AlterNativeArt

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...

This is me being a little selfish as I work not too far away from Southwark Playhouse and well I need something exciting to do during my lunch! Southwark Playhouse Secrets is an exciting opportunity for artists and audiences to come together in cutting edge live events during lunchtime, early evening and late evening timeslots. We have several potential non-auditorium performance spaces as our home is underneath London Bridge train station's Platform One. We have a bar with a late license that we want to fill with your work. We are looking to attract non-traditional theatre audiences to engage with this programming and want artists to respond to this call accordingly. All art forms are encouraged. Time Slots Lunchtime:Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:15 to 2pm. Pre-show: Negotiable and case specific. Cannot start before 6pm, and must not distract from the theatre audiences' ability to enter the bar. Late night: Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:30 pm till late. We are now accepting ...

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.

Africa Beyond presents WORD FROM AFRICA In collaboration with SABLE LitMag Saturday 31 May – British Museum, Clore Education Centre, 13.00 – 20.15 Admission free, no prebooking A celebration of African literature and languages! After the miserable weather we had on Monday (Africa Day) here's something to get excited about, plus its indoors! Programme: BP Lecture Theatre 13.15-14:15 What kind of English is that! 2 writers read from their work and discuss the way experimental and imaginative they use the English language plus a reading and discussion on Sozaboy by Ken Saro-Wiwa famously written in 'rotten English'. With Ben Amunwa (Nigeria) Biram Mboob (The Gambia), Uchenna Izundu (Nigeria). 14.15- 14.45 (Break) 14.45-15.45 : Imagine This…Prize –Winning Women writers 3 writers read from works that have won them prestigious prizes and talk about it means for their writing careers, their influences and African women in writing today. With Karen King-Aribisala (Guyana/Ni...

“The Influence of Chinua Achebe on some Contemporary Writers” By Professor Elleke Boehmer,(Professor of World Literature in English, Oxford University) 6pm Wednesday 28th May, 2008 ROOM 532, MALET STREET,BIRKBECK, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON,LONDON WC1E 7HX For more info: m.msiska@english.bbk.ac.uk

The perfect opening to Groove Nations comes from Fela Kuti’s youngest son - Nigeria's Seun Kuti fronting his father’s band Egypt 80. Backed by a 15-piece ensemble and performing in his father’s inimitable charismatic style, Seun’s driving saxophone melodies and explosive vocals are underpinned by high-energy, jazz-infused afro-beats. His powerful lyrics revive the political voice of his father. Cited as a big influence on Fela Kuti in the 70s, long lost hero of afro-soul funk, Sierra Leonean Geraldo Pino and The Heartbreaks re-form especially for this concert. Wed 28 May 7.30pmGroove Nations – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80Silk StreetEC2Y 8DS020 7638 8891Tickets £12.50/15/20

May 26 The annual Africa Day festival (organised by the GLA) takes place in Trafalgar Square, with African music featuring Les Amazones de Guinée, Busi Ncube and Bassekou Kouyate. A licensed bar, African food stalls and kids’ workshops are all part of the day. Africa Day , 1-8pm, Trafalagar Square, W1. Charing Cross tube/rail. May May 15-June 28Angaza Afrika – African Art NowAn exhibition of major African art, plus the launch of the ‘Angaza Afrika’ book by British Museum curator Chris Spring.October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester St, WC1 (020 7242 7367) Holborn tube. May 17 London Adventist Chorale – Down by the Riverside LAC sings famous spirituals.Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 (0871 663 2500) Waterloo tube/rail. May 21-29Mosaique Festival Human rights charity Sandblast hosts Saharawi music and handicrafts from Western Sahara made by women refugee workers in Algerian camps.The Chocolate Factory, Unit B104, 5 Clarendon Rd, N22 (020 8881 6483) Wood Green tube. May 21-29 Mos...

Thursday 26 June at 7pm Lemn Sissay was born in 1967, the year The Mersey Sound was first published. Within its pages Lemn found the confirmation he had been looking for, that poetry should be for the people, by the people. This event is part of Liverpool 08. Tickets £10 and £7, venue The Arts Theatre. Find out more at www.poetrysociety.org.uk

WOW! To those who have been to the spectacle that is Afrika Afrika, you know what I am talking about, to those who havent yet seen this, you have until 31st May to catch the London showing at 02. For ticket see: http://www.afrika-afrika.com/index.php/en/tour-und-ticket

Nigeria Na My Country Oh!

I posted earlier about request for photo's of London by African Photographers and I am delighted to say one of my friends Saratu Maman was selected to be featured read/ see more pics on their site: http://www.timeout.com/london/features/4814/Photos_of_London_by_the_African_diaspora.html

I have just returned from a two and a half week trip to Nigeria, reluctantly might I add! Having been born and breed in London, England, I fall under the term Diaspora, however I haven't felt more Nigerian in my entire life! Probably the most widely appreciated art-form in Nigeria is music and the appreciation of Nigerian music within its borders and on the continent continues to grow. Contemporary music gains support not only from the public but arts awards seem to be directed this way (at least by the British Council Lagos). Literature is also at a high standard with writers such as Chimamanda Adichie shining a limelight onto Nigeria, both Historically and culturally ( side note: Wole Soyinka was on my flight back I was so star struck). I myself have been a fan of Nigerian literature for about two years, working my way through Chinua Achebe (No Longer at Ease), Peju Alatishe (Orita Meta) and Helon Habila (Waiting for an Angel) to name a few. During this trip I made my way through...

As Part of my own learning/ practice I have been embarking on a course with Arts Admin titled I Am Think Tank. The project was designed to allow young people to express their socio-political opinions through processes including performance, discussion and happenings. Working with artist Richard DeDomenici and a selection of invited guest lecturers we discussed methods of actively bring awareness to the issues affecting the group. See Blog: http://artsadmin.co.uk/blogs/thinktank/ Our Final intervention was around the London Mayoral elections. We designed calling cards with the top four candidates and proceeded to leave them around the City of London. The Public could call up the numbers on each card to find out some of the policies the candidates held. I'm not sure if this swung the vote, in favour of Boris ;)