CALLS FOR SUPPORT
~ MEET AAPDEP - EMPOWERING AFRICANS FOR SELF-RELIANCE
Dear Friends,
The All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) is an African led non-profit organization established to engage in development projects that improve the quality of life in African communities worldwide, by making use of the vast technical expertise of Africans everywhere.
Since our founding in 2007, we have established membership branches in several cities in the U.S., Sierra Leone and most recently France; with the goal to address actual conditions that exist amongst marginalized African communities in those regions. The activities of AAPDEP include, but are not limited to, clean water, food security/agriculture, fishing, community health, youth development, renewable energy and a variety of education initiatives. Our membership offers us access to a pool of African people who want to directly contribute their skills and resources to initiatives led by our organization.
WE ARE UNIQUE
We are unique in that we don’t advocate any of our projects as THE solution to conditions faced by African people. Although we aim to solve the immediate contradictions through our projects, we serve as a vehicle by which we want to empower African people to realize that the power to improve our own lives is in our hands and that ultimately challenging the existing economic-political structure will ensure that the resources needed for a decent life, is in the hands of the people.
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK
Recently we have completed a U.S. tour of Nurse Mary Koroma, who serves as the Director of AAPDEP in Sierra Leone. The tour entitled “Africa’s Future in African Hands” had a purpose to raise resources for the work in the country, but also to make it known that self-reliance exists within communities in Africa, despite what we see or hear from mainstream media. Nurse Koroma took a stand and ended her position in a government hospital because she felt that the people most in need were not receiving adequate care; so she erected her own clinic out of sticks and began to care for the community, primarily pregnant women who face high rates of death in the country. Since then, she has been an agent for change, developing projects that range from agriculture, education and health which provides a holistic approach to addressing the needs of the people.
In the U.S., we maintain a successful branch presence in Washington DC with our agricultural initiatives and our work with the Marcus Garvey Enrichment Program, which operates out of the Barry Farms community, currently targeted for demolition and gentrification.
In Texas, we are enjoying our 3rd consecutive year of Houston’s, Fifth Ward Community Garden and Food Co-op. This garden has yielded crops that went toward sustaining local residents and was the impetus for Uhuru (Freedom) Marketplace which enabled us raise resources for our work. We are continuing to grow and innovate to make sure we can produce more food.
In California we are in the initial stages of a garden in the East Oakland community. With the motto of “We must feed ourselves in order to free ourselves” our members in East Oakland and surrounding neighborhoods have come together to ensure food security for their communities.
CONTACT US
We want to reach out to our friends so that you are aware of the work we do. It is important that we not operate in isolation; instead we must include the global African audience into the conversation of what we can do to solve our own issues and present AAPDEP as an organization that is forging a path. We have representatives who are available for interviews to discuss specific or all of our projects with you and your audience. To schedule an interview send a request to Ayesha Fleary at ayesha@developmentforafrica.org.
Visit our website for more information at www.developmentforafrica.org.
Below are some videos of our work, interviews and presentations:
• Marcus Garvey Enrichment Program - http://youtu.be/i738D42KLBk
• Oakland Freedom Garden - http://youtu.be/6nPMSUJ9b6A
• Sierra Leone 2012 Short Film - http://youtu.be/9CrjTwwUBqY
• International Focus w/ Nurse Mary Koroma April 2012 - http://youtu.be/DM4OAEakgyA
• Dr. Aisha Fields, International Director of AAPDEP at African Liberation Day 2011 - http://youtu.be/VMBefJCMjvQ
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Warm Regards,
Ayesha Fleary
Director of Information and Education
All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP)
(202) 642-4672
http://developmentforafrica.org
~ THE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
Empowering African women and girls to be confident, independent and skilled
3-Day Leadership Development Programme 2012
INVITATION
The Women’s Empowerment Project is pleased to announce its first leadership training for African women and African women’s activists in the UK.
The training will take place over three days and cover issues of personal empowerment, sector development and enable opportunities for participants to learn from each other.
Dates: 26-28 July 2012
Venue: A London location to be confirmed.
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
• To develop the leadership potential of African women
Learning objectives:
• To provide leadership training for women in leadership positions in women’s charities, mixed charities, businesses or social enterprises
• To empower African women through self-development
• To create an opportunity for African women to meet and build relationships for personal and professional support
SCOPE
Personal empowerment (identifying your strengths, your needs, where you are personally, professionally and where you want to go)
Key skills to make you effective in the sector in relation to advocacy, campaigning, key developments in the policy landscape and repositioning your organisation and yourself to compete and cope with the African / international policy landscape.
Develop a more strategic outlook. Action planning for your career and identifying the one thing that you can implement in the short term to achieve your goals for yourself and your organization.
PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT
This is crucial for African women to be able to commit themselves to challenging systems, most of which are rooted in years of culture and tradition, and which makes it very difficult to advocate for change.
Self-empowerment, self-esteem and the ability to balance personal and professional issues have been a major concern for African women.
The course will explore those specific issues as well as address self development, leadership dynamics to enable African women realize their potential to bring about change to their personal circumstances as well as women as a whole.
This part of the programme will enable participants to identify personal strengths understand leadership styles and define personal and professional goals. Specific emphasis will be on addressing barriers and structures to women leadership and establishing processes that will open up leadership opportunities for
African women.
INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP IN ORGANISATIONS
This part of the programme will explore the makeup of organisations and institutions, analysis of the environment as part of developing and promoting a progressive agenda for inclusive leadership.
An attempt will be made to explore concepts of leadership to broaden participants’ knowledge, explore how one becomes a leader and where leadership is exercised and the tools that will ensure effective leadership.
The programme will strengthen participants’ competencies in strategy planning, managing change, governance, resource mobilization and management, communications and information.
PLANNING FOR ACTION
This part of the programme will give participants an opportunity to apply knowledge gained and tools to develop personal plans and, where practical, frameworks for organizational plans.
TRAINERS
- Cornelius Murombedzi BA, BSc. Economics with Honours, MBA and Post Graduate Diploma in
Development Management, is currently an International Programmes Manager with extensive experience as Trainer in organizational development and Consultant. He specializes in strategic planning, leadership development and strengthening structures and systems of small organisations.
- Kekeli Kpognon holds a MSc in Migration, Mobility and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies. Her areas of expertise are Gender, migration and organisational development. Kekeli has been providing capacity building training on topics relevant to African women and African Women’s
organisation throughout London for the past five years.
HOW TO APPLY
Please write to us detailing your name, address, telephone and email details, date of birth, nationality and the name and address of your most recent employer.
Please write a paragraph explaining how you intend to use the learning from this course, both personally and professionally. Include details of your experience and aspirations in relation to leadership, both personally and professionally; what key skills and experience you will be sharing with the course group; and the key challenges you face at present both professionally and personally.
If you are interested, contact The Women’s Empowerment Project, No 8 Epsom House, 312 High Street, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1PR or e-mail: toempowerafrianwomen@gmail.com or phone 020 8714 5566.
Deadline for applications is 13 July 2012. Successful applicants for the places will be contacted by 16 July 2012.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates must be UK residents.
Participants must have a maximum of two years working experience within a women’s organisation, mixed charity, business, government department or social enterprise.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they would benefit from the training both professionally and personally.
Applicants must be able to attend all sessions and be willing to contribute fully.
Where more than 15 applicants apply, priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate they will benefit the most by attending the course. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis.
~ SUCCESSFUL PARENTS PROGRAMME
Subject: Parents of children age 6-11
Dear Parents / Carers
Successful Parents Program is an educational support service, we want to hear from parents with children age 6-11, on some of the issues these children face in school at home or on the streets.
We are in the process of setting up a program with the sole aim to support parents to help their children progress at school or at home. e.g. health, finance, nutrition, books etc
Your views as parents or carers are important to inform and advise the development of the program.
We are planning to commence our project/service by end of August 2012.
If you want to help in our survey please send us an email to successfulparentsprogram.com expressing your interest in assisting us with our survey.
Thanking you in anticipation and look forward to your email.
Best Regards
Gregory Simmons
CEO, SPP. Tel: 07901 054 135. E-mail: successfulparentsprogram@yahoo.com
FORTHCOMING NUBIART PROFILES
NUBIART: Focus on arts, business, education, health, political developments and the media.
~ MENA ‘Arab Spring’ Quarterly Update: Libyan & Egyptian Elections; Mali Madness - Timbuktu RIP.
JULY PROMOS
~ ‘ICON GIVE THANK’ & ‘ICON EYE’ - Sun Araw & M Geddes Gengras Meet The Congos [FRKWYS – Out Now] Over the last three decades The Congos have been a trio, a duo, solo, in abeyance, backing vocalists and now the last seven years have seen them firing on all cylinders as a quartet - Cedric Myton, ‘Congo Ashanti’ Roy Johnson, Watty Burnett and Kenroy Fyffe - with a regular consistent album output of classy spiritual roots. FRKWYS musician-producers Sun Araw and M Geddes Gengras met up with The Congos along with their crew which includes Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Likkle David, Sixteen and Congo Ashanti Roy’s son, Negus. Having released what is considered by many the greatest reggae album ever recorded, ‘Heart of the Congos’ in 1977, The Congos had never tried to recapture the vibe of the soundscape backing that was provided for them by Lee Perry at the Black Ark. With ‘Icon Give Thank’ they never match that subliminal perfection but they get very close especially on tracks such as ‘Happy Song’, ‘Jungle’ and ‘Thanks and Praise’. ‘Icon Eye’, is a feature-length DVD documenting time spent living and recording with The Congos in Portmore, Jamaica.
NUBIART LIBRARY – JULY MEDIA
We will only review books we have read and DVDs we have seen and that are available at reasonable prices online or in shops or libraries. However, given the nature and current state of Afrikan publishing and production there may be books and films on this list that are worth the extra effort to track down.
~ ‘WHEN BOUNDARIES BECOME BORDERS: THE IMPACT OF BOUNDARY-MAKING IN SOUTHERN SUDAN’S FRONTIER ZONES’ - Douglas H Johnson [Rift Valley Institute. ISBN-13: 978-1907431029]
- ‘THE KAFIA KINGI ENCLAVE: PEOPLE, POLITICS AND HISTORY IN THE NORTH-SOUTH BOUNDARY OF WESTERN SUDAN’ - Edward Thomas [Rift Valley Institute. ISBN-13: 978-1907431043]
These two books in the Rift Valley Institute’s Contested Borderlands series were published at the end of 2010 in the run up to the South Sudan vote and subsequent independence in 2011. They therefore set out in detail the previous two centuries of migrations, shifting alliances, Islamic incursions and European adventurism in the region which has the longest and most contentious border in East Afrika.
‘When Boundaries Become Borders’, examined the potential impact of the new boundary on the peoples of the borderlands and developments at the local level. In a comprehensive survey of archival sources and current research, the study summarises the history and present situation of the communities each side of the north-south boundary and the existing international borders of Southern Sudan using case studies of 10 of the borderland flashpoints. Claims are based on territories that have seen slave-raiding, pastoralism, war clearances, mechanisation, resource speculation and switching of allegiances as micro-nations vie for an advantage on marginal piece of land facing extreme degradation through overuse.
Disputes are over the issuing of dominant and secondary rights and the use of different ‘maps’ – traditional, 1905, 1956, 1965, 1972 and 1983 - and written descriptions of borders some of which are vegetal landmarks which no longer exist or were never adequately described in the first place. Migrants often give riverbeds as their homes even though they were dry sometimes and flowing others.
Mechanised agriculture has had a disruptive effect on borderlands, jeopardising the environment and impoverishing inhabitants. This meant the area open to pastoralists shrank forcing them to work for landowners or migrate to cities or abroad.
While the battles and disputes in the South Kordofan area around Abyei rightly gets a high profile given the importance of its oil to the economies of both Sudan and South Sudan other contested areas are less known. The Ilemi Triangle, for instance, has been occupied by Kenyan troops for decades without any sign of a pull-out. Sudanese issues are often simplistically painted as Muslims versus Christians there are some Dinka who are Muslims. There has also been a history of in-fighting between Arab pastoralists – Habbaniya, Hawazma, Misseriya and Rizeigat of South Darfur and Southern Kordofan.
Since the start of the Sudanese government’s genocidal onslaught against the people of Darfur a decade ago analysts have always passed off the situation with the single sentence about the Darfuris being Afrikans despite their adoption of the Muslim faith. ‘The Kafia Kingi Enclave: People, Politics and History in the North-South Boundary of Western Sudan’ goes as in depth about the migrations, changing alliances and political duplicity and manipulation in the region as any document we have read about the situation. “War and displacement are the means by which the area has been incorporated into the modern world.” (p15).
Darfur was not incorporated into Sudan until 1916. Kafia Kingi - also called Hofrat en-Nahas (copper pit or copper mine in Arabic) - is the key meeting point between Darfur and the South Sudan region of Western Bahr al-Ghazal. This mineral-rich area is currently under the administration of South Darfur, but is due to be returned to South Sudan under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Less than 15,000 people now live in the actual enclave after the British brutally cleared the area and set up a buffer zone between ‘Muslim North’ and ‘Christian South’ in the 1930s. The Sudanese government turned most of the area into the Radom Biosphere Reserve. The Governor of South Darfur threatened to ‘sell his camels and buy guns’ if the central Sudanese government followed through on the agreed restoration and this has slowed the rightful return of the area to South Sudan.
Halfway through reading this book we lost count of how many times people from the enclave and the neighbouring districts have switched sides between the British, Turks, Egyptians, the Mahdi, local chiefs, sheikhs, bandits, pastoralists, evangelists, the Sudanese government, Sudan African National Union’s Anyanya army, the SPLM and local militias such as Al-Tom Al-Nur’s of the Sudan Socialist Union. Income in recent times has been generated by predation, migration and drug cultivation.
Muslim patriarchs transformed matrilineal African societies. The book explains the negative origins of the term ‘Fertit’ which was once a catch-all word for the Western Bahr al-Ghazal groups that were not Dinka, Arab, Luo or Furl. The term has been partially ‘reclaimed’ by several groups across the Sudanese geo-political area. Fertit can be Muslim, Catholic and Afrikan Traditionalists.
The comprehensive glossaries and bibliographies in both books can lead on to many more valuable areas of research about the history, micro-nations, politics, religion, environment and economics of one of the most crucial regions on the Afrikan continent. If like us you prefer the real deal you can buy hard copies of both these books or you can download free copies from the ‘Publications’ section of the Rift Valley Institute website:
http://www.riftvalley.net/resources/file/When%20Boundaries%20Become%20Borders%20Rift%20Valley%20Institute.pdf
and http://www.riftvalley.net/resources/file/Contested%20Borderlands%20-%20Kafia%20Kingi%20Enclave20:12.pdf
~ BLACK HISTORY STUDIES OLYMPIC DOUBLE BILL
- 9 July: ‘History of Black Olympics: The History of Black Olympians from 1904’. The early African athlete is rarely acknowledged and most people are unaware of the contributions of early Olympians such as George C Poage, Len Taunyane and Jan Mashiani. We will examine the contributions of Black Olympians from Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas in the Olympic and the Paralympic Games.
- 11 July: ‘The Effects of Imprisonment on the Black Community.’ This informative and awareness raising presentation will look at the effects of imprisonment on the Black family and Black community as a whole. Presented by Sis Annetta Bennett, a consultant with over twenty-five years experience within the criminal justice system. This awareness raising session will look at: The statistics in relation to Black people in custody; Pathways to imprisonment; The effects of imprisonment on the Black family; The effects of imprisonment on the Black community; Post riot criminal justice measures - what do you know?; and solutions and prevention measures.
Both events at 7pm at the PCS Headquarters, 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 2LN. Adm: £5. Tel / Fax: 020 8881 0660. Mob: 07951 234 233. E-mail: info@blackhistorystudies.com Web: http://www.blackhistorystudies.com
- 15 July: ‘Black Power Salute’ and ‘The Athlete’. ‘Black Power Salute’ is a documentary about one of the most iconic images of the 20th century when two African-American men - Tommie Smith and John Carlos - made a courageous gesture at the 1968 Mexico Olympics that reverberated round the world and changed their lives forever. After receiving Gold and Bronze medals for their wins in the 200m race they raised their gloved clenched fists on the podium during the US national anthem. They were subsequently banned from the Games for life. What inspired them to make their protest? Why did it carry such a powerful message? And what happened to the unlikely revolutionaries following the Games? ‘Black Power Salute’ reveals the untold story behind one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history.
‘The Athlete (Atletu)’ tells the story of Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila who took the world by surprise when he won at the 1960 Rome Olympics, becoming the first Afrikan to win an Olympic gold medal. He then became the first man to win the Olympic marathon twice in a row with a second gold at the 1964 Olympics. However in 1969, a car accident left him paralysed from the waist down and his story took an unexpected turn as he fought to compete again. The double bill will be followed by a Q&A with Geoff Small, Director of Black Power Salute.
At 1.30pm at the Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Street, East Finchley, London, N2 9PJ. Adm: £6. Box Office: 020 8444 6789. Web: www.phoenixcinema.co.uk
~ OPERATION BLACK VOTE AND FRESHWATER PLC HOST OLYMPIAN DR TOMMIE SMITH. Dr Tommie Smith’s status was secured when in 1968 at the Mexico Olympic Games he smashed the world record for 200 metres - a record that was held for 40 years - and during the medal ceremony he, along with fellow Afrikan-American Jon Carlos bowed his head and raised his fist in one of the most iconic images of any Olympic Games. Dr Tommie Smith will speak at Westminster University, the Houses of Parliament and the UK film premiere of ‘Salute’, about himself and Jon Carlos, aided by Australian Peter Norman, whose nephew, Matt Norman, made the documentary of the story behind the iconic salute that left all three athletes ostracised from the sport they loved. Q&A with Dr Smith and Tessa Sanderson, CBE, chaired by Trevor Phillips OBE after the screening. On Wed Jul 11 at the Mayfair Hotel, 2A White Horse Street, London, W1J 7LE. Adm: £40 / £25. Tel: 020 8983 5426. E-mail: francine@obv.org.uk
~ BRITISH BLACK MUSIC MONTH
- July 12 at 6-8.30pm (Willesden Green): WHO I AM & WHAT I DO VI (Networking £10). Web: http://bbmm2012networking.eventbrite.com
- July 14 at 1-9pm (Willesden Green): BBM FILMS ALL-DAYER (Screening / Q&A). Web: http://bbmm2012films.eventbrite.com
- July 14 at 1-9pm (Willesden Green): BLACK MUSIC RECORDS & AFRICAN CRAFTS FAIR XI (Fair. Stalls £10). Web: http://bbmm2012fair.eventbrite.com
- July 15 at 3-7pm (Clapham Common) British Reggae & Lovers’ Rock: A Product of Migration (£4 / £2 fundraiser for West Indian Service Personnel). Web: http://bbmm2012wasp.eventbrite.com
- July 21 at 1-6pm (Plaistow) Making Sense of How the Music Industry Works & Preparing A Music Business Plan Workshop (workshop £50 / £20): http://bbmm2012musicbizplan.eventbrite.com
~ AFRICAN ODYSSEYS PRESENT ‘OUTSIDE THE LAW’. Dir: Rachid Bouchareb. The story takes place between 1945 and 1962 and focuses on the lives of three Algerian brothers in France, set against the backdrop of the Algerian War for independence. The Algerians were heavily influenced by Martiniquan psychologist Frantz Fanon and they also hosted the US Black Panthers. On Sat 14 July at 2-5pm at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London, SE1. Adm: £5. Web: www.bfi.org.uk
~ FIND YOUR VOICE PRESENTS ‘DEVELOPING YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS’. A special sharing and networking opportunity for entrepreneurs, existing business people and those who are planning a business start-up to get together and share their visions and experiences. Come and listen to an amazing line-up of star speakers: Diane Powell - Access to Finance; Penelope Wickham – Access to Charities; Lorraine James – How to Register Your Business; Buzzy Bee – Media & PR; Catherine MacArthur – Social Media; Jackie Maxwell – Business Plans; Leroy E Lawson – SuperGreens; Sister Diane – Managing Stress in Business; Grace Cameron – Being an Entrepreneur. On Sat 14 July at 1–4pm at Wood Green Library Business Lounge, 187-197A High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6XD.
Contact Douglas Williams on: 07960 239 493 or 07882 403 871.
~ PALESTINE AND AFRICA: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION? A special presentation sampling the work of Ben Bousquet, Tony Tee, Lord Balfour, Edward Said, Golda Meir, John Pilger, Tony Benn, Chaim Weizman, Noam Chomsky, and John Henrik Clarke to examine the background to the recent attacks on Afrikan people in Israel. Unusual and little known facts will be illustrated with video evidence in this interactive session. On Sat 14 July at 6.30-9pm in Walthamstow area. Tel: 07939 540 826 for venue.
~ HARINGEY INDEPENDENT CINEMA PRESENT ‘BLACK POWER SALUTE & SHORT FILMS. Dir: Geoff Small. How have politicised people used their minds, bodies and spirits to draw public attention to the knot of hypocrisy and oppression at the heart of the Games? ‘Black Power Salute’ takes us back to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, to one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, when two men made a courageous gesture that reverberated around the world and changed their lives forever.
As the Star Spangled Banner played, black athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, recipients of gold and bronze medals for the 200m sprint, bowed their heads and raised a gloved, clenched fist in support of the Black Power movement and human rights. They were booed by the crowd as they left the podium and were subsequently banned from the Games for life. This documentary asks what inspired them to make their protest, why it carried such a powerful message and what happened to the unlikely revolutionaries following the Games. On Thurs 19 July at 7pm at West Green Learning Centre, West Green Road, London, N15. Adm: £4 / £3. Web: http://www.haringey.org.uk/hic/
~ BLACK HISTORY WALKS PRESENTS
- Thurs 19 July 7-9pm: ‘Black Women and The Apartheid Uprisings’. Adm: £6
During the Soweto Uprisings (June 16 1976) Afrikan women played a crucial part in South Africa’s liberation from Apartheid but like many women freedom fighters in Afrika their role has been under-reported and under-valued. This presentation, hosted by Dr June Bam-Huchison, will explain the role of Afrikan and so-called ‘coloured’ women in the struggle since the 1950’s to 1976 and cover: Beauty as oppression; Birth control and experimentation; Male / female relationships - how does a couple involved in resistance work survive?; Life in prison for men, and what it means for women; The role of sex workers in the struggle; and Love and Liberation music. Dr June Bam Huchison is a Khoi woman and resistance leader who survived the Soweto Uprisings, manhunts and death threats to achieve a PhD and become a member of the post-Apartheid government. She is the author of ‘Peeping Through the Reeds’ a semi-autobiographical book of life in South Africa. Web: http://www.peepingthroughreeds.co.uk/
- Friday 20 July 7-9pm: ‘The Black Image’. Adm: £7
Presentation and short films which show how the image of Afrikan people has been deliberately negatively altered by Europeans. In the 15th century Afrikan people were portrayed in European art as noble, sophisticated and dignified. With the rise of European imperialism these images were replaced with demeaning stereotypes which still inform public opinion via children’s books, Hollywood movies and TV adverts.
- Sun 22 July 3.30-7pm: ‘African Superheroes Day’. Adm: £7 / £5 U-16s
This session aimed at 6-60 year olds, will feature a variety of Afrikan-themed cartoons which tell tales of; Magical Nigerian women warriors, Anansi the West African Folk Hero, The story of Ogun and Oshun, Teenage black superheroes plus analysis of this history of cartoons.
All events at Pimlico Academy, Lupus Street, London, SW1V 3AT. Web: www.blackhistorywalks.com
~ THIRD ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF YORUBA ARTS. Celebrating, the rich, vibrant and colourful arts and culture of the Yoruba’s - from the West Afrikan, Caribbean and Latin American communities in the UK. Cultural performances, live bands and delicious Afrikan food. On Sat 28 July at 11am-9pm at Clissold Park, Hackney, London, N16 9HJ. Adm: Free. Web: www.foya.org.uk
Water Cargo, 2012
~ OCTOBER GALLERY PRESENT ROMUALD HAZOUMÈ: CARGOLAND. ‘Cargoland’ is Beninois Hazoumè’s bringing together of two large-scale installations, masks and photographs that have never been seen before in Britain. His practice often engages deeply with local and international history to deliver incisive, sharp social commentary. Until 11 Aug (Tues-Fri) at 12.30- 5.30pm at October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 3AL. Adm: Free. Web: www.octobergallery.co.uk
~ ‘JOURNEYS AND KINSHIP’ EXHIBITION. Is the face not currency enough? This display of face casts responds to the irony that members of the African Diaspora must pay to visit sites from which their ancestors were transported into enslavement. ‘Journeys and Kinship’ explores further the themes of the London, Sugar & Slavery gallery at the Museum of London Docklands through a project between the visual artist Jean Joseph and a group of young Londoners working together with Calypsonian, Alexander D Great, and Yvonne Wilson from Equi-Vison. Until 4 Nov 2012 at Museum of London, Docklands 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London, E14 4AL. Tel: 020 7001 9844. Adm: Free. Web: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/Whats-on/Exhibitions-Displays/JourneysandKinship.htm
Contact: Kubara Zamani, Afrikan Quest International, PO Box 35165, London, SE5 8WU. Tel: 07811 494 969. E-mail: afrikanquest@hotmail.com Web: www.southwark.tv/quest/aqhome.asp
External Links
Afrikan Quest International
~ MEET AAPDEP - EMPOWERING AFRICANS FOR SELF-RELIANCE
Dear Friends,
The All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) is an African led non-profit organization established to engage in development projects that improve the quality of life in African communities worldwide, by making use of the vast technical expertise of Africans everywhere.
Since our founding in 2007, we have established membership branches in several cities in the U.S., Sierra Leone and most recently France; with the goal to address actual conditions that exist amongst marginalized African communities in those regions. The activities of AAPDEP include, but are not limited to, clean water, food security/agriculture, fishing, community health, youth development, renewable energy and a variety of education initiatives. Our membership offers us access to a pool of African people who want to directly contribute their skills and resources to initiatives led by our organization.
WE ARE UNIQUE
We are unique in that we don’t advocate any of our projects as THE solution to conditions faced by African people. Although we aim to solve the immediate contradictions through our projects, we serve as a vehicle by which we want to empower African people to realize that the power to improve our own lives is in our hands and that ultimately challenging the existing economic-political structure will ensure that the resources needed for a decent life, is in the hands of the people.
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK
Recently we have completed a U.S. tour of Nurse Mary Koroma, who serves as the Director of AAPDEP in Sierra Leone. The tour entitled “Africa’s Future in African Hands” had a purpose to raise resources for the work in the country, but also to make it known that self-reliance exists within communities in Africa, despite what we see or hear from mainstream media. Nurse Koroma took a stand and ended her position in a government hospital because she felt that the people most in need were not receiving adequate care; so she erected her own clinic out of sticks and began to care for the community, primarily pregnant women who face high rates of death in the country. Since then, she has been an agent for change, developing projects that range from agriculture, education and health which provides a holistic approach to addressing the needs of the people.
In the U.S., we maintain a successful branch presence in Washington DC with our agricultural initiatives and our work with the Marcus Garvey Enrichment Program, which operates out of the Barry Farms community, currently targeted for demolition and gentrification.
In Texas, we are enjoying our 3rd consecutive year of Houston’s, Fifth Ward Community Garden and Food Co-op. This garden has yielded crops that went toward sustaining local residents and was the impetus for Uhuru (Freedom) Marketplace which enabled us raise resources for our work. We are continuing to grow and innovate to make sure we can produce more food.
In California we are in the initial stages of a garden in the East Oakland community. With the motto of “We must feed ourselves in order to free ourselves” our members in East Oakland and surrounding neighborhoods have come together to ensure food security for their communities.
CONTACT US
We want to reach out to our friends so that you are aware of the work we do. It is important that we not operate in isolation; instead we must include the global African audience into the conversation of what we can do to solve our own issues and present AAPDEP as an organization that is forging a path. We have representatives who are available for interviews to discuss specific or all of our projects with you and your audience. To schedule an interview send a request to Ayesha Fleary at ayesha@developmentforafrica.org.
Visit our website for more information at www.developmentforafrica.org.
Below are some videos of our work, interviews and presentations:
• Marcus Garvey Enrichment Program - http://youtu.be/i738D42KLBk
• Oakland Freedom Garden - http://youtu.be/6nPMSUJ9b6A
• Sierra Leone 2012 Short Film - http://youtu.be/9CrjTwwUBqY
• International Focus w/ Nurse Mary Koroma April 2012 - http://youtu.be/DM4OAEakgyA
• Dr. Aisha Fields, International Director of AAPDEP at African Liberation Day 2011 - http://youtu.be/VMBefJCMjvQ
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Warm Regards,
Ayesha Fleary
Director of Information and Education
All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP)
(202) 642-4672
http://developmentforafrica.org
~ THE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
Empowering African women and girls to be confident, independent and skilled
3-Day Leadership Development Programme 2012
INVITATION
The Women’s Empowerment Project is pleased to announce its first leadership training for African women and African women’s activists in the UK.
The training will take place over three days and cover issues of personal empowerment, sector development and enable opportunities for participants to learn from each other.
Dates: 26-28 July 2012
Venue: A London location to be confirmed.
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
• To develop the leadership potential of African women
Learning objectives:
• To provide leadership training for women in leadership positions in women’s charities, mixed charities, businesses or social enterprises
• To empower African women through self-development
• To create an opportunity for African women to meet and build relationships for personal and professional support
SCOPE
Personal empowerment (identifying your strengths, your needs, where you are personally, professionally and where you want to go)
Key skills to make you effective in the sector in relation to advocacy, campaigning, key developments in the policy landscape and repositioning your organisation and yourself to compete and cope with the African / international policy landscape.
Develop a more strategic outlook. Action planning for your career and identifying the one thing that you can implement in the short term to achieve your goals for yourself and your organization.
PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT
This is crucial for African women to be able to commit themselves to challenging systems, most of which are rooted in years of culture and tradition, and which makes it very difficult to advocate for change.
Self-empowerment, self-esteem and the ability to balance personal and professional issues have been a major concern for African women.
The course will explore those specific issues as well as address self development, leadership dynamics to enable African women realize their potential to bring about change to their personal circumstances as well as women as a whole.
This part of the programme will enable participants to identify personal strengths understand leadership styles and define personal and professional goals. Specific emphasis will be on addressing barriers and structures to women leadership and establishing processes that will open up leadership opportunities for
African women.
INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP IN ORGANISATIONS
This part of the programme will explore the makeup of organisations and institutions, analysis of the environment as part of developing and promoting a progressive agenda for inclusive leadership.
An attempt will be made to explore concepts of leadership to broaden participants’ knowledge, explore how one becomes a leader and where leadership is exercised and the tools that will ensure effective leadership.
The programme will strengthen participants’ competencies in strategy planning, managing change, governance, resource mobilization and management, communications and information.
PLANNING FOR ACTION
This part of the programme will give participants an opportunity to apply knowledge gained and tools to develop personal plans and, where practical, frameworks for organizational plans.
TRAINERS
- Cornelius Murombedzi BA, BSc. Economics with Honours, MBA and Post Graduate Diploma in
Development Management, is currently an International Programmes Manager with extensive experience as Trainer in organizational development and Consultant. He specializes in strategic planning, leadership development and strengthening structures and systems of small organisations.
- Kekeli Kpognon holds a MSc in Migration, Mobility and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies. Her areas of expertise are Gender, migration and organisational development. Kekeli has been providing capacity building training on topics relevant to African women and African Women’s
organisation throughout London for the past five years.
HOW TO APPLY
Please write to us detailing your name, address, telephone and email details, date of birth, nationality and the name and address of your most recent employer.
Please write a paragraph explaining how you intend to use the learning from this course, both personally and professionally. Include details of your experience and aspirations in relation to leadership, both personally and professionally; what key skills and experience you will be sharing with the course group; and the key challenges you face at present both professionally and personally.
If you are interested, contact The Women’s Empowerment Project, No 8 Epsom House, 312 High Street, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1PR or e-mail: toempowerafrianwomen@gmail.com or phone 020 8714 5566.
Deadline for applications is 13 July 2012. Successful applicants for the places will be contacted by 16 July 2012.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates must be UK residents.
Participants must have a maximum of two years working experience within a women’s organisation, mixed charity, business, government department or social enterprise.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they would benefit from the training both professionally and personally.
Applicants must be able to attend all sessions and be willing to contribute fully.
Where more than 15 applicants apply, priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate they will benefit the most by attending the course. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis.
~ SUCCESSFUL PARENTS PROGRAMME
Subject: Parents of children age 6-11
Dear Parents / Carers
Successful Parents Program is an educational support service, we want to hear from parents with children age 6-11, on some of the issues these children face in school at home or on the streets.
We are in the process of setting up a program with the sole aim to support parents to help their children progress at school or at home. e.g. health, finance, nutrition, books etc
Your views as parents or carers are important to inform and advise the development of the program.
We are planning to commence our project/service by end of August 2012.
If you want to help in our survey please send us an email to successfulparentsprogram.com expressing your interest in assisting us with our survey.
Thanking you in anticipation and look forward to your email.
Best Regards
Gregory Simmons
CEO, SPP. Tel: 07901 054 135. E-mail: successfulparentsprogram@yahoo.com
FORTHCOMING NUBIART PROFILES
NUBIART: Focus on arts, business, education, health, political developments and the media.
~ MENA ‘Arab Spring’ Quarterly Update: Libyan & Egyptian Elections; Mali Madness - Timbuktu RIP.
JULY PROMOS
~ ‘ICON GIVE THANK’ & ‘ICON EYE’ - Sun Araw & M Geddes Gengras Meet The Congos [FRKWYS – Out Now] Over the last three decades The Congos have been a trio, a duo, solo, in abeyance, backing vocalists and now the last seven years have seen them firing on all cylinders as a quartet - Cedric Myton, ‘Congo Ashanti’ Roy Johnson, Watty Burnett and Kenroy Fyffe - with a regular consistent album output of classy spiritual roots. FRKWYS musician-producers Sun Araw and M Geddes Gengras met up with The Congos along with their crew which includes Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Likkle David, Sixteen and Congo Ashanti Roy’s son, Negus. Having released what is considered by many the greatest reggae album ever recorded, ‘Heart of the Congos’ in 1977, The Congos had never tried to recapture the vibe of the soundscape backing that was provided for them by Lee Perry at the Black Ark. With ‘Icon Give Thank’ they never match that subliminal perfection but they get very close especially on tracks such as ‘Happy Song’, ‘Jungle’ and ‘Thanks and Praise’. ‘Icon Eye’, is a feature-length DVD documenting time spent living and recording with The Congos in Portmore, Jamaica.
NUBIART LIBRARY – JULY MEDIA
We will only review books we have read and DVDs we have seen and that are available at reasonable prices online or in shops or libraries. However, given the nature and current state of Afrikan publishing and production there may be books and films on this list that are worth the extra effort to track down.
~ ‘WHEN BOUNDARIES BECOME BORDERS: THE IMPACT OF BOUNDARY-MAKING IN SOUTHERN SUDAN’S FRONTIER ZONES’ - Douglas H Johnson [Rift Valley Institute. ISBN-13: 978-1907431029]
- ‘THE KAFIA KINGI ENCLAVE: PEOPLE, POLITICS AND HISTORY IN THE NORTH-SOUTH BOUNDARY OF WESTERN SUDAN’ - Edward Thomas [Rift Valley Institute. ISBN-13: 978-1907431043]
These two books in the Rift Valley Institute’s Contested Borderlands series were published at the end of 2010 in the run up to the South Sudan vote and subsequent independence in 2011. They therefore set out in detail the previous two centuries of migrations, shifting alliances, Islamic incursions and European adventurism in the region which has the longest and most contentious border in East Afrika.
‘When Boundaries Become Borders’, examined the potential impact of the new boundary on the peoples of the borderlands and developments at the local level. In a comprehensive survey of archival sources and current research, the study summarises the history and present situation of the communities each side of the north-south boundary and the existing international borders of Southern Sudan using case studies of 10 of the borderland flashpoints. Claims are based on territories that have seen slave-raiding, pastoralism, war clearances, mechanisation, resource speculation and switching of allegiances as micro-nations vie for an advantage on marginal piece of land facing extreme degradation through overuse.
Disputes are over the issuing of dominant and secondary rights and the use of different ‘maps’ – traditional, 1905, 1956, 1965, 1972 and 1983 - and written descriptions of borders some of which are vegetal landmarks which no longer exist or were never adequately described in the first place. Migrants often give riverbeds as their homes even though they were dry sometimes and flowing others.
Mechanised agriculture has had a disruptive effect on borderlands, jeopardising the environment and impoverishing inhabitants. This meant the area open to pastoralists shrank forcing them to work for landowners or migrate to cities or abroad.
While the battles and disputes in the South Kordofan area around Abyei rightly gets a high profile given the importance of its oil to the economies of both Sudan and South Sudan other contested areas are less known. The Ilemi Triangle, for instance, has been occupied by Kenyan troops for decades without any sign of a pull-out. Sudanese issues are often simplistically painted as Muslims versus Christians there are some Dinka who are Muslims. There has also been a history of in-fighting between Arab pastoralists – Habbaniya, Hawazma, Misseriya and Rizeigat of South Darfur and Southern Kordofan.
Since the start of the Sudanese government’s genocidal onslaught against the people of Darfur a decade ago analysts have always passed off the situation with the single sentence about the Darfuris being Afrikans despite their adoption of the Muslim faith. ‘The Kafia Kingi Enclave: People, Politics and History in the North-South Boundary of Western Sudan’ goes as in depth about the migrations, changing alliances and political duplicity and manipulation in the region as any document we have read about the situation. “War and displacement are the means by which the area has been incorporated into the modern world.” (p15).
Darfur was not incorporated into Sudan until 1916. Kafia Kingi - also called Hofrat en-Nahas (copper pit or copper mine in Arabic) - is the key meeting point between Darfur and the South Sudan region of Western Bahr al-Ghazal. This mineral-rich area is currently under the administration of South Darfur, but is due to be returned to South Sudan under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Less than 15,000 people now live in the actual enclave after the British brutally cleared the area and set up a buffer zone between ‘Muslim North’ and ‘Christian South’ in the 1930s. The Sudanese government turned most of the area into the Radom Biosphere Reserve. The Governor of South Darfur threatened to ‘sell his camels and buy guns’ if the central Sudanese government followed through on the agreed restoration and this has slowed the rightful return of the area to South Sudan.
Halfway through reading this book we lost count of how many times people from the enclave and the neighbouring districts have switched sides between the British, Turks, Egyptians, the Mahdi, local chiefs, sheikhs, bandits, pastoralists, evangelists, the Sudanese government, Sudan African National Union’s Anyanya army, the SPLM and local militias such as Al-Tom Al-Nur’s of the Sudan Socialist Union. Income in recent times has been generated by predation, migration and drug cultivation.
Muslim patriarchs transformed matrilineal African societies. The book explains the negative origins of the term ‘Fertit’ which was once a catch-all word for the Western Bahr al-Ghazal groups that were not Dinka, Arab, Luo or Furl. The term has been partially ‘reclaimed’ by several groups across the Sudanese geo-political area. Fertit can be Muslim, Catholic and Afrikan Traditionalists.
The comprehensive glossaries and bibliographies in both books can lead on to many more valuable areas of research about the history, micro-nations, politics, religion, environment and economics of one of the most crucial regions on the Afrikan continent. If like us you prefer the real deal you can buy hard copies of both these books or you can download free copies from the ‘Publications’ section of the Rift Valley Institute website:
http://www.riftvalley.net/resources/file/When%20Boundaries%20Become%20Borders%20Rift%20Valley%20Institute.pdf
and http://www.riftvalley.net/resources/file/Contested%20Borderlands%20-%20Kafia%20Kingi%20Enclave20:12.pdf
Festival of Yoruba Arts 2012
Nubiart Diary
~ BLACK HISTORY STUDIES OLYMPIC DOUBLE BILL- 9 July: ‘History of Black Olympics: The History of Black Olympians from 1904’. The early African athlete is rarely acknowledged and most people are unaware of the contributions of early Olympians such as George C Poage, Len Taunyane and Jan Mashiani. We will examine the contributions of Black Olympians from Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas in the Olympic and the Paralympic Games.
- 11 July: ‘The Effects of Imprisonment on the Black Community.’ This informative and awareness raising presentation will look at the effects of imprisonment on the Black family and Black community as a whole. Presented by Sis Annetta Bennett, a consultant with over twenty-five years experience within the criminal justice system. This awareness raising session will look at: The statistics in relation to Black people in custody; Pathways to imprisonment; The effects of imprisonment on the Black family; The effects of imprisonment on the Black community; Post riot criminal justice measures - what do you know?; and solutions and prevention measures.
Both events at 7pm at the PCS Headquarters, 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 2LN. Adm: £5. Tel / Fax: 020 8881 0660. Mob: 07951 234 233. E-mail: info@blackhistorystudies.com Web: http://www.blackhistorystudies.com
- 15 July: ‘Black Power Salute’ and ‘The Athlete’. ‘Black Power Salute’ is a documentary about one of the most iconic images of the 20th century when two African-American men - Tommie Smith and John Carlos - made a courageous gesture at the 1968 Mexico Olympics that reverberated round the world and changed their lives forever. After receiving Gold and Bronze medals for their wins in the 200m race they raised their gloved clenched fists on the podium during the US national anthem. They were subsequently banned from the Games for life. What inspired them to make their protest? Why did it carry such a powerful message? And what happened to the unlikely revolutionaries following the Games? ‘Black Power Salute’ reveals the untold story behind one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history.
‘The Athlete (Atletu)’ tells the story of Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila who took the world by surprise when he won at the 1960 Rome Olympics, becoming the first Afrikan to win an Olympic gold medal. He then became the first man to win the Olympic marathon twice in a row with a second gold at the 1964 Olympics. However in 1969, a car accident left him paralysed from the waist down and his story took an unexpected turn as he fought to compete again. The double bill will be followed by a Q&A with Geoff Small, Director of Black Power Salute.
At 1.30pm at the Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Street, East Finchley, London, N2 9PJ. Adm: £6. Box Office: 020 8444 6789. Web: www.phoenixcinema.co.uk
~ OPERATION BLACK VOTE AND FRESHWATER PLC HOST OLYMPIAN DR TOMMIE SMITH. Dr Tommie Smith’s status was secured when in 1968 at the Mexico Olympic Games he smashed the world record for 200 metres - a record that was held for 40 years - and during the medal ceremony he, along with fellow Afrikan-American Jon Carlos bowed his head and raised his fist in one of the most iconic images of any Olympic Games. Dr Tommie Smith will speak at Westminster University, the Houses of Parliament and the UK film premiere of ‘Salute’, about himself and Jon Carlos, aided by Australian Peter Norman, whose nephew, Matt Norman, made the documentary of the story behind the iconic salute that left all three athletes ostracised from the sport they loved. Q&A with Dr Smith and Tessa Sanderson, CBE, chaired by Trevor Phillips OBE after the screening. On Wed Jul 11 at the Mayfair Hotel, 2A White Horse Street, London, W1J 7LE. Adm: £40 / £25. Tel: 020 8983 5426. E-mail: francine@obv.org.uk
~ BRITISH BLACK MUSIC MONTH
- July 12 at 6-8.30pm (Willesden Green): WHO I AM & WHAT I DO VI (Networking £10). Web: http://bbmm2012networking.eventbrite.com
- July 14 at 1-9pm (Willesden Green): BBM FILMS ALL-DAYER (Screening / Q&A). Web: http://bbmm2012films.eventbrite.com
- July 14 at 1-9pm (Willesden Green): BLACK MUSIC RECORDS & AFRICAN CRAFTS FAIR XI (Fair. Stalls £10). Web: http://bbmm2012fair.eventbrite.com
- July 15 at 3-7pm (Clapham Common) British Reggae & Lovers’ Rock: A Product of Migration (£4 / £2 fundraiser for West Indian Service Personnel). Web: http://bbmm2012wasp.eventbrite.com
- July 21 at 1-6pm (Plaistow) Making Sense of How the Music Industry Works & Preparing A Music Business Plan Workshop (workshop £50 / £20): http://bbmm2012musicbizplan.eventbrite.com
~ AFRICAN ODYSSEYS PRESENT ‘OUTSIDE THE LAW’. Dir: Rachid Bouchareb. The story takes place between 1945 and 1962 and focuses on the lives of three Algerian brothers in France, set against the backdrop of the Algerian War for independence. The Algerians were heavily influenced by Martiniquan psychologist Frantz Fanon and they also hosted the US Black Panthers. On Sat 14 July at 2-5pm at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London, SE1. Adm: £5. Web: www.bfi.org.uk
~ FIND YOUR VOICE PRESENTS ‘DEVELOPING YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS’. A special sharing and networking opportunity for entrepreneurs, existing business people and those who are planning a business start-up to get together and share their visions and experiences. Come and listen to an amazing line-up of star speakers: Diane Powell - Access to Finance; Penelope Wickham – Access to Charities; Lorraine James – How to Register Your Business; Buzzy Bee – Media & PR; Catherine MacArthur – Social Media; Jackie Maxwell – Business Plans; Leroy E Lawson – SuperGreens; Sister Diane – Managing Stress in Business; Grace Cameron – Being an Entrepreneur. On Sat 14 July at 1–4pm at Wood Green Library Business Lounge, 187-197A High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6XD.
Contact Douglas Williams on: 07960 239 493 or 07882 403 871.
~ PALESTINE AND AFRICA: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION? A special presentation sampling the work of Ben Bousquet, Tony Tee, Lord Balfour, Edward Said, Golda Meir, John Pilger, Tony Benn, Chaim Weizman, Noam Chomsky, and John Henrik Clarke to examine the background to the recent attacks on Afrikan people in Israel. Unusual and little known facts will be illustrated with video evidence in this interactive session. On Sat 14 July at 6.30-9pm in Walthamstow area. Tel: 07939 540 826 for venue.
~ HARINGEY INDEPENDENT CINEMA PRESENT ‘BLACK POWER SALUTE & SHORT FILMS. Dir: Geoff Small. How have politicised people used their minds, bodies and spirits to draw public attention to the knot of hypocrisy and oppression at the heart of the Games? ‘Black Power Salute’ takes us back to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, to one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, when two men made a courageous gesture that reverberated around the world and changed their lives forever.
As the Star Spangled Banner played, black athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, recipients of gold and bronze medals for the 200m sprint, bowed their heads and raised a gloved, clenched fist in support of the Black Power movement and human rights. They were booed by the crowd as they left the podium and were subsequently banned from the Games for life. This documentary asks what inspired them to make their protest, why it carried such a powerful message and what happened to the unlikely revolutionaries following the Games. On Thurs 19 July at 7pm at West Green Learning Centre, West Green Road, London, N15. Adm: £4 / £3. Web: http://www.haringey.org.uk/hic/
~ BLACK HISTORY WALKS PRESENTS
- Thurs 19 July 7-9pm: ‘Black Women and The Apartheid Uprisings’. Adm: £6
During the Soweto Uprisings (June 16 1976) Afrikan women played a crucial part in South Africa’s liberation from Apartheid but like many women freedom fighters in Afrika their role has been under-reported and under-valued. This presentation, hosted by Dr June Bam-Huchison, will explain the role of Afrikan and so-called ‘coloured’ women in the struggle since the 1950’s to 1976 and cover: Beauty as oppression; Birth control and experimentation; Male / female relationships - how does a couple involved in resistance work survive?; Life in prison for men, and what it means for women; The role of sex workers in the struggle; and Love and Liberation music. Dr June Bam Huchison is a Khoi woman and resistance leader who survived the Soweto Uprisings, manhunts and death threats to achieve a PhD and become a member of the post-Apartheid government. She is the author of ‘Peeping Through the Reeds’ a semi-autobiographical book of life in South Africa. Web: http://www.peepingthroughreeds.co.uk/
- Friday 20 July 7-9pm: ‘The Black Image’. Adm: £7
Presentation and short films which show how the image of Afrikan people has been deliberately negatively altered by Europeans. In the 15th century Afrikan people were portrayed in European art as noble, sophisticated and dignified. With the rise of European imperialism these images were replaced with demeaning stereotypes which still inform public opinion via children’s books, Hollywood movies and TV adverts.
- Sun 22 July 3.30-7pm: ‘African Superheroes Day’. Adm: £7 / £5 U-16s
This session aimed at 6-60 year olds, will feature a variety of Afrikan-themed cartoons which tell tales of; Magical Nigerian women warriors, Anansi the West African Folk Hero, The story of Ogun and Oshun, Teenage black superheroes plus analysis of this history of cartoons.
All events at Pimlico Academy, Lupus Street, London, SW1V 3AT. Web: www.blackhistorywalks.com
~ THIRD ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF YORUBA ARTS. Celebrating, the rich, vibrant and colourful arts and culture of the Yoruba’s - from the West Afrikan, Caribbean and Latin American communities in the UK. Cultural performances, live bands and delicious Afrikan food. On Sat 28 July at 11am-9pm at Clissold Park, Hackney, London, N16 9HJ. Adm: Free. Web: www.foya.org.uk
Water Cargo, 2012
~ OCTOBER GALLERY PRESENT ROMUALD HAZOUMÈ: CARGOLAND. ‘Cargoland’ is Beninois Hazoumè’s bringing together of two large-scale installations, masks and photographs that have never been seen before in Britain. His practice often engages deeply with local and international history to deliver incisive, sharp social commentary. Until 11 Aug (Tues-Fri) at 12.30- 5.30pm at October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 3AL. Adm: Free. Web: www.octobergallery.co.uk
~ ‘JOURNEYS AND KINSHIP’ EXHIBITION. Is the face not currency enough? This display of face casts responds to the irony that members of the African Diaspora must pay to visit sites from which their ancestors were transported into enslavement. ‘Journeys and Kinship’ explores further the themes of the London, Sugar & Slavery gallery at the Museum of London Docklands through a project between the visual artist Jean Joseph and a group of young Londoners working together with Calypsonian, Alexander D Great, and Yvonne Wilson from Equi-Vison. Until 4 Nov 2012 at Museum of London, Docklands 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London, E14 4AL. Tel: 020 7001 9844. Adm: Free. Web: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/Whats-on/Exhibitions-Displays/JourneysandKinship.htm
Contact: Kubara Zamani, Afrikan Quest International, PO Box 35165, London, SE5 8WU. Tel: 07811 494 969. E-mail: afrikanquest@hotmail.com Web: www.southwark.tv/quest/aqhome.asp
Afrikan Quest International
External Links
Afrikan Quest International
Ligali is not responsible for the content of third party sites
Get involved and help change our world