AlterNativeArt

11th-13th September 2009 Since 2003 the London African Music Festival has been at the forefront of new African music and this year is no exception, with the festival featuring true legends – Oliver Mtukudzi, Lord Eric Sugumugu, the leader of the mighty Master Drummers of Africa, who premiers his new acoustic group, and maverick jazz organist Ed Bentley who leads his new high energy group that fuses hi-life with funk and jazz solos. As always it features women leaders with this year’s stars including The Yoruba Women Choir, Uganda’s diva Rachel Magoola, contemporary jazz saxophonist YolanDa Brown and Hilary Mwelwa leads her remarkable group, Hil St Soul. For more info and full listings check out: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/festivals-series/london-african-music-festival

Having just spent time working in the field of video art I stumbled across the Fifteen Seconds of Fame site, which is running alongside the Andy Warhol exhibition currently at the Hayward gallery. The site runs on the premise of Warhol's famous quote 'In the future everyone will have their fifteen minutes of fame' The site invites people to enter a fifteen second clip of them self in order to compete for a screening of their clip at the Hayward as well as other Warhol goodies. Have fun http://www.15secs.tv/competition.php

Check out Fresh on the Stage tonight! more info http://alter-native-me.blogspot.com/2008/05/fresh-on-stage.html

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the English National Ballet show @ the Royal Festival Hall (RFH) and it was fantastic. I cant pretend to be well versed in the art of Ballet, but I definitely appreciate the beauty and strength in each movement. If you are in the area/ free this weekend definitely try and get down to the showing or attend some of the free events and workshops taking place on the Clore ballroom in the RFH. There are also opportunities to watch the cast rehearse. If you've never been to the ballet then do take the opportunity to see some of the best dancers in the UK take centre stage at such an amazing venue. Also, if like me you are so easily distracted then I'm here to say that the ballet is so for you. Each act is broken down to bite sized scenes that are so visually stimulating you wont be thinking about what to have for dinner. more info: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/festivals-series/english-national-ballet

I love working at the Southbank cause of the sheer diversity of programmes on offer. Mama Africa is an event series that will be running through through July with some exciting listings! 2008 Caine Prize Readings Sunday 6 July 2008, 7pm Experience the finest new African writing at this annual event. The shortlisted authors read from and discuss their work, highlighting the extraordinary breadth of the continent's literature. The writers are Mohammed Naseehu Ali (Ghana), Stanley Onjezani Kenani (Malawi), Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa), Gill Schierhout (South Africa) and Uzor Maxim Uzoatu (Nigeria). The prize has launched the careers of many African writers, including Helon Habila and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (who's work I have read and thoroughly enjoy!) Colin Grant Tuesday 15 July 2008, 7pm Colin Grant's book Negro With a Hat illuminates the life of Marcus Garvey, a vital, yet often misunderstood, figurehead of the black diaspora. Garvey rose to fame as leader of the U...

Saturday 5 July 2008, 10pm Royal Festival Hall Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre Emerging Artists in Residence Riz MC and Yemisi Blake curate a late-evening show of music and spoken word, with a series of specially invited guests.