incarnation of this project. We are looking forward to more from the Masai Culture team in future.

At the same time halfway across London at the Brady Art Centre, Mosi Conde was performing. This talented kora player from Guinea again never fails to impress.

Saturday saw the IDAY, International Day Celebrations for African Children and Youth at the Civic Centre, Old Kent Road. Hosted by the President of IDAY UK Chief Mrs Yemisi Sanusi, this packed day saw a mixture of informative seminars, exhibitions and fashion shows.

The first session covered ‘Providing Quality Education for all African Children by the Year 2015’ and was chaired by Dr Edwin Sawacha with lively comments from the participant s and the floor, this was followed by a session on Every Child Matters: Contributions of Africans in Diaspora towards the education of deprived and disabled children’ in which the fact that not a single African government had a programme to deal with autism was revealed as well as the debilitating effects of sickle cell on African youth. After a lunch donated by 805 Restaurant, Old Kent Road, there were appreciation awards presented to worthy members of the African diaspora by such luminaries as the Mayor of Southwark, the Mayor of Brent and Mrs Julie Coker to name a few.

The final 2 sessions covered Health Education and Safeguarding the African child and then a summary  of the days events. The day was closed with a prayer and vote of thanks by the President of IDAY UK.

This very worthy cause was ably supported by a glitterati of notable Africans in the UK such Mr Femi Okutobo of Trumpet newspaper and Councillor Michael Shittu.

On Sunday we caught Tony Dudu and the Gumbe Jazz at the Hootanany in Brixton, a brilliant display of African jazz with Latin undertones from the Guinea Bissau guitarist. A wonderful performance one minute it felt like you were in a South African Township, next on a beach in Barcelona. Hope to catch the next one!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday 20^th June sees Komla Tsey launching his book Rethinking Development for Africa: An oral history from Ghana at the Africa Centre, Covent Garden. This free event starts at 6.30pm.

On Thursday the 21^st of June LERECA  will be holding an Afterwork at The Gallery, 10-11 Austin Friars, EC2N 2HG between 6.30pm and 10.30pm. Happy hour is between 5 and 8.00pm with 50% of all drinks and platters and there are a choice of drinks and cocktails at this venue to tempt even the most sybaritic of you! This is a free social/ networking event by an extremely friendly group of black professionals encompassing not just the Anglophone diaspora but the Francophone and Lusophone. RSVP to Stephanie 07942343119 and Samantha 07879892536

On Friday the 22^nd June Britafrique will be holding a CV and interview technique workshop for graduates and young people between 16 and 23 years old. The event is free and takes place between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, contact Michelle Akintoye to book

Also on Friday our good friends at Poesy will be holding another ‘Unplugged’ poetry and jam session, come along for an amazingly friendly and chilled atmosphere, excellent poetry from veterans and first timers as well as music and refreshments. This Free event is at The Rock Tower, 49 Tufnell Park Road, N7 0PS and starts at 6.30pm

On the same Friday evening between 6.30 and 9.00pm VC4Africa will be holding another VC4Africa London Meetup at the Society Bar & Restaurant, 33 Blackfriars Lane, EC4V 6EP; this is the place to be if you are looking to network with intelligent young black professionals. The range and breadth of industry sectors and professions is extremely wide from doctors and engineers, to civil servants and soldiers. It’s always a good vibe and it’s free so bring lots of business cards and your best networking face!

Come Saturday the 23rd and Proud to be African will be rushed of our feet again as there are a lot of excellent African themed events around London between 2.30 and 4.30pm BBM/ BMC/BTWSC will be hosting ‘Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’ at the Gayton Library,5 St John's Road, Harrow On The Hill, HA1 2EE. For the uninitiated Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, son of a Sierra Leonean doctor who was a composer who lived between 1875 and 1912 and composed such masterpieces as Hiawathas Wedding Feast, African Dances and the Petite Suite de Concert to name a few. For fans of classical music (another guilty pleasure of mine) this is a must but even more important for fans and champions of black history, this is a fascinating story of a man making his way in the world against the grain of the time and being celebrated for his skills and talents both home and abroad

At 4.00pm is the Ghana4PeaceConcert Live, hosted by Nana Kwame Osei-Tutu & Adwoa Agyemang at the Dominion Centre, 9 The Broadway, High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6DS. The show starts at 5.00pm running till 10pm it will feature No Tribe Band-GH, Mershelia Williams, Pastor Kwame Amponsah, Rev Osei Kofi, Atta Boafo, Pastor Osby, Allen & Da New Waves, Daniel Akakpo, PK Boadi, Michael 'Lyrical' Agyei-UK, Psalmist George, The Davison Band-UK, Matthew Boamah, Maame Serwaa, Emmanuella Bafoah-Moloney. Ghanaian London events are well run and friendly and are really a must for anyone wishing to link up with the Ghanaian diaspora, despite being an obnoxious Nigerian (!) I am always made extremely welcome and have always left having made new friends and contacts, it’s a free event with tickets are available from here.

Sunday the 24^th of June we round up with the Kulcha Village Sunday Market at the Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton, Leyton E10 5PW. Other than the stalls this event will feature free workshops, West African head wrapping and Children’s face painting. Free entry all day and runs from 12 midday to 6pm. For stalls contact Kai on 0208 5392154or 07908814152

I’m sure that’s enough to keep you all going for now!!!

In the countdown to the Olympics, you’ll be able to get 10% off all purchases with the code ‘Olympic10’

We will also be running competitions and polls to see what countries we should feature next on the ‘Proud to Be....’ range

Zimbabwe

South Africa

Ghana

Kenya

Uganda

You decide, we provide!!!!

Pass this on to your friend and contacts but feel free to let me know if you don’t want to be contacted anymore, I haven’t yet figured out how to do it automatically but it will be done!!

Last flight to Abuja and Football

A long weekend, lots of festivities, barbeques, pomp, circumstance and rain! It can only be a London summer! Well we at Proud to be African Clothing were happy to get into the Jubilee swing of things this weekend.

On Saturday we attended Passion for Homeland at Greenwich University. This event hosted by the universities Nigerian Students Association was well attended get together for Nigerian students and their friends, which saw performances and presentations by invited guests.

Stylesafrik the new online fashion store website for African Fashion has gone live!!! Make sure you check it out for your designer fashion, urban wear and children’s wear as well as innovative and inspiring homewear section giving buyers the opportunity to purchase limited edition handmade items made by artist using traditional methods

 www.stylesafrik.com

Upcoming Events

On Wednesday 6^th June is Sahara Nights at the Roundhouse featuring live music and spoken word from Shawari performers from Western Sahara under a tent at the Roundhouse, Camden

Obi Emeleonye

Friday the 9^th of June sees a host of stellar events. Obi Emeleonye’s latest blockbuster ‘Last Flight toAbuja’ premieres at Troxy Cinema, 490 Commercial Road, London, E1 0HX. The movie written and directed by Obi Emeleonye and produced by Charles Thompson concerns the travails of the passengers of Flamingo Airways last scheduled flight from Lagos to Abuja. A combination of events leads the flight teetering on the edge of disaster. A series of flashbacks shows the various ways and means that each passenger ended up on the flight with all sensing impending doom, except one person! Why, what does he know and will the plane make it?

I guess you’ll have to be there to find out!

Tickets are £20 Economy, £30 Business class and £50 First class and can be bought here.

The film features a stellar cast and stars  Hakim Kae Kazim, Jim Iyke, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde amongst others.

The films premiere is dedicated to the Nigerians who lost their lives in the tragic Dana Air accident on Sunday.

Also on Friday the 8^th of June at the Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way is the The Spirit of Afrika an exciting new musical that captures the true diversity of the continent. It consists of an array of UK- based African dance performance groups, including Kenyan, Senegal, Ivory coast, Zimbabwean, Guinea, Ethiopian, Mali, Ghanaian, Ugandan,  Nigerian and  South African Zulu dance troupes, who have joined forces for a one of a kind production. The enthralling epic storyline sees East meet West and South collides with North, as all of Africa prays for rain after the villagers of Bamba commit atrocities and the Gods punish them by bringing drought to the entire African regions. Instead of acknowledging their mistakes and seeking forgiveness they get an evil, wicked seer, to lie that the sacrifice should be the virgin girl called Amani, because she is different. Tickets are from £10-£25 with 10% off for group bookings.

                                                                                                               

Dates: 

8^th June, 7.30pm-Logan Hall            

Box Office 07853 942 068              

                               

10^th June, 5.00pm -St Albans

Box Office 01727 844 488

15^th June, 7.30pm -Broadway Theatre Catford, London                                                                                                            

Box Office 020 8690 0002            

On Saturday the 9^th of June Nigerian Students Union UK (NSUUK) is bringing the various Nigerian student bodies together for a 1^st Nigerian Students Societies Football Challenge at Powerleague Catford, Canadian Avenue, SE6 4SW. Come and indulge in that most Nigerian of past times, football!!! Cheer on your friends and university team. Its £20 per team to enter and we are promised EPL footballers to present prizes, cash prizes, goody bags, Naija food, free parking, entertainment and fine fine Naija girls (ok so I added the last one myself but a man can only dream!)

Lets not forget Janice Okoh's Egusi Soup is still playing at the Soho Theatre until Saturday the 9th of June

As well as Bola Agbajee's Belong in Peckham

Oya enjoy the shortened week and see you later for an exciting weekend!!

Last flight from May!!

Maaha (Good day)!!! It seems appropriate that I start with a Ghanaian greeting as I have been attending a slew of Ghanaian events this past week, although Proud to be African Clothing keeps showing its Nigerian bias I must always remember our cousins to the west!!!!

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This past week saw Malian duo Amadou and Mariam performing from a room, and broadcast to the Queen Elizabeth Hall at eh South Bank Centre, a bit of a surprise for me as I was actually expecting them to be performing live on stage but groovy nonetheless!

Star 100 a Ghanaian networking group held their monthly last Friday social networking meet at The Old Crown, New Oxford Street on the 27^th. This group is a network of Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian professionals in the Diaspora with an interest in Ghana.

Saturday had a plethora of events with YACnCAY holding their Upfront event at Newham Town Hall. This event saw workshops by the Met Police for young people as well as performances by a variety of young people. Ably compered by comedian Kat B, there were performances by British Nigerian rapper BREIS, lovely singing by Khalaeliah, music by 4 Seasons Band, ASB to name a few, along with a rather graphic description of prison life by Shaun Attwood. Certificates were presented to worthy young people by special guests Richard Taylor OBE of the Damilola Taylor Trust and Martin Birchall.

On Tuesday the 29^th there were a plethora of discussions about Africa and African issues. The School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) Union held its African Development Forum at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, theme was ‘Africa, Driving its own growth’ and was divided into two panels, The first was on ‘Unique Sectors Driv ing African growth’ and the second on ‘Implications and Challenges of Economic Growth in Africa’ moderated by Rolake Akinkugbe Head of Energy Research at Ecobank.

At 6.00pm The African or Black Question held the ‘African, not Black History: Arguments for ‘African’’ at Room 349, Senate House at the University of London, Russell Square, host Kwaku discussed the debate as to whether people of African heritage should be described as black or African.

At 8.30pm Self Help Africa hosted ‘From-Afri-can’t to Afri-can’ at the Africa Centre, a fascinating presentation on capacity building in the African agriculture sector.

Upcoming events

On the 31^st of May, Stylesafrik a new online fashion store website for African Fashion will be launching. Stylesafrik seeks to fuse the traditional with the Afropolitan with the modern.                

The site will feature a variety of items from designer fashion to children’s wear including an innovative and inspiring homewear section giving buyers the opportunity to purchase limited edition handmade items made by artist using traditional methods

 www.stylesafrik.com

Also on the 31^st the British Black Music Month (BBMM2012) will be launched at Westminster City Hall,64 Victoria St, Victoria, SW1E 6QP at 6.30 pm.

On Friday the 1^st of June, the Nigerian Student Society at Greenwich University will be hosting Passion for the Homeland, Sparrow Farm Bar, Avery Hill, SE9 2UG. Guest speakers lined up include the Nigerian High Commissioner, Chuka Ummuna MP, and the VC of the University. The event will consist of comedy, music, dances and traditional Naija food.

At 10.45pm there will be a screening of the movie Red Tails at the Hackney Picturehouse. Red tails stars Cuba Gooding Jr, Terrence Howard and David Oyelowo and is about thje Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots in the Second World War. An important story about the contribution of people of African origin to this great conflict and until the story of the African Divisions on the 14^th Army in Burma are made, please go and see this.

Finally on Friday El Crisis will be sharing Word Power and Sound at Centreprise Books, 136 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2NS. The show features Asheber, Eshe Escoffery, Suli Breaks, Bass Oratory, Justice Lyric, Karmelle, Radikal and The Reverend. Doors open 7.30pm, tickets are £7.00 in advance £9.00 on the door

On Saturday, June the 2^nd Open the Gate will be holding an African Market at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green between 12 and 7pm.

When your done shopping Focus is   having a Royal knee's up between 7pm and 1am with a live performance from Congolese trio K-Melia at The Luxe. Old Spitalfields Market, 109 Commercial Street, E1 6BG. Zumba Ann Earle will also be hosting a special Zumba Class from 7.30-8.30pm. £5 entry.

Also on Sunday the 3^rd of June between 5.00-8pm there’s a debate at Parkview Academy / West Green Learning Centre, Langham Road, Tottenham, N15 3RB on Education: Debate with Diaspora Debate-

Also in Reading starting at 12pm, will  be the Southern Lifestyle holding at Reading Abbey RFC, Rosehill, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8XA

Next week is the première for Obi Emeleonye's latest film Last Flight to Abuja. Starring Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ali Nuhu, Omotola Jalade- Ekeinde, Jide Kossoko and Jim Iyke. This exciting new film centres around the last flight of Flamingo Airlines to Abuja. Stay tuned for more next week!!
The première is at 6.30pm at the Troxy Cinema, 490 Commercial Road, E1 0HX, you can get tickets from the website

SPIRIT OF AFRIKA – JOURNEY TO JOY

‘The Spirit of Afrika’ is an exciting and innovative new musical that captures the true diversity of the continent.

An array of UK- based African dance performance groups, including Kenyan, Senegal, Ivory coast, Zimbabwean, Guinea, Ethiopian, Mali, Ghanaian, Ugandan,  Nigerian and  South African Zulu dance troupes, have joined forces for a one of a kind production, which is set to captivate audiences up and down the country.

Using the themes of community and crisis, the performance will showcase the best of African culture. The enthralling epic storyline sees East meet West and South collides with North, as all of Africa prays for rain after the villagers of Bamba commit atrocities and the Gods punish them by bringing drought to the entire African regions. Instead of acknowledging their mistakes and seeking forgiveness they get an evil, wicked seer, to lie that the sacrifice should be the virgin girl called Amani, because she is different.

This unique show is put together by Artistic Director/Choreographer Uche Micheal , Directed under the guidance of Kathy Gregory and expertly produced by the Masai Cultural Arts whose experience includes performing at the BBC one show.

Powerful singing, dancing and drumming create a truly spectacular musical experience. As the latest in a long line of high-quality African productions, audiences are sure to take ‘The spirit of Afrika’  straight to their hearts.

For further information please check the following sites:

www.spiritofafrika.co.uk  and http://www.facebook.com/spiritofafrica

SHOW DATES-JUNE 2012

LOGAN HALL-CENTRAL LONDON

8^th June, 7.30pm                                                                                            

www.spiritofafrika-estw.eventbrite.co.uk                    

Box Office 07853 942 068     

                                   

ALBAN ARENA-ST ALBANS

10^th June, 5.00pm      

www.stalban-arena.co.uk

Box Office 01727 844 488

BROADWAY THEATRE CATFORD-London                                                                                                          15^th June, 7.30pm                                                              

www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk                         

Box Office 020 8690 0002                 

                       

Tickets £10-£25.

10% off for group bookings

Africa Daysssss!!

Wonderful photo by W&C Photography

First the Good news, next week summer is in full force with average temperatures of 24C!! Now the even better news; Proud to be African Clothing is out and about at a whole host of events, hoodys (as can be seen by the beautiful photo from Will and Cal ofW&C Photography) are back in stock and new designs are on tap.

This week has been networking heavy, on Wednesday there were 2 excellent networking events, LERECA’s Apero at Cotton Restaurant and Ebony Inspired at Mar Azul Restaurant. A good time was had by all and we look forward to the next instalment of both.

On Friday Proud to be Africans old favourites Ghanaian Londoners held Ghana Golden Opportunities 2012 at the Grange City Hotel, this excellent event saw presentations by VP CSR from Tullow Oil, UK Trade and Investments (UKTI), Ghana High Commission and Peter Akwaboah from Royal Bank of Scotland (UK). What set this event apart for me was that every single speaker was frank and down to earth, there was no standing on protocol or evasiveness or playing to the crowd, questions and points were made with frank brutality that left no doubt in the mind that these were serious people. As an African professional to sit in a room with African COO’s VP’s heads of Departments etc, all of whom are of my generation and all of whom have had the same disadvantages and advantages as I makes me singularly Proud to be African. Well done to Adwoa and her team.

Atongo Zimba

Sunday saw us at Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix, where we continued the Ghanaian with Atongo Zimba the maestro of the molo (2 stringed calabash lute), an effervescently cheerful fellow who wowed the crowd (and didn’t buy a T shirt!!) and a screening of The Fighting Spirit directed by George Amponsah following three boxers, two men and a woman from a tiny shantytown in Ghana fight their way to the glittering rings of New York and London for the biggest prizes in the business. A very modern African story!

UPCOMING EVENTS

On Wednesday the 23^rd May blind Malian couple Amadou andMariam will be performing at the South Bank Centre, this brilliant duo are renowned for their live performances and with 8 studio albums under their belts mean recording artists as well. This one off gig entitled ‘In A Room for London’ is part of the London 2012 festival, don’t miss this FREE event combining beautiful vocals and guitarwork at 6pm in the Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

On the 25^th of May there are a series of Africa Day lectures, in London at 7.30pm we will celebrate Africa Day at Charlton House, Charlton Road, SE7 8RE.

In Milton Keynes from 3.00pm there will be an Africa Day Lecture at the MK Two Business Centre, Unit R3/C, 1-9 Barton Road, Water Eaton, MK2 3HU

On Saturday the 26^th of May we have another series of events; at 11am in Milton Keynes, the Church of Christ Cornerstone, will be holding an Africa Day event at 300 Saxon Gate West, MK9 2ES for a day of African movies, cultural shows and activities

From 3pm to 9pm Youth against Crime not Crime against  Youth (YACnCAY) who provide high quality support to youths and victims of crimes and their families will be holding their Upfront festival at Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, East Ham, London E6 2RP. The day will consist of Police Workshops, comedy with Kat B and Ayo Da Comedian, a fashion show with Bunmi Mojekwu, poetry, music and spoken word with BREIS, ASB, 4 Seasons Band and many others. There’s also free food and drink so get over there.

Finally at 9pm, Dele Sosimi’s Afrobeats Vibration will be at New Empowering Church,1a Westgate St, E8 3RL London for your authentic Kalakuta style live Afrobeat led by former Egypt 80 keyboardist Dele Sosimi and his Afrobeat Orchestra with DJ Koichi Sakai on the decks with the best selection of Afrobeat, Afro Funk and Tropical beats. Entry is £8 before 10pm and £12 thereafter.

The Focus Organisation will also be hitting the glam scene of Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday 22nd May, on the fashion catwalk on Boulevard De La Croisette.

If you happen to spot them, they will be giving away a free Focus event ticket to anyone that sends in a photo to attak@focusorganization.com.

Also Artists of Nigerian descents there are £3000 grants available for the Nigeria House project at Stratford East. Deadline is 18th June

See you all next week where I have hopefully caught a few more plays and performances!

Pandora's Box and other stories!

 My people I greet you! Saturday 13^th May was another fascinating day, I spent most of it at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston where Ade Solanke’s latest play ‘Pandora’s Box’ was on show alongside a day of workshops and talks with invited speakers such as Diane Abbott MP, Ron Belgrave (former head of Community Safety under two Mayors), Olu Alake (President 100Black Men Of London) etc. It was a fascinating day which Proud to be African Clothing was pleased to be invited as it covered so many of the themes that resonate in this clothing line, hence the Born in the UK Made in Nigeria T shirt picture which as you’ll see kind of resonates.

The play revolves around a family that is split between the London and Nigeria and takes place mostly in the living room of their house on Lagos. Pandora is the mother of Toyin and Ronke. The latter remaining in Nigeria while Pandora and her husband went to England to study. Toyin and Pandora have come to visit Nigeria for the first time since then with her friend Bev and 15 year old son Timi in tow.

Anna-Maria Nabirye playing Toyin 

Without spoiling the plot Timi is a typical inner London youth over indulged by his mother who is sinking deeper and deeper into London’s gang life, the family has decided he is to attend a prestigious boarding school in Nigeria in order to ‘sort him out’, however Toyin is having last minute cold feet. While big sister Ronke harbours a deep grudge against both mother Pandora and junior sister for abandoning her, Pandora feels guilty for abandoning her and for not coming back with her qualifications.

I really can’t say much more without spoiling the plot but it is an excellently written and brilliantly acted play that covers all the thorny issues of identity, parenthood and culture from all the angles, from a mother’s anguish, a child’s bitterness and sense of abandonment, the agonising choices a parent faces in trying to do the right thing. From a personal (and business) perspective it neatly encapsulates the idea behind my Born in the UK, Made in Africa/ Born in the UK, Made in Nigeria brand as I also left the UK and went to boarding school in Nigeria, although I look back upon it now as an extremely positive and life changing (in fact life forming) experience, a particular scene between Timi and Tope his friend from London who had made the transition to Nigerian school boy and was making a marked improvement reminded me of how difficult it was at the time.

All in all a brilliant play that addresses a pertinent issue not just of education and the role of culture and identity but of parenthood and that bad choices can be made with the best of intentions.

The afternoon matinee was preceded by a panel discussion headlined by Olu Alake and Ron Belgrave, with support and contributions from the Nigerian Youth Network, Yemisi Sanusi of International Day of African Childhood and its Youth (IDAY UK), Anne Olayinka of Youth against Crime not crime against Youth (YACnCAY), Black History Studies and Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum.

Following the matinee performance there was another panel discussion with Diane Abbot MP, Olu Alake, Ron Belgrave, Ade Solanke and Waryla Abrahams, the lady whose dilemma actually inspired the play. This remarkable lady who is a teacher struggled with these issues with her son, who was unfortunately on a downward spiral yet today after his stint schooling back home he is an undergraduate studying Business Entrepreneurship.

The panels various stories and experiences neatly summed up many of the plays issues with Diane Abbott sharing her sons experience of 6^th Form in Ghana, with the experiences of having to fend for himself and Olu describing his experiences of studying back in Nigeria and stating that if he had the chance he would send every schoolchild back to experience what life is like living not as a ‘minority’.

There are so many choice lines in the play but I would say the most thought provoking one was by the character Bev when she said: “What do you see out of that window? People, right? Just people. Because there are no ‘Black’ people in Africa. Let him experience that for a change.”

Pandoras Box is directed by Ola Animashawun, Assistant Director Moji Kareem.

Susan Aderin plays Pandora, mother of Ronke and Toyin

 Damson Idris plays Timi’s friend Tope this is his debut play he is currently studying at Brunel University

Bradley John puts in an excellent debut turn playing Toyin’s son Timi

Petra Letang formerly on Eastenders plays Toyin’s Antiguan (not Jamaican!) friend Bev

Anna-Maria Nabirye plays Toyin

Yetunde Oduwole a Tiata Fahodzi favourite and the mother in ‘Meet the Adebanjo’s’plays Ronke

Ben Onwukwe of London’s Burning fame plays Principal Osun

Tunji Sotimirin who plays Baba is a lecturer at the University at Lagos currently on sabbatical at Goldsmiths College

Pandoras Box is running until 26^th May at Arcola Tent, performance time is 7.30pm (matinee 3.00pm), tickets: £14 (£10 concessions).

GO AND SEE IT!!!

Also that Saturday evening saw the launch of a new talk show Effizi which celebrates achievers of Nigerian heritage, from all walks of life and fields of endeavour. Special guest for this show was Dr. Kunle Onabolu a Civil Engineering graduate, where he obtaining an MSc and PhD in Concrete Structures at the age of 28 from Imperial College London. From being the technical business manager at Redland Technologies, a FTSE 100 company, where he developed new materials formulation he was head of process development at Lafarge UK until 2002, when he left to form his own company KAO Project Solutions Ltd. KAO is an innovative company that provides consultancy and project management services in transportation infrastructure. In 1998, Dr. Onabolu founded a charity African Child Trust and is founding president of the Engineering Forum of Nigerians (EFN).

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND- A few more events (and plays) to come

On Wednesday 16^th May LERECA is holding their ‘Apero’ (it’s all very Francophone!!) at 7pm at Cotton Restaurant, 70 Exmouth Market EC1, this event is meant to bring together peoples from all over the African and Caribbean diaspora (Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone) to network for business and leisure, it’s a nice chilled out way to meet likeminded people in a great venue.

Friday 18^th May see’s the Ghana Golden Opportunities 2012 at Grange City Hotel, 8-14 Coopers Row, EC3N 2BQ , the theme is ‘Investment & Business Opportunities in Ghana’ and will consiust of presentations by Tullow Oil Plc,  UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Ghana High Commission UK & many more Q & A and Networking. The aim is to provide a platform for Ghanaian Diaspora Entrepreneurs and
Professionals to learn more about the investment & business opportunities available for them in Ghana.

On Saturday 19^th May the London Business School Africa Club will hold the their Africa Day at London Business School, NW1 4SA. The theme is ‘Africa, Taking Ownership: Successes & Challenges’. The conference will explore and celebrate the many ways in which Africans are taking ownership for their continent’s destiny, driving reforms, building capacity and propelling growth from within.

The Womenfor Africa Awards UK will also hold that day at 5pm at The Great Hall, Kensington Town Hall, Homton Street, London, W8 7NX, the awards gala promises to be an evening filled with entertainment in the form of music and comedy, networking and the honouring of some of the most outstanding African women in UK.

On Sunday 20^th Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt of ‘The Shrine’ return for another Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix featuring  awesome music from around the continent. Come join in the stupendous storytelling sessions, Screen Station films and far out family arts workshops.

On Wednesday 23^rd May a brand new play by an African female writer opens at the Soho Theatre. ‘Egusi Soup’ by Janice Okoh, is a fast, furious and funny intergenerational and cross cultural family comedy about the Anyia’s as they pack their suitcases to head home to Lagos for a memorial service to honour the lat Mr Anyia. There’s mothers fathers, pastors and of course Egusi Soup!

The writer Janice Okoh won the Bruntwood Prize and was short listed for the Verity Bargate Award ad the Alfred Fagon Award and wrote the play to honour her late father and try and communicate the different attitudes one has to death and life and to write a play that showed the humorous side of the diaspora experience. The play stars award winning actress Ellen Thomas (Eastenders), early bird tickets (23-25 May) are £10.00, 26 May – 9 June £12.50 (conc.’s £10.00), 6-9 June £15.00 (conc.’s (£12.50)

Bola Agbaje’s play ‘Belong’ is still showing at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS till 26^th May and then onto  The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST from 31st May to 26th June

The sun seems to be back, here’s to an African summer!!

Rains and Plays.....its MAY!!!!

Rain, rain go away!!

Maybe I spoke to soon in my last post!

I’m thinking that I might need to start a line of Proud to be African wellington boots and rain coats in addition to the hoodys and T shirts with the way this rain is falling! I didn’t know the UK had a rainy season as well!

Despite the ever so soggy weather there has been a veritable array of sunshiney events lined up for you good people.

Africa 2.0 UK launch panel

I attended the Africa 2.0 UK launch at the Pearson Centre, London, last week which was a fascinating event hosted by Henry Bonsu of Colourful Radio., with a stellar panel featuring Dr Mo Ibrahim the telecoms entrepreneur of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation  fame. Africa 2.0 is a pan African global initiative, seeking to formulate a new leapfrog-based approach to development in Africa built upon collective knowledge and the experiences of a broad spectrum of Africans back home and in the diaspora. There was a panel discussion with Dr. Ibrahim, Dr. Shiyghan Navti (IBM Software Group) , Amina Adewusi (Standard Chartered Group) and Hephzi Tagoe (Founder of MiS-UK) chaired the by Henry Bonsu

A wonderfully refreshing event with lots of home truths from Dr Ibrahim that chime which PTBA’s themes of self reliance, enterprise and the importance of telling ones own story. Africa 2.0 is a relatively new group in the UK and we hope to be working with them more in future.

The  'The African Or Black Question (TAOBQ)'  Campaign championed by Kwaku of BBM/BBC held a workshop on ‘What does it mean to be a Global African? ’ on the 28^th as a prelude to a series of events coming up later this month

On Monday the 30^th of April, AFFORD another great diaspora organisation held a day long event on Impact funding through the diaspora at the Brunei Gallery at the School of Oriental and African Studies, again featuring a wide array of subject matter experts in the field of enterprise, development and diaspora engagement.

Upcoming Events

Coming up though there is a wide array of events for you lucky lucky people:

On Wednesday 2^nd May at 7pm the London Black Business Incubator and Investment Group will be meeting at the 5^th level of the Royal Festival Hall at the South Bank Centre for their inaugural meeting.

On 4^th May Proud to be African favourite El Crisis will be holding the monthly Word, Power and Sound event at Centreprise Bookshop and Cafe, 136 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2NS

This new monthly event of Words delivered with Power that carry rhythmic Sound vibrations. El Crisis will have as special guests Native sun, Aamasade, Lionheart, ShakaRa, Leafy Bee, Taniya Sonko, Shadow and 9 Drummer. Tickets are £6.00 in advance and £8.00 on the door.

                             

 On 5^th May there will be the Pan African Conference Oxford 

at 9.00am at Wesley Memorial Church Hall, New Inn Hall Street, OX1 2DH, Oxford. The theme is ‘Building Capacity for a New Generation: The Case for Youth Leadership in Africa’ with a stellar line up of speakers such as Vera Songwe (World Bank Country Director for The Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania), Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi (Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria), He Liehui (Managing director of Touchroad International Holdings Group), June Arunga Kimani (CEO of Open Quest Media LLC and a founding partner of Black Star Line SA), Matthew Kukah (Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese in Nigeria and a former Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria), Arthur G. O. Mutambara (Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe), Gbenga Sesan ( Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria), Patrick G. Awuah Jnr ( Founder and President of Ashesi University College) and many others

On the 6^th May Natural November will be at Chelsea Old Town Hall Bar, SW3 between 11am and 7pm. Now the fact that the event is called Natural November but is holding in May should not confuse you, this is the second install of the very successful event that held at the Africa Centre last November. Debrose the organiser has decided that there should be a summer version and thus we are having the May incarnation, this event will see Toyin Agbetu, BBC Radio's Valley Fontaine and  Winsome 'Lyrical Healer' Duncan and from the US Ansylla of My Hairitage .Tickets from £12.50 each or two for £20 in advance, £15 on the door, £10 after 3pm. The first 100 purchased online will receive a VIP goody bag on arrival.

I am still trying to persuade her to have meat based products but I think I’m fighting a losing battle!!!

Also on Sunday 6th May Focus Organisation will be partying with Future Groove, kicking off the bank holiday at The Luxe, Old Spitalfields Market, 109 Commercial Street, E1 6BG from 7pm-Midnight, for your £5 entry you get soul Jazz Funk band Future Groove and DJs Bogossy & Oya Bun playing Afrobeat, Coupe Decale, Kurduro, Kwaito, Naija Beat, Highlife and Azonto

Tis also the season for plays by Nigerian playwrights, Bola Agbaje’s Belong is playing to sold out crowds each night (I know this as my usual last minute dot com attempts to get tickets were futile!) from 26^th April to 26^th May at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS.

Bola Agbaje’s satirical new play is a co production with Tiata Fahodzi  and questions our notion of home about a failed British Nigerian MP who flees back to Nigeria and gets tangled up in escapades back home.

It’s all fascinating and I promise to review it soon as I get to see it! This is Bola Agbaje’s 3^rd incarnation at the Royal Court her first Gone Too Far (2007) was followed by Off the Endz (2010). Her debut play won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement and was also nominated for Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Awards. She is currently working with UK production company Poisson Rouge and the UK Film Council to turn the play into a feature film. She is also a proud owner of a Proud to be African hoody so she is obviously not just talented and beautiful but of impeccable taste!
As an additional treat there is an additional run at The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST from 31st May to 26th June

Ade Solanke’s play ‘Pandora’s Box’ opens on 9^th May and runs till the 26^thof May,  at the Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL  Dalston. Ola Animashawun directs this potent new play, which is billed as a lively and compelling examination of loyalty, love and betrayal. Again another play examining the themes of being Born in the UK but Made in Africa with a mother struggling to decide whether to leave her streetwise London child at a strict Lagos boarding school or take him back to the mean streets of inner London

Next time we meet I hope to have some reviews of the plays and reports from some of the events

May we meet in sunnier times!!!