WEST AFRIKAN EBOLA UPDATE
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Afrika is continuing to wreak havoc with nearly 2,800 fatalities - a 55% mortality rate - with 50% of the deaths in the last month. This Ebola outbreak has now killed more people than all the previous outbreaks of the last 40 years combined. The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that more than 700 new cases of Ebola have emerged in West Afrika in just one week, showing that the outbreak is accelerating. It said there had been more than 5,300 cases in total and that half of those were recorded in the past three weeks.
Sierra Leone has just come out of a 3-day lockdown following on from last month’s closure of the West Point district of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, for a week. A team of 30,000 people went house-to-house to find those infected and distribute soap bars and information on preventing infection. However, many people refuse to use the soap believing it to be infected or they were saving it to sell now the curfew was over. In the hours leading up to Sierra Leone’s lockdown, there was traffic gridlock in Freetown as people stocked up on cooking oil, rice and other essentials. Families were struggling because the price of food had gone up and there were complaints that funds given to political leaders to be disbursed to help those in dire need were not being allocated. The government hoped this drastic action will prevent the spread of Ebola, which has hit 13 of the country’s 14 districts. On Thursday before the lockdown, President Ernest Bai Koroma urged citizens to avoid touching each other, visiting the sick or avoid attending funerals. Electricity was running 24 hours a day (unlike the usual 12 hours on - 12 hours off) during the curfew to encourage people to stay in their homes.
The head of Sierra Leone’s Emergency Operations Centre Stephen Gaojia said that the exercise was largely successful reaching 75% of the homes. Ninety bodies were retrieved and up to 150 people were being checked for the disease. People are still afraid of going to hospital because everyone who goes there is tested for Ebola. A woman has been infected after having sex with her partner who had recently recovered from the disease as the semen of male Ebola survivors remains contagious for a minimum of seven weeks after infection. The UK is donating 700 hospital beds to Sierra Leone with the delivery of the first 200 imminent and the remaining 500 due in the coming months.
Meanwhile in Guinea, a team of WHO and Red Cross workers, local officials and journalists were attacked with stones and machetes on Tuesday last week during an awareness visit to Womey in the south of the country. At least 10 officials were hurt, and eight bodies were eventually found in a septic tank in a village school near the city of Nzerekore. One of the journalists managed to escape and told reporters that she could hear the villagers looking for them while she was hiding. A government spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said the victims had been killed in cold blood by the villagers. Six people have been arrested and the village is now deserted. Many villagers accused health workers of spreading the disease while many still do not believe that the disease exists. Last month, riots erupted in Nzerekore, 50 km from Womey, after rumours that medics who were disinfecting a market were contaminating people.
In Liberia 169 health care workers have been affected by Ebola and 80 have passed away. In Montserrado county, where 1,000 beds were needed for infected Ebola patients only 240 were available, leading to people being turned away from treatment centres. As soon as a new Ebola treatment facility is opened, it immediately fills to overflowing with patients. When patients are turned away they have no choice but to return to their communities and homes, where they inevitably infect others.
In Mali, a Frenchman who came from Guinea with flu-like symptoms has passed away after staff and patients from two health centres ran away when he came to get treatment. Tests showed he did not have Ebola. In Nigeria the National Union of Teachers called on the government to delay the start of the school term because of the outbreak. Pupils were due to return to school this Monday after an extended summer break but there were fears adequate safety measures were not yet in place.
We are now in the West Afrikan malaria season which will present issues of: whether there is the capacity to treat additional patients suffering with malaria; will people infected with malaria seek treatment if the nearest hospital is full with suspected Ebola cases?; how will healthcare workers cope when malaria and Ebola cases both present with similar symptoms; will pregnant women go to hospital to give birth or stay at home where any complications could be more deadly?
The UK has announced it will spend £25m in Sierra Leone to build a centre with 50 beds for the public and 12 beds for healthcare workers who become ill which is scheduled to be running within eight weeks. Doctors, nurses and infection control specialists will travel to Sierra Leone in October and stay for six months. The charity Save the Children will eventually take over management of the treatment centre. They will also be running trials for an Ebola vaccine. A vaccine being researched in Britain and Gambia will also be mass distributed in Mali if it is found to be effective.
The European Union is putting forward funding worth $180m to help the governments in West Africa strengthen their health services - and to help local people by securing food and water supplies. French President Francois Hollande said France was setting up a military hospital in Guinea as part of his country’s efforts to support the West African nations affected by the outbreak. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said her country will provide logistical aid to Liberia in the battle against Ebola.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had earlier written to Germany, appealing for help. People have observed that Cuba is sending 165 health workers to help tackle the Ebola outbreak, China also has sent health workers while Britain, France and the US are sending military personnel as their contribution to the crisis in West Afrika in their respective former colonies.
The US government has spent more than $100m in response to the outbreak. This includes funding for more than 100 extra Afrikan health workers to help run treatment units in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Among the measures announced by Mr Obama on Tuesday include: Building 17 healthcare facilities, each with 100 beds and isolation spaces, in Liberia; Training as many as 500 health care workers a week; Developing an air bridge to get supplies into affected countries faster; and to provide home health care kits to hundreds of thousands of households, including 50,000 that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will deliver to Liberia this week. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the 3,000 troops would not provide direct care to Ebola patients but some soldiers would be stationed at an intermediate base in Senegal, while others will provide logistical, training and engineering support at locations in Liberia.
The Gates Foundation is committing $50m to help step up efforts to tackle the deadly virus in the affected countries. The World Bank’s analysis said billions of dollars could be drained from West African countries by the end of next year if the virus continued to spread. Under the worst-case scenario, the global development lender predicted that economic growth next year could be reduced by 2.3% in Guinea, 8.9% in Sierra Leone and 11.7% in Liberia. The report emphasised the need to tackle the fear of the disease, as well as the virus itself. It said aversion behaviour, arising from concerns about contagion, was having a bigger economic impact than the direct costs imposed by the epidemic. Productivity has dropped in sectors of the economy such as agriculture and mining as a result of quarantine measures, and because of fears about the spread of the disease. Many people are working less, and earning and spending less as a result, fuelling poverty.
The IMF executive board is considering a proposal to give Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone an additional $127m to combat the economic impact of Ebola. It estimates that the countries will face a shortage of $300m in the next six to nine months. Only three airlines are still flying to the Mano River region - Air Maroc, KLM and Brussels Airlines. Those that have stopped flying to the three countries most affected include: Air France, Gambia Bird, Arik Air, Kenya Airways, BA, Air Cote D’Ivoire, ASKY Airlines and Emirates. Maltese authorities have turned away a ship travelling from Guinea to Ukraine over fears one person on board may be infected with the Ebola virus. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the captain of the ship had made a request for assistance for a sick Filipino passenger on board. The decision to turn the ship away was morally and legally correct as the patient’s symptoms were similar to those of Ebola. Patrol boats were sent to ensure the vessel did not enter Maltese waters. After being turned away, the MV Western Copenhagen is believed to have headed towards the Italian island of Sicily.
The first British person to contract Ebola in the current outbreak in Afrika wants to return to Sierra Leone where he was infected in order to help others fight the disease. William Pooley was treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He has made a full recovery after being given the experimental drug ZMapp and wants to return to Sierra Leone in a few weeks. He has donated some of his blood, which now has antibodies, to other affected patients.
A trial of an experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus has begun in Oxford with 60 healthy volunteers injected with the vaccine. It contains only a small portion of genetic material from the virus, so it cannot cause the disease. Such is the urgency of the Ebola outbreak in west Afrika that this experimental vaccine is being fast tracked. If the trials are successful, it could be used to immunise health workers in affected areas by the end of the year. By then, around 10,000 doses should be available. The vaccine uses a modified chimpanzee common cold virus to carry a single Ebola protein - it cannot trigger either disease, but should prompt the production of antibodies against Ebola. The vaccine was developed by scientists at the Swiss-Italian biotechnology company Okairos (which was recently bought by GlaxoSmithKline) and the US National Institutes of Health. Funding for the trials is coming from the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and the Department for International Development.
Researchers from the New England Journal of Medicine claim to have traced the outbreak to a two-year-old girl who passed away on 6 Dec 2013 in Meliandou, a small village in south-eastern Guinea. This was exactly when and where the US infectious diseases team operating out of Kenema Hospital in Sierra Leone had started conducting tests. In March this year hospital staff alerted Guinea’s Ministry of Health and then the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, (MSF). They reported a mysterious disease in the south-eastern regions of Gueckedou, Macenta, Nzerekore, and Kissidougou. It caused fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. It also had a high death rate. Of the first 86 cases, 59 people died. The WHO later confirmed the disease as Ebola. Gueckedou is a major regional trading centre and by the end of March, Ebola had crossed the border into Liberia and it was confirmed in Sierra Leone during May. The Kenema centre has now been closed after protests from Sierra Leoneans but Ghana, which is Ebola-free, quickly offered to host the same facility despite fears that similar trials could spark an outbreak there. Even when we were at school there were concerns that Afrikan, Asian and European pupils were not being given the same BCG vaccine so imagine the added concerns with something as deadly as Ebola. This highlights the need for Afrikans to own and control their own research and testing institutes which use indigenous Afrikan knowledge and act in the interests of the global Afrikan community.
CONDOLENCES
~ UZZIAH ‘STICKY’ THOMPSON (1 Aug 1936 – 25 Aug 2014). Percussionist, vocalist and deejay.
Sticky Thompson, a renowned percussionist who provided the vibes for over five decades of quality recordings, has passed away aged 78, at his Miami home after suffering a heart attack. He was the third of five children born in Mannings Mountain, Jamaica. Due to poverty he was unable to complete his education and moved to Kingston aged 15 and began working with Clement ‘Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One operation on the Downbeat sound system. He became a deejay named ‘Cool Sticky and was one of the first to record in the new style using his mouth to make clicks and other percussive sounds. He recorded with The Skatalites on tracks such as ‘Ball Of Fire’, ‘El Pussy Cat Ska’ and ‘Guns of Navarone’. The Techniques’ ‘Little Did You Know’, was the first hit song he played on. He started recording with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and for Joe Gibbs in the late 1960s.
Sticky’s first main recording as a percussionist was for Scratch on The Wailers ‘Soul Rebel / Duppy Conqueror’ session in 1970 and he soon became in demand around the clock along with Skully when it came to laying down some of the fundamental rhythms such as on ‘Beat Down Babylon’ by Junior Byles. As the 70s progressed he worked with The Revolutionaries, the major backing band for all producers and the originators of the rockers beat and the backbone of Channel One, Black Ark and Joe Gibbs studio productions cementing his relationship with Sly and Robbie on tracks such as ‘I Need a Roof’ by The Mighty Diamonds, ‘Up Park Camp’ by John Holt and ‘War’ by the Wailing Souls.
He also appeared on seminal recordings by Big Youth, Dennis Brown, The Congos, Culture, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and Yabby You and was part of Jimmy Cliff’s Oneness band. In the 1980s, Sticky showed up on many of the Roots Radics / Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes / Linval Thompson tunes that ushered in the dancehall era. At the same time he was a regular member of the Taxi Gang playing with Black Uhuru on their classics - ‘Sinsemilla’, ‘Red’, ‘Chill Out’, ‘Dub Factor’ and ‘Anthem’, the album which won the first ever reggae Grammy. These sessions were recorded at Island’s studios in the Bahamas by the Compass Point All Stars who also backed Bunny Wailer, Grace Jones, The Tom Tom Club and Gregory Isaacs. Sticky had a long recording and touring association with Ziggy Marley going back to the 1980s – both as the Melody Makers’ and when he went solo - playing on the group’s Grammy-winning albums ‘One Bright Day’ and ‘Conscious Party’. He recently moved into production but also recorded with Stephen Marley on the Grammy-winning ‘Mind Control’, Sinéad O’Connor’s reggae-influenced tracks and Michael Franti. Uzziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson is survived by his wife, Sharon, five children and a brother.
~ COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT - BROTHER OXALANDO CROSSED TO MEET THE ANCESTORS
It is with great sadness that the PASCF informs the community that our Director of Communications, Priest, Comrade and Brother Oxalando Efuntola-Smith crossed to meet the ancestors at 1am on 16th September 2014 after a short illness.
Further announcements will be made at the discretion of brother Oxalando’s family.
PASCF Board
Brother Oxalando pouring libation at European Parliament to open reparations discussions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN6QYpgRmPY&list=UUfmQODEtoKFXB7dfY3n6gFQ
NUBIART DIARY REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF OXALANDO EFUNTOLA-SMITH
On hearing of the untimely passing of Oxalando we reflected on the discussions we had with him and his inspirations and passions. We first met Oxalando in the mid-1990s when he was involved with the ‘London Egbe’, a Yoruba cultural and spiritual organisation, led by Chief Adelekan. As a cameraman we would also meet him at film screenings, especially those organised by Menelik Shabazz’s BFM team.
The first time we saw Oxalando after he returned from filming the Salvador Carnival in Bahia, Brazil, he was effusive that he had found what he felt was the true spirit of Afrikan culture through his links with blocos such as Olodum and Ile Aye and Candomble, the predominantly Yoruba spiritual tradition as it is manifested in Brazil. He would always encourage us and many other people he came across to go to the Salvador Carnival and travel around the north-east of Brazil. While we had it on our ‘to visit’ list we had been focussing on trips to the Afrikan continent and so haven’t yet seen and experienced what enthused Oxalando so much over the last decade. One of the high points of his life was the trip he made to pour libation in the European Parliament as the spiritual priest of the London-based Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum (see the above link), the first time such a ceremony was conducted on behalf of the memory of former enslaved Afrikans and those who have suffered from the consequences of colonial exploitation and imperialism. We are sure the ancestors and orisas are pleased with his works. Ase!
WITHDRAW THE RACIST EXHIBITION ‘EXHIBIT B - THE HUMAN ZOO’
by Sara Myers • 16,763 supporters
PETITION UPDATE
***IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY***
Sara Myers
Birmingham
5 Sep 2014
— Greetings ALL,
We have now set some protest dates they can be found here:
We are encouraging everyone to come out and show out, bring your horns, whistles, banners, and most importantly yourselves!!! the “Show must NOT go on”
LOBBY PROTEST: https://www.facebook.com/events/283781875143727/283946005127314/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
HAND IN MASS PETITION PROTEST:
https://www.facebook.com/events/770371516354614/770663552992077/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
We have great support from Proff Griff (Public Enemy) tweeting the petition link and from Akala who has written a brilliant piece in such of the petition which can be found here:
http://illastate.posthaven.com/the-human-zoo-and-the-masturbation-of-white-guilt
As well as T.O Molefe from South Africa his article can be found here:
http://www.citypress.co.za/columnists/human-zoo-false-consciousness/
Gillian Schutte a white South African campaigner and founder of Media for Justice has made a remarkably funny YouTube video which can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VclGvtClAkI&feature=youtu.be
Continue to tweet, Facebook and share the petition you can join our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/boycotthumanzoo?fref=ts and you can tweet us @boycotthumanzoo
You are free to change your profile pictures to the campaign artwork which can be found on our page, spread the word and continue to share the petition!
We won’t stop until they stop! #boycottthehumanzoo
Yours in Unity
Sara xx
CLARIFICATION
In the article ‘British Visit of Mohan Siddi, Siddi Jana Vikas Sangha of India’ in Nubiart Diary No. 324 it should be pointed out that Mohan Siddi is the founder of Siddi Jana Vikas Sangha. Mohan obtained a BA Masters of Social Work from Bangalore University and an MPhil from Mumbai University, both in India.
FORTHCOMING NUBIART PROFILES
NUBIART: Focus on arts, business, education, health, political developments and the media.
SEP PROMOS
~ ‘LÁNDINI’ - Aurelio [Real World Records / Distributed by Proper. Released 15 Sep.] With this powerful and vibrant 12-track album the Honduran Garifuna singer-songwriter (and former national politician) Aurelio returns to his Garifuna roots. ‘Lándini (Landing)’ is an engrossing blend of upbeat, Latin rhythms with heartfelt melodies many written by Aurelio with his mother Maria Martinez. One of the unique characteristics of Garifuna music is a kind of double reading; even though you don’t understand the lyrics, you feel that there’s something more in there. There’s a sadness, a melancholy throughout, but the rhythms remain really lively. On first hearing the CD my mind flashed to the songs of the mighty Bonga, the Angolan singer-songwriter and former Olympic athlete, as Aurelio plays that same prominent role in expressing the hopes, emotions and fears on behalf of the Garifuna as every song envelopes you and demands the full attention of your mind, body, spirit and soul.
The landing of the title track is where the villagers would return to in their boats after a hard days’ work plying their trade on the river. There they would sing and tell stories in their Kalinago language and it was here that Aurelio learnt the traditions and culture. Paranda is an old style of music, and the only type of Garifuna music played with the guitar. It’s festive, and is sung in the villages during celebrations such as Christmas, when groups of men go from house to house all night long, singing the songs. “This album is purely Garifuna, and the entire spirit of the music reflects the Garifuna experience. My mother is the sole inspiration for this album. She’s the best example I have in my life of what a human being should be, my main consultant and confidante.”
NUBIART LIBRARY – SEP 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 film production there may be books and films on this list that are worth the extra effort to track down.
~ ‘ACIRFA WONDERLAND’ – Pauline Edwards. [Xlibris UK. ISBN: 978-1-4990-8683-6] We bumped into Pauline at a UNIA-ACL Centenary event in early August after not seeing her for several years and she gave us her new book to review. We had helped her with some proofreading and editing work on her previous book, the gritty autobiographical ‘Trench Town, Concrete Jungle: Kill or Be Killed’, which tells of her life growing up in the rougher edges of Jamaica’s notorious capital during the days when ‘Kingston Hot’ was the phrase on everyone’s lips. ‘Acirfa Wonderland’ is a different step altogether - a book for children and the child in all of us – that confirms her as one of the strongest and most versatile writers in the country.
This beautiful fully illustrated A4 book tells of a magical island ruled with the divine guidance of the gods Ra and Asar and the goddesses Maat and Aset by three kings and queens of the gold, silver and bronze clans. King Babatunde the ruler of the Silver clan has everything he needs to meet all his earthly needs but is not satisfied and wants to see rest of the world. Against the advice of his wife and the two other kings he set sail with some of his men to explore the unknown world. Weeks later he returns with some strangers whose leader is the evil Montell. Montell becomes King Babatunde’s chief advisor introducing alien and dysfunctional rules and practices which cause chaos and terror amongst the islanders. The high priest Seth prophesised that four young children have been chosen by the gods to challenge Montell’s supremacy and so the scene is set for a journey over time and self-development as the people of Acirfa strive to retrieve the harmony, balance and natural order that had served them well.
~ ‘NO LIPSTICK IN LEBANON’ – P J Timblick [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-13: 978-1494714352] This novel, based on many true stories, tells of a teenage girl, Meron Lemma, who is desperate to escape the drudgery of Addis Ababa’s slums and so decides to look further afield and life as a maid for a wealthy Lebanese family in Beirut. Instead she finds a life of even greater drudgery, abuse and isolation with a vicious controlling female accountant and her dysfunctional family. Meron’s lifestory is unveiled through a series of flashes back and forward. She soon learns the previous Ethiopian maid ‘jumped’ from the apartment on the thirteenth floor and wonders if that is to be her fate and who in Lebanon will care about another migrant worker returning home in a coffin with nothing to show for their endeavours. ‘No Lipstick in Lebanon’ is well-written with insights into both Ethiopian and Lebanese life and culture and the tensions at the point where the two cross. It is set in the middle of the last decade so the assassination of the prominent Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri and the Israeli regime’s aggression against its northern neighbour also feature.
~ ‘UNFORGIVABLE (AINIDARIJI)’. Dir: Desmond Elliott [Adekaz Productions] When we went to pick up some quality Yoruba films recently the distributor recommended we take a look at this feature. We were initially sceptical as we didn’t want to see the usual Nollywood fare and we didn’t want to start watching something on VCD and then have to go hunting for Pts 2 and 3, etc. But this is a DVD - which is the way a lot of the industry is heading - so the entire story is contained on one disc.
‘Unforgivable’ starts with naïve Sewa, (Dayo Amusa) - who also produced the film – the shy Richard (Desmond Elliot) and the womaniser Damola (Mike Ezuruonye) at university together. Damola is a party animal who never has to study to pass exams. Sewa and Damola end up married and the film goes between the hopes of their university life and the bitterness, relationship – mistakenly called ‘domestic’ - abuse and health crises of adult, married life. The film is well shot and acted (apart from one of the scenes in the hospital). The script holds together and is very thought-provoking about the consequences that our selfish and thoughtless actions have on our later life.
~ BLACK HISTORY STUDIES UNIA-ACL CENTENARY EVENTS: SOUTH AFRICAN SEASON. This programme of documentary screenings celebrates the life and times of one of history’s greatest leaders Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013) and uncovers the hidden histories of Haringey and its links to the movements in South Africa. This year sees the 20th anniversary of democracy in South Africa. In 1994, the first democratic elections took place in South Africa, ending apartheid.
Why Wood Green? Nelson Mandela spent 10 days on a visit to London in 1962 in meetings with the External Mission of the African National Congress (ANC) whose members were in exile in Haringey such as Oliver Tambo and Thabo Mbeki; The first Mandela Birthday concert was organised on 18 July 1983 at Alexandria Palace; The late MP for Tottenham Bernie Grant served as an Executive of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the UK; Haringey was the birthplace of the campaign to Free Mandela.
- ‘Amandla! A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony’ (12). Dir: Lee Hirsch. On Mon 22 Sep at 7pm.
‘Amandla: A Revolution In Four-Part History’ tells the story of South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. The first film to specifically consider the music that sustained and galvanized Black South Africans for more than 40 years, Amandla’s focus is on the struggle’s spiritual dimension, as articulated and embodied in song. Named for the Xhosa word power, ‘Amandla’ lives up to its title, telling an uplifting story of human courage, resolve and triumph.
Screening at the Vue Cinema Wood Green, Hollywood Green, 180 High Rd, London, N22 6EJ. Tickets for each screening cost £5. Tel: 08712 240 240. Black History Studies - Tel / Fax: 020 8881 0660. Mobile: 07951 234 233. E-mail: info@blackhistorystudies.com Web: http://www.blackhistorystudies.com
~ CENTRE OF AFRICAN STUDIES PRESENTS ‘CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART CONVERSATIONS’
- ‘Owusu-Ankomah and Chris Spring’. On Mon 22 Sep.
- ‘Sam Hopkins and Prof Annie Coombes concerning the potential of digital art to re-imagine a national narrative in Kenya’. On Mon 13 Oct.
Both events at 5.15-7pm at Room 4429, SOAS Main Building, Thornhaugh St, London, WC1.
- SAG Gallery talk / walk ‘Connections: Ghanaian art throughout the British Museum’ led by Elsbeth Court, Research Associate, Centre of African Studies. On Wed 24 Sep at 1.15-2pm at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1.
~ ‘SOUTH AFRICA’S DEMOCRACY — MANDELA’S “CHERISHED IDEAL”. This exhibition is presented by the University of Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Fort Hare and supported by the South African High Commission and brings together photographs, documents and artefacts illustrating the unique story of South Africa’s journey into democracy — President Mandela’s “cherished ideal”. It marks the twentieth year of the new country and the fiftieth year since Mandela and his co-accused were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial. Some of these treasures have never before been displayed outside South Africa.
Moeletsi Mbeki, South African author and businessman, and deputy chair of the South African Institute of International Affairs, will give an associated lecture on Tues 23 Sept at 6.30-8pm at the Old Theatre, Old Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London, WC2. Adm: Free. Tel: 020 7107 5118. E-mail: cis@lse.ac.uk
Exhibition runs until Fri 26 Sep at 10am-8pm (Mon-Fri) at the Atrium Gallery, LSE, Houghton Street, London, WC2. Adm: Free. Tel: 020 7107 5342. E-mail: arts@lse.ac.uk
~ BBM/BMC PRESENT ‘MAKING SENSE OF MUSIC LICENSING II MASTERCLASS’. “The music (industry) over the last few years has moved from a position where it’s a sales-based model to one where it is much more a usage-based model. It’s about doing a licence for use of your music,” says Keith Harris, Stevie Wonder rep & PPL Director of Performer Affairs. So if you want to understand the ins and outs of licensing in order to enhance your career and rights within the music / entertainment industry, you owe it to yourself to attend the Making Sense of Music Licensing II Masterclass. The first hour will bring all up to speed on copyright, in order to make the most of understanding licensing, which is presented by publishing veteran Ivan Chandler. On Wed 24 Sep at 12.30-4.30pm at One Westminster, Volunteer Centre Westminster, 4 Sutherland Avenue, London, W9 2HQ. Web: http://bit.ly/1oZlSnX
~ ALKEBULAN REVIVALIST MOVEMENT PRESENTS THE MONTHLY NOMMO SESSION ON EBOLA. With Dr Stephen Ssali, Mariandina Research Foundation and Kwabena, the Roots Doctor. On Fri 26 Sep at 7.30pm at Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton, London, E10 5PW. Adm: £3. Tel: 020 8539 2154 / 07908 814 152. E-mail: arm6227@yahoo.co.uk
~ INAPP GENERAL MEETING AND INDUCTION DAY. On Sat 27 Sep at 4.30pm at Queen Mother Moore School, Clapham Methodist Church Hall, Nelson’s Row, London, SW4 7JR. Tel: 020 8539 2154 / 07908 814 152. Web: inapp.org.uk
~ BLACK HISTORY WALKS PRESENT
- Secrets of Soho Black History Walk. On Sat 27 Sep at 2pm. Adm: £7. E-mail:
info@blackhistorywalks.co.uk
In an area known for offices and clubs, this special walk delves into an amazing depth of history which proves and lists: ancient Afrikan civilisations, Afrikan women broadcasters of the 1940’s, civil rights activists who campaigned for equality in the military, black female entrepreneurs / heroines, Harold Moody, Una Marson, Ivan Van Sertima, The Museum of Stolen Goods, Mary Seacole, Afrikan radicals of the 1800’s, Afrikan classical musicians, Pan Afrikan conspiracies, propaganda and spies
- ‘The Black History of Avatar: Movie Breakdown Pt 1’ with Brother Andrew Muhammad. On Sun 28 Sep at 3-5.45pm at Cottons Caribbean Restaurant, 70 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QP. Adm: £8. E-mail: info@blackhistorywalks.co.uk Repeated by popular demand! We go deep into hidden Black history of the first 4 X Men films.
~ WINDRUSH FOUNDATION EVENTS
- ‘Presentation by Jeff Green on Dr James S. Risien Russell’. On Sat 27 Sep at 6.30 – 8.30pm at Croydon Supplementary Education Project, 32 Sydenham Road, Croydon, CR0 2EF.
- ‘Olaudah Equiano - Arthur Torrington Heritage Walks’. On Sat 4 Oct at 2.15-3.30pm. E-mail: Equianosociety@gmail.com or arthurtorrington@hotmail.com
~ SAHARA SOUL WITH AZIZA BRAHIM (WESTERN SAHARA), TARTIT (MALI), NABIL BALY OTHMANI (ALGERIA), NOURA MINT SEYMALI (MAURITANIA). New grooves and visions of the Sahara shared around a campfire in the desert night featuring exclusive solo acoustic performances by Malian Tuareg greats Sanou Ag Ahmed (Terakaft), Ousmane Ag Mossa (Tamikrest) and Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni (Tinariwen). Young Mauritanian singer Noura Mint Seymali is the daughter of Dimi Mint Abba – the ‘Diva of the Desert’. Noura fuses ancient and modern Moorish influences, blending psychedelic guitars and transcendental grooves with impassioned, commanding vocals. Barcelona-based Aziza Brahim is the granddaughter of Al Khadra, the legendary ‘Sahrawi war poetess’. Nabil Baly Othmani is a native of Djanet, a small town in the heart of the Sahara that eventually became part of Algeria. Son of the iconic singer Baly Othmani, Nabil has been nourished by a mixture of Touareg and Algerian musical styles, a unique crossroad which is reflected in his music. Tartit, a Tuareg band from the North of Mali, showcase their original and female-driven form of Tuareg desert blues. On Sat 27 Sep at 7.30pm at the Barbican, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Adm: £15 - £25. Box Office: 020 7638 8891.
~ THE SUDAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY’S KIRWAN MEMORIAL LECTURE. The 2014 lecture will be given by Janice Yellin, Babson College, Massachusetts, USA on ‘Offerings for eternity: Decoding the language of religious art from the royal pyramids at Meroe and elite burials in Meroitic Nubia’. Followed by a reception in the Sudan, Egypt and Nubia Gallery (Room 65). On Mon 29 Sep at 6-7pm at Stevenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1. Adm: £15 / £12.50 - Members / Concs / £10 - SARS members. Tel: 020 7323 8500 / 8306. E-mail: sars@britishmuseum.org Web: sudarchrs.org.uk
~ ‘FIRST WOMAN IN THE GARVEY MOVEMENT’ LECTURE. On Sat 4 Oct at 4-8.30pm at Maa Maat Centre, 366a High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 9HT. Tel 07956 052 821.
~ TALK YUH TALK IN ASSOCIATION WITH CARNIVAL VILLAGE PRESENTS KAISO LIME THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL. Special guest joining D Alberto for this month’s special Kaiso Lime is Kaisonian Trinidad Rio. Listen and dance to classic music by Soca Massive and DJ Fats and then enjoy the show. On Sat 4 Oct at 7pm at the Tabernacle, Carnival Village, Powis Square, London, W11. Adm: Free.
~ PAN-AFRICAN CONGRESS MOVEMENT PRESENT ASHRA AND MERIRA KWESI UK TOUR
- ‘The Ancient Kush**es, Nile Valley Origin of Civilization’ and ‘Ethiopia and Pan-Africanism: Occupied but Never Colonised’. On Sat 4 Oct at 6-11pm at West Indian Community Centre, Carmoor Road, Longsight, M13 0FB. Adm: £5. Tel: 07908 820 918 / 07577 057 960. E-mail: manchesterpacm@yahoo.co.uk
- ‘African History & Spirituality Origin of the Bible and the Koran’ and ‘Sisters in Struggle: A Tribute To Black Women Liberators’. On Sun 5 Oct at 3-6pm at PACM, Per Ankh Community Enterprise, 10 Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3AJ. Adm: £5. Tel: 07974 611 667. E-mail: office@perankhce.com Web: perankhce.com
- ‘African Origins of Christianity’ and ‘Cultural Destruction of African Fashion’. On Wed 8 Oct at 7-11pm at Nyabingi Charity Enterprise, Lewsey Learning Centre, 92 Tomlinson Avenue, Lewsey Farm, Luton, LU4 1QQ. Adm: £5. Tel: 01582 722 711 / 01582 595 995. E-mail: nyabingiwellbeing.org
- ‘The Ancient Kush**es, Nile Valley Origin of Civilization’ and ‘Ethiopia and Pan-Africanism: Occupied but Never Colonised’. On Fri 10 Oct at 7-11pm at Soho Community Hall Association, 48 Chapel Street, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0PA. Adm: £6 / £5 – concs. Tel: 0121 554 2747 / 07904 709 311. E-mail: mamaauset@hotmail.com
- ‘African History & Spirituality Origin of the Bible and the Koran’ and ‘Sisters in Struggle: A Tribute To Black Women Liberators’. On Sat 11 Oct at 4.30-9pm at Platanos College, Clapham Road, London SW9 0AL. Adm: £8 / £5 – concs. Tel: 07793 724 845 / 07956 052 821. E-mail: Kwame.pacm@yahoo.co.uk or pepukayi@hotmail.com
- ‘The African Builders of Civilization’ and ‘Cultural Destruction of African Fashion’. On Mon 13 Oct at 7-11pm at Hill Top Community Centre High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1UA. Adm: £5. Tel: 01494 526 753 / 07970 050 490. E-mail: denkar.stewart@hotmail.com or asare.bonsu@ntlworld.com
[NB: PACM door policy applies at all events. Under-16s admitted free to all talks except London.]
~ BRENDA LEE VITAMIN D AND AFRIKAN DIET HEALTH TALKS
- ‘Afrikan Diet’. On Sun 5 Oct at 4-6pm at Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, London, N15 4JA. Tel: 020 8489 5309.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Fri 10 Oct at 6.30-8pm at Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Square, Dalston, London, E8 3BQ. Tel: 020 8356 2539.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Sun 19 Oct at 1-3pm at Wood Green Central Library, 187-197A High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6XD. Tel: 020 8489 2700.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Sat 25 Oct at 02011am at South Norwood Library, Lawrence Road, SE25 5AA. Tel: 020 3700 1021.
- ‘Afrikan Diet’. On Sat 25 Oct at 2.30pm at Thornton Heath Library, 190 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 7JB. Tel: 020 8726 6900.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Thurs 6 Nov at 6.30pm at Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London, NW10 8BE. Tel: 020 8937 3570.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Thurs 20 Nov at Wembley Library, Brent Cross Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0PJ. Tel: 020 8937 3500.
E-mail: brenda@brendaleenutritionandhealth.com Web: http://www.vitamindafrikandiet.info/
~ HARROW BHM GROUP SEASON HIGHLIGHTS MARCUS GARVEY / UNIA @ 100. Pan-Africanist icon Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities League (UNIA) in Jamaica in 1914. By the 1920s it had become the biggest Afrikan-focused organisation in the world. The UNIA advocated self-confidence, entrepreneurship, connection to Afrika, its history, and Afrikan pride. In marking UNIA@100, we aim to examine different aspects of Garvey’s organisation, and what we can take from it, going forward.
- Launch event - ‘Marcus Garvey / UNIA@100: The Legacy’ (Dr Lez Henry). On Mon 6 Oct.
- ‘Highlighting Women & Their Role In The UNIA’ (Sister Nzingha). On Fri 24 Oct.
- ‘Reflecting On UNIA’s Enterprises’ (Hugh Francis). On Wed 12 Nov.
- ‘Moving Forward: Taking From The Garvey / UNIA Legacy’ (Brother Andrew Muhammad) including Youth Opportunity. On Fri 19 Dec.
All events at 6.30-8.30pm at Civic Centre 1, Harrow Council, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. Adm: Free. Booking: www.harrowbhm.eventbrite.com E-mail: harrowBHM@hotmail.com Web: www.harrowbhm.co.uk
~ BOOK LAUNCH OF ‘MOTHER COUNTRY’ BY DONALD HINDS. On Wed 8 Oct at 7-8.45pm at Brixton Tate Library, Brixton Oval, London, SW2 1JQ.
~ IN CONVERSATION: WANGECHI MUTU. Wangechi Mutu, the Kenyan-born, New York-based artist, known for her complex paintings and collages of the female body, has developed a distinctive practice spanning drawing, video, sculpture and installation. Straddling tradition and taboo, Mutu’s work challenges the uneasy interplay of the ethnographic and erotic in visual culture. She discusses her career to date via her varied sources of inspiration, rarely-seen sketchbooks and insights into new directions in her practice, including her current exploration of the possibilities of printmaking, mythology and more with Curator of International Art, Zoe Whitley, in advance of Mutu’s exhibition Nguva na Nyoka (Sirens and Serpents) at Victoria Miro. On Thurs 9 Oct at 6.30–8pm at Starr Auditorium, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Adm: £12 / £8 concs. Tel: 020 7887 8507. E-mail: mark.miller@tate.org.uk Web: www.tate.org.uk / https://circuit.tate.org.uk/
~ ‘BEAUTY IS’ SCREENINGS AND Q+A WITH DIRECTOR TOYIN AGBETU
- On Thurs 16 Oct at 8-11pm at Ipswich Film Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk.
- On Wed 22 Oct at 6–9pm at Bradford University Students Union, Bradford.
For all screenings check: http://www.beautyis.org.uk/screeningsdvd.html
~ CHI CREATIONS PRESENTS ‘THE GRIOT WAY STORYTELLING TRAINING’. On 17-19 Oct, 13-15 Feb 2015 and 15-17 May 2015 at Etherly Farm, Dorking, RH5 6PA. E-mail: Info@shanti-chi.com Web: www.shanti-chi.com
~ AUTOGRAPH ABP PRESENTS BLACK CHRONICLES II’. A new exhibition exploring Afrikan presences in 19th and early 20th century Britain, through the prism of photography – particularly studio portraiture. Drawing on the metaphor of the chronicle, the exhibition presents over 200 photographs, the majority of which have never been exhibited or published before. This research also coincides with Autograph ABP’s continuous search for the earliest photographic image of a black person created in the UK. Curated by Renée Mussai and Mark Sealy. Exhibition runs until Mon 24 Nov at Autograph, Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA. Adm: Free.
~ BUNDU DIA KONGO (BDK). Afrikan cultural and spiritual group working towards the spiritual and psychological growth and development of Afrikans all over the world. Let us make a positive change now. Learn about Afrikan prophets, Afrikan history and Afrikan spiritual practices at our weekly Zikua.
- Sun at 1.30–4.30pm at Chestnuts Community & Arts Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, Tottenham, London, N15 5BN. Tel: Makaba - 07951 059 853.
- Sun at 12.30–3.15pm at Malika House, 81 George Street, Lozells, Birmingham, B19 1Sl. Tel: Mbuta Mayala – 07404 789 329.
~ THE AUSAR AUSET SOCIETY GI GONG CLASSES. Every Monday at 7.30–9pm at Hazel Road Community Centre, Hazel Road, Kensal Green, London, NW10 5PP. Adm: £5 per class. Tel: 07951- 252-427. E-mail: Tauinetwork.europe@gmail.com
~ THE GREAT AFRIKAN BOOK SALE! Every book and CD is on sale at 50% off or more! There are over 5000 titles in the sale - never before have so many Afrikan interest books been offered on this scale in a sale. The finances raised will go towards the development of the MAA MAAT Project. On Fri & Sat at 5-10pm, Sat 12-8pm and Sun 12-5pm at Maa Maat Centre, 366a High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 9HT. Tel 07956 052 821.
Contact: Kubara Zamani, Afrikan Quest International, PO Box 35165, London, SE5 8WU. Tel: 07811 494 969. E-mail: afrikanquest@hotmail.com
External Links
Afrikan Quest InternationalBrother Oxalando pouring libation at European Parliament to open reparations discussions:
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Afrika is continuing to wreak havoc with nearly 2,800 fatalities - a 55% mortality rate - with 50% of the deaths in the last month. This Ebola outbreak has now killed more people than all the previous outbreaks of the last 40 years combined. The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that more than 700 new cases of Ebola have emerged in West Afrika in just one week, showing that the outbreak is accelerating. It said there had been more than 5,300 cases in total and that half of those were recorded in the past three weeks.
Sierra Leone has just come out of a 3-day lockdown following on from last month’s closure of the West Point district of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, for a week. A team of 30,000 people went house-to-house to find those infected and distribute soap bars and information on preventing infection. However, many people refuse to use the soap believing it to be infected or they were saving it to sell now the curfew was over. In the hours leading up to Sierra Leone’s lockdown, there was traffic gridlock in Freetown as people stocked up on cooking oil, rice and other essentials. Families were struggling because the price of food had gone up and there were complaints that funds given to political leaders to be disbursed to help those in dire need were not being allocated. The government hoped this drastic action will prevent the spread of Ebola, which has hit 13 of the country’s 14 districts. On Thursday before the lockdown, President Ernest Bai Koroma urged citizens to avoid touching each other, visiting the sick or avoid attending funerals. Electricity was running 24 hours a day (unlike the usual 12 hours on - 12 hours off) during the curfew to encourage people to stay in their homes.
The head of Sierra Leone’s Emergency Operations Centre Stephen Gaojia said that the exercise was largely successful reaching 75% of the homes. Ninety bodies were retrieved and up to 150 people were being checked for the disease. People are still afraid of going to hospital because everyone who goes there is tested for Ebola. A woman has been infected after having sex with her partner who had recently recovered from the disease as the semen of male Ebola survivors remains contagious for a minimum of seven weeks after infection. The UK is donating 700 hospital beds to Sierra Leone with the delivery of the first 200 imminent and the remaining 500 due in the coming months.
Meanwhile in Guinea, a team of WHO and Red Cross workers, local officials and journalists were attacked with stones and machetes on Tuesday last week during an awareness visit to Womey in the south of the country. At least 10 officials were hurt, and eight bodies were eventually found in a septic tank in a village school near the city of Nzerekore. One of the journalists managed to escape and told reporters that she could hear the villagers looking for them while she was hiding. A government spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said the victims had been killed in cold blood by the villagers. Six people have been arrested and the village is now deserted. Many villagers accused health workers of spreading the disease while many still do not believe that the disease exists. Last month, riots erupted in Nzerekore, 50 km from Womey, after rumours that medics who were disinfecting a market were contaminating people.
In Liberia 169 health care workers have been affected by Ebola and 80 have passed away. In Montserrado county, where 1,000 beds were needed for infected Ebola patients only 240 were available, leading to people being turned away from treatment centres. As soon as a new Ebola treatment facility is opened, it immediately fills to overflowing with patients. When patients are turned away they have no choice but to return to their communities and homes, where they inevitably infect others.
In Mali, a Frenchman who came from Guinea with flu-like symptoms has passed away after staff and patients from two health centres ran away when he came to get treatment. Tests showed he did not have Ebola. In Nigeria the National Union of Teachers called on the government to delay the start of the school term because of the outbreak. Pupils were due to return to school this Monday after an extended summer break but there were fears adequate safety measures were not yet in place.
We are now in the West Afrikan malaria season which will present issues of: whether there is the capacity to treat additional patients suffering with malaria; will people infected with malaria seek treatment if the nearest hospital is full with suspected Ebola cases?; how will healthcare workers cope when malaria and Ebola cases both present with similar symptoms; will pregnant women go to hospital to give birth or stay at home where any complications could be more deadly?
The UK has announced it will spend £25m in Sierra Leone to build a centre with 50 beds for the public and 12 beds for healthcare workers who become ill which is scheduled to be running within eight weeks. Doctors, nurses and infection control specialists will travel to Sierra Leone in October and stay for six months. The charity Save the Children will eventually take over management of the treatment centre. They will also be running trials for an Ebola vaccine. A vaccine being researched in Britain and Gambia will also be mass distributed in Mali if it is found to be effective.
The European Union is putting forward funding worth $180m to help the governments in West Africa strengthen their health services - and to help local people by securing food and water supplies. French President Francois Hollande said France was setting up a military hospital in Guinea as part of his country’s efforts to support the West African nations affected by the outbreak. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said her country will provide logistical aid to Liberia in the battle against Ebola.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had earlier written to Germany, appealing for help. People have observed that Cuba is sending 165 health workers to help tackle the Ebola outbreak, China also has sent health workers while Britain, France and the US are sending military personnel as their contribution to the crisis in West Afrika in their respective former colonies.
The US government has spent more than $100m in response to the outbreak. This includes funding for more than 100 extra Afrikan health workers to help run treatment units in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Among the measures announced by Mr Obama on Tuesday include: Building 17 healthcare facilities, each with 100 beds and isolation spaces, in Liberia; Training as many as 500 health care workers a week; Developing an air bridge to get supplies into affected countries faster; and to provide home health care kits to hundreds of thousands of households, including 50,000 that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will deliver to Liberia this week. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the 3,000 troops would not provide direct care to Ebola patients but some soldiers would be stationed at an intermediate base in Senegal, while others will provide logistical, training and engineering support at locations in Liberia.
The Gates Foundation is committing $50m to help step up efforts to tackle the deadly virus in the affected countries. The World Bank’s analysis said billions of dollars could be drained from West African countries by the end of next year if the virus continued to spread. Under the worst-case scenario, the global development lender predicted that economic growth next year could be reduced by 2.3% in Guinea, 8.9% in Sierra Leone and 11.7% in Liberia. The report emphasised the need to tackle the fear of the disease, as well as the virus itself. It said aversion behaviour, arising from concerns about contagion, was having a bigger economic impact than the direct costs imposed by the epidemic. Productivity has dropped in sectors of the economy such as agriculture and mining as a result of quarantine measures, and because of fears about the spread of the disease. Many people are working less, and earning and spending less as a result, fuelling poverty.
The IMF executive board is considering a proposal to give Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone an additional $127m to combat the economic impact of Ebola. It estimates that the countries will face a shortage of $300m in the next six to nine months. Only three airlines are still flying to the Mano River region - Air Maroc, KLM and Brussels Airlines. Those that have stopped flying to the three countries most affected include: Air France, Gambia Bird, Arik Air, Kenya Airways, BA, Air Cote D’Ivoire, ASKY Airlines and Emirates. Maltese authorities have turned away a ship travelling from Guinea to Ukraine over fears one person on board may be infected with the Ebola virus. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the captain of the ship had made a request for assistance for a sick Filipino passenger on board. The decision to turn the ship away was morally and legally correct as the patient’s symptoms were similar to those of Ebola. Patrol boats were sent to ensure the vessel did not enter Maltese waters. After being turned away, the MV Western Copenhagen is believed to have headed towards the Italian island of Sicily.
The first British person to contract Ebola in the current outbreak in Afrika wants to return to Sierra Leone where he was infected in order to help others fight the disease. William Pooley was treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He has made a full recovery after being given the experimental drug ZMapp and wants to return to Sierra Leone in a few weeks. He has donated some of his blood, which now has antibodies, to other affected patients.
A trial of an experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus has begun in Oxford with 60 healthy volunteers injected with the vaccine. It contains only a small portion of genetic material from the virus, so it cannot cause the disease. Such is the urgency of the Ebola outbreak in west Afrika that this experimental vaccine is being fast tracked. If the trials are successful, it could be used to immunise health workers in affected areas by the end of the year. By then, around 10,000 doses should be available. The vaccine uses a modified chimpanzee common cold virus to carry a single Ebola protein - it cannot trigger either disease, but should prompt the production of antibodies against Ebola. The vaccine was developed by scientists at the Swiss-Italian biotechnology company Okairos (which was recently bought by GlaxoSmithKline) and the US National Institutes of Health. Funding for the trials is coming from the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and the Department for International Development.
Researchers from the New England Journal of Medicine claim to have traced the outbreak to a two-year-old girl who passed away on 6 Dec 2013 in Meliandou, a small village in south-eastern Guinea. This was exactly when and where the US infectious diseases team operating out of Kenema Hospital in Sierra Leone had started conducting tests. In March this year hospital staff alerted Guinea’s Ministry of Health and then the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, (MSF). They reported a mysterious disease in the south-eastern regions of Gueckedou, Macenta, Nzerekore, and Kissidougou. It caused fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. It also had a high death rate. Of the first 86 cases, 59 people died. The WHO later confirmed the disease as Ebola. Gueckedou is a major regional trading centre and by the end of March, Ebola had crossed the border into Liberia and it was confirmed in Sierra Leone during May. The Kenema centre has now been closed after protests from Sierra Leoneans but Ghana, which is Ebola-free, quickly offered to host the same facility despite fears that similar trials could spark an outbreak there. Even when we were at school there were concerns that Afrikan, Asian and European pupils were not being given the same BCG vaccine so imagine the added concerns with something as deadly as Ebola. This highlights the need for Afrikans to own and control their own research and testing institutes which use indigenous Afrikan knowledge and act in the interests of the global Afrikan community.
CONDOLENCES
~ UZZIAH ‘STICKY’ THOMPSON (1 Aug 1936 – 25 Aug 2014). Percussionist, vocalist and deejay.
Sticky Thompson, a renowned percussionist who provided the vibes for over five decades of quality recordings, has passed away aged 78, at his Miami home after suffering a heart attack. He was the third of five children born in Mannings Mountain, Jamaica. Due to poverty he was unable to complete his education and moved to Kingston aged 15 and began working with Clement ‘Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One operation on the Downbeat sound system. He became a deejay named ‘Cool Sticky and was one of the first to record in the new style using his mouth to make clicks and other percussive sounds. He recorded with The Skatalites on tracks such as ‘Ball Of Fire’, ‘El Pussy Cat Ska’ and ‘Guns of Navarone’. The Techniques’ ‘Little Did You Know’, was the first hit song he played on. He started recording with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and for Joe Gibbs in the late 1960s.
Sticky’s first main recording as a percussionist was for Scratch on The Wailers ‘Soul Rebel / Duppy Conqueror’ session in 1970 and he soon became in demand around the clock along with Skully when it came to laying down some of the fundamental rhythms such as on ‘Beat Down Babylon’ by Junior Byles. As the 70s progressed he worked with The Revolutionaries, the major backing band for all producers and the originators of the rockers beat and the backbone of Channel One, Black Ark and Joe Gibbs studio productions cementing his relationship with Sly and Robbie on tracks such as ‘I Need a Roof’ by The Mighty Diamonds, ‘Up Park Camp’ by John Holt and ‘War’ by the Wailing Souls.
He also appeared on seminal recordings by Big Youth, Dennis Brown, The Congos, Culture, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and Yabby You and was part of Jimmy Cliff’s Oneness band. In the 1980s, Sticky showed up on many of the Roots Radics / Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes / Linval Thompson tunes that ushered in the dancehall era. At the same time he was a regular member of the Taxi Gang playing with Black Uhuru on their classics - ‘Sinsemilla’, ‘Red’, ‘Chill Out’, ‘Dub Factor’ and ‘Anthem’, the album which won the first ever reggae Grammy. These sessions were recorded at Island’s studios in the Bahamas by the Compass Point All Stars who also backed Bunny Wailer, Grace Jones, The Tom Tom Club and Gregory Isaacs. Sticky had a long recording and touring association with Ziggy Marley going back to the 1980s – both as the Melody Makers’ and when he went solo - playing on the group’s Grammy-winning albums ‘One Bright Day’ and ‘Conscious Party’. He recently moved into production but also recorded with Stephen Marley on the Grammy-winning ‘Mind Control’, Sinéad O’Connor’s reggae-influenced tracks and Michael Franti. Uzziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson is survived by his wife, Sharon, five children and a brother.
~ COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT - BROTHER OXALANDO CROSSED TO MEET THE ANCESTORS
It is with great sadness that the PASCF informs the community that our Director of Communications, Priest, Comrade and Brother Oxalando Efuntola-Smith crossed to meet the ancestors at 1am on 16th September 2014 after a short illness.
Further announcements will be made at the discretion of brother Oxalando’s family.
PASCF Board
Brother Oxalando pouring libation at European Parliament to open reparations discussions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN6QYpgRmPY&list=UUfmQODEtoKFXB7dfY3n6gFQ
NUBIART DIARY REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF OXALANDO EFUNTOLA-SMITH
On hearing of the untimely passing of Oxalando we reflected on the discussions we had with him and his inspirations and passions. We first met Oxalando in the mid-1990s when he was involved with the ‘London Egbe’, a Yoruba cultural and spiritual organisation, led by Chief Adelekan. As a cameraman we would also meet him at film screenings, especially those organised by Menelik Shabazz’s BFM team.
The first time we saw Oxalando after he returned from filming the Salvador Carnival in Bahia, Brazil, he was effusive that he had found what he felt was the true spirit of Afrikan culture through his links with blocos such as Olodum and Ile Aye and Candomble, the predominantly Yoruba spiritual tradition as it is manifested in Brazil. He would always encourage us and many other people he came across to go to the Salvador Carnival and travel around the north-east of Brazil. While we had it on our ‘to visit’ list we had been focussing on trips to the Afrikan continent and so haven’t yet seen and experienced what enthused Oxalando so much over the last decade. One of the high points of his life was the trip he made to pour libation in the European Parliament as the spiritual priest of the London-based Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum (see the above link), the first time such a ceremony was conducted on behalf of the memory of former enslaved Afrikans and those who have suffered from the consequences of colonial exploitation and imperialism. We are sure the ancestors and orisas are pleased with his works. Ase!
WITHDRAW THE RACIST EXHIBITION ‘EXHIBIT B - THE HUMAN ZOO’
by Sara Myers • 16,763 supporters
PETITION UPDATE
***IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY***
Sara Myers
Birmingham
5 Sep 2014
— Greetings ALL,
We have now set some protest dates they can be found here:
We are encouraging everyone to come out and show out, bring your horns, whistles, banners, and most importantly yourselves!!! the “Show must NOT go on”
LOBBY PROTEST: https://www.facebook.com/events/283781875143727/283946005127314/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
HAND IN MASS PETITION PROTEST:
https://www.facebook.com/events/770371516354614/770663552992077/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
We have great support from Proff Griff (Public Enemy) tweeting the petition link and from Akala who has written a brilliant piece in such of the petition which can be found here:
http://illastate.posthaven.com/the-human-zoo-and-the-masturbation-of-white-guilt
As well as T.O Molefe from South Africa his article can be found here:
http://www.citypress.co.za/columnists/human-zoo-false-consciousness/
Gillian Schutte a white South African campaigner and founder of Media for Justice has made a remarkably funny YouTube video which can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VclGvtClAkI&feature=youtu.be
Continue to tweet, Facebook and share the petition you can join our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/boycotthumanzoo?fref=ts and you can tweet us @boycotthumanzoo
You are free to change your profile pictures to the campaign artwork which can be found on our page, spread the word and continue to share the petition!
We won’t stop until they stop! #boycottthehumanzoo
Yours in Unity
Sara xx
CLARIFICATION
In the article ‘British Visit of Mohan Siddi, Siddi Jana Vikas Sangha of India’ in Nubiart Diary No. 324 it should be pointed out that Mohan Siddi is the founder of Siddi Jana Vikas Sangha. Mohan obtained a BA Masters of Social Work from Bangalore University and an MPhil from Mumbai University, both in India.
FORTHCOMING NUBIART PROFILES
NUBIART: Focus on arts, business, education, health, political developments and the media.
SEP PROMOS
~ ‘LÁNDINI’ - Aurelio [Real World Records / Distributed by Proper. Released 15 Sep.] With this powerful and vibrant 12-track album the Honduran Garifuna singer-songwriter (and former national politician) Aurelio returns to his Garifuna roots. ‘Lándini (Landing)’ is an engrossing blend of upbeat, Latin rhythms with heartfelt melodies many written by Aurelio with his mother Maria Martinez. One of the unique characteristics of Garifuna music is a kind of double reading; even though you don’t understand the lyrics, you feel that there’s something more in there. There’s a sadness, a melancholy throughout, but the rhythms remain really lively. On first hearing the CD my mind flashed to the songs of the mighty Bonga, the Angolan singer-songwriter and former Olympic athlete, as Aurelio plays that same prominent role in expressing the hopes, emotions and fears on behalf of the Garifuna as every song envelopes you and demands the full attention of your mind, body, spirit and soul.
The landing of the title track is where the villagers would return to in their boats after a hard days’ work plying their trade on the river. There they would sing and tell stories in their Kalinago language and it was here that Aurelio learnt the traditions and culture. Paranda is an old style of music, and the only type of Garifuna music played with the guitar. It’s festive, and is sung in the villages during celebrations such as Christmas, when groups of men go from house to house all night long, singing the songs. “This album is purely Garifuna, and the entire spirit of the music reflects the Garifuna experience. My mother is the sole inspiration for this album. She’s the best example I have in my life of what a human being should be, my main consultant and confidante.”
NUBIART LIBRARY – SEP 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 film production there may be books and films on this list that are worth the extra effort to track down.
~ ‘ACIRFA WONDERLAND’ – Pauline Edwards. [Xlibris UK. ISBN: 978-1-4990-8683-6] We bumped into Pauline at a UNIA-ACL Centenary event in early August after not seeing her for several years and she gave us her new book to review. We had helped her with some proofreading and editing work on her previous book, the gritty autobiographical ‘Trench Town, Concrete Jungle: Kill or Be Killed’, which tells of her life growing up in the rougher edges of Jamaica’s notorious capital during the days when ‘Kingston Hot’ was the phrase on everyone’s lips. ‘Acirfa Wonderland’ is a different step altogether - a book for children and the child in all of us – that confirms her as one of the strongest and most versatile writers in the country.
This beautiful fully illustrated A4 book tells of a magical island ruled with the divine guidance of the gods Ra and Asar and the goddesses Maat and Aset by three kings and queens of the gold, silver and bronze clans. King Babatunde the ruler of the Silver clan has everything he needs to meet all his earthly needs but is not satisfied and wants to see rest of the world. Against the advice of his wife and the two other kings he set sail with some of his men to explore the unknown world. Weeks later he returns with some strangers whose leader is the evil Montell. Montell becomes King Babatunde’s chief advisor introducing alien and dysfunctional rules and practices which cause chaos and terror amongst the islanders. The high priest Seth prophesised that four young children have been chosen by the gods to challenge Montell’s supremacy and so the scene is set for a journey over time and self-development as the people of Acirfa strive to retrieve the harmony, balance and natural order that had served them well.
~ ‘NO LIPSTICK IN LEBANON’ – P J Timblick [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-13: 978-1494714352] This novel, based on many true stories, tells of a teenage girl, Meron Lemma, who is desperate to escape the drudgery of Addis Ababa’s slums and so decides to look further afield and life as a maid for a wealthy Lebanese family in Beirut. Instead she finds a life of even greater drudgery, abuse and isolation with a vicious controlling female accountant and her dysfunctional family. Meron’s lifestory is unveiled through a series of flashes back and forward. She soon learns the previous Ethiopian maid ‘jumped’ from the apartment on the thirteenth floor and wonders if that is to be her fate and who in Lebanon will care about another migrant worker returning home in a coffin with nothing to show for their endeavours. ‘No Lipstick in Lebanon’ is well-written with insights into both Ethiopian and Lebanese life and culture and the tensions at the point where the two cross. It is set in the middle of the last decade so the assassination of the prominent Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri and the Israeli regime’s aggression against its northern neighbour also feature.
~ ‘UNFORGIVABLE (AINIDARIJI)’. Dir: Desmond Elliott [Adekaz Productions] When we went to pick up some quality Yoruba films recently the distributor recommended we take a look at this feature. We were initially sceptical as we didn’t want to see the usual Nollywood fare and we didn’t want to start watching something on VCD and then have to go hunting for Pts 2 and 3, etc. But this is a DVD - which is the way a lot of the industry is heading - so the entire story is contained on one disc.
‘Unforgivable’ starts with naïve Sewa, (Dayo Amusa) - who also produced the film – the shy Richard (Desmond Elliot) and the womaniser Damola (Mike Ezuruonye) at university together. Damola is a party animal who never has to study to pass exams. Sewa and Damola end up married and the film goes between the hopes of their university life and the bitterness, relationship – mistakenly called ‘domestic’ - abuse and health crises of adult, married life. The film is well shot and acted (apart from one of the scenes in the hospital). The script holds together and is very thought-provoking about the consequences that our selfish and thoughtless actions have on our later life.
Nubiart Diary
~ BLACK HISTORY STUDIES UNIA-ACL CENTENARY EVENTS: SOUTH AFRICAN SEASON. This programme of documentary screenings celebrates the life and times of one of history’s greatest leaders Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013) and uncovers the hidden histories of Haringey and its links to the movements in South Africa. This year sees the 20th anniversary of democracy in South Africa. In 1994, the first democratic elections took place in South Africa, ending apartheid.Why Wood Green? Nelson Mandela spent 10 days on a visit to London in 1962 in meetings with the External Mission of the African National Congress (ANC) whose members were in exile in Haringey such as Oliver Tambo and Thabo Mbeki; The first Mandela Birthday concert was organised on 18 July 1983 at Alexandria Palace; The late MP for Tottenham Bernie Grant served as an Executive of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the UK; Haringey was the birthplace of the campaign to Free Mandela.
- ‘Amandla! A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony’ (12). Dir: Lee Hirsch. On Mon 22 Sep at 7pm.
‘Amandla: A Revolution In Four-Part History’ tells the story of South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. The first film to specifically consider the music that sustained and galvanized Black South Africans for more than 40 years, Amandla’s focus is on the struggle’s spiritual dimension, as articulated and embodied in song. Named for the Xhosa word power, ‘Amandla’ lives up to its title, telling an uplifting story of human courage, resolve and triumph.
Screening at the Vue Cinema Wood Green, Hollywood Green, 180 High Rd, London, N22 6EJ. Tickets for each screening cost £5. Tel: 08712 240 240. Black History Studies - Tel / Fax: 020 8881 0660. Mobile: 07951 234 233. E-mail: info@blackhistorystudies.com Web: http://www.blackhistorystudies.com
~ CENTRE OF AFRICAN STUDIES PRESENTS ‘CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART CONVERSATIONS’
- ‘Owusu-Ankomah and Chris Spring’. On Mon 22 Sep.
- ‘Sam Hopkins and Prof Annie Coombes concerning the potential of digital art to re-imagine a national narrative in Kenya’. On Mon 13 Oct.
Both events at 5.15-7pm at Room 4429, SOAS Main Building, Thornhaugh St, London, WC1.
- SAG Gallery talk / walk ‘Connections: Ghanaian art throughout the British Museum’ led by Elsbeth Court, Research Associate, Centre of African Studies. On Wed 24 Sep at 1.15-2pm at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1.
~ ‘SOUTH AFRICA’S DEMOCRACY — MANDELA’S “CHERISHED IDEAL”. This exhibition is presented by the University of Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Fort Hare and supported by the South African High Commission and brings together photographs, documents and artefacts illustrating the unique story of South Africa’s journey into democracy — President Mandela’s “cherished ideal”. It marks the twentieth year of the new country and the fiftieth year since Mandela and his co-accused were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial. Some of these treasures have never before been displayed outside South Africa.
Moeletsi Mbeki, South African author and businessman, and deputy chair of the South African Institute of International Affairs, will give an associated lecture on Tues 23 Sept at 6.30-8pm at the Old Theatre, Old Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London, WC2. Adm: Free. Tel: 020 7107 5118. E-mail: cis@lse.ac.uk
Exhibition runs until Fri 26 Sep at 10am-8pm (Mon-Fri) at the Atrium Gallery, LSE, Houghton Street, London, WC2. Adm: Free. Tel: 020 7107 5342. E-mail: arts@lse.ac.uk
~ BBM/BMC PRESENT ‘MAKING SENSE OF MUSIC LICENSING II MASTERCLASS’. “The music (industry) over the last few years has moved from a position where it’s a sales-based model to one where it is much more a usage-based model. It’s about doing a licence for use of your music,” says Keith Harris, Stevie Wonder rep & PPL Director of Performer Affairs. So if you want to understand the ins and outs of licensing in order to enhance your career and rights within the music / entertainment industry, you owe it to yourself to attend the Making Sense of Music Licensing II Masterclass. The first hour will bring all up to speed on copyright, in order to make the most of understanding licensing, which is presented by publishing veteran Ivan Chandler. On Wed 24 Sep at 12.30-4.30pm at One Westminster, Volunteer Centre Westminster, 4 Sutherland Avenue, London, W9 2HQ. Web: http://bit.ly/1oZlSnX
~ ALKEBULAN REVIVALIST MOVEMENT PRESENTS THE MONTHLY NOMMO SESSION ON EBOLA. With Dr Stephen Ssali, Mariandina Research Foundation and Kwabena, the Roots Doctor. On Fri 26 Sep at 7.30pm at Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton, London, E10 5PW. Adm: £3. Tel: 020 8539 2154 / 07908 814 152. E-mail: arm6227@yahoo.co.uk
~ INAPP GENERAL MEETING AND INDUCTION DAY. On Sat 27 Sep at 4.30pm at Queen Mother Moore School, Clapham Methodist Church Hall, Nelson’s Row, London, SW4 7JR. Tel: 020 8539 2154 / 07908 814 152. Web: inapp.org.uk
~ BLACK HISTORY WALKS PRESENT
- Secrets of Soho Black History Walk. On Sat 27 Sep at 2pm. Adm: £7. E-mail:
info@blackhistorywalks.co.uk
In an area known for offices and clubs, this special walk delves into an amazing depth of history which proves and lists: ancient Afrikan civilisations, Afrikan women broadcasters of the 1940’s, civil rights activists who campaigned for equality in the military, black female entrepreneurs / heroines, Harold Moody, Una Marson, Ivan Van Sertima, The Museum of Stolen Goods, Mary Seacole, Afrikan radicals of the 1800’s, Afrikan classical musicians, Pan Afrikan conspiracies, propaganda and spies
- ‘The Black History of Avatar: Movie Breakdown Pt 1’ with Brother Andrew Muhammad. On Sun 28 Sep at 3-5.45pm at Cottons Caribbean Restaurant, 70 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QP. Adm: £8. E-mail: info@blackhistorywalks.co.uk Repeated by popular demand! We go deep into hidden Black history of the first 4 X Men films.
~ WINDRUSH FOUNDATION EVENTS
- ‘Presentation by Jeff Green on Dr James S. Risien Russell’. On Sat 27 Sep at 6.30 – 8.30pm at Croydon Supplementary Education Project, 32 Sydenham Road, Croydon, CR0 2EF.
- ‘Olaudah Equiano - Arthur Torrington Heritage Walks’. On Sat 4 Oct at 2.15-3.30pm. E-mail: Equianosociety@gmail.com or arthurtorrington@hotmail.com
~ SAHARA SOUL WITH AZIZA BRAHIM (WESTERN SAHARA), TARTIT (MALI), NABIL BALY OTHMANI (ALGERIA), NOURA MINT SEYMALI (MAURITANIA). New grooves and visions of the Sahara shared around a campfire in the desert night featuring exclusive solo acoustic performances by Malian Tuareg greats Sanou Ag Ahmed (Terakaft), Ousmane Ag Mossa (Tamikrest) and Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni (Tinariwen). Young Mauritanian singer Noura Mint Seymali is the daughter of Dimi Mint Abba – the ‘Diva of the Desert’. Noura fuses ancient and modern Moorish influences, blending psychedelic guitars and transcendental grooves with impassioned, commanding vocals. Barcelona-based Aziza Brahim is the granddaughter of Al Khadra, the legendary ‘Sahrawi war poetess’. Nabil Baly Othmani is a native of Djanet, a small town in the heart of the Sahara that eventually became part of Algeria. Son of the iconic singer Baly Othmani, Nabil has been nourished by a mixture of Touareg and Algerian musical styles, a unique crossroad which is reflected in his music. Tartit, a Tuareg band from the North of Mali, showcase their original and female-driven form of Tuareg desert blues. On Sat 27 Sep at 7.30pm at the Barbican, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Adm: £15 - £25. Box Office: 020 7638 8891.
~ THE SUDAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY’S KIRWAN MEMORIAL LECTURE. The 2014 lecture will be given by Janice Yellin, Babson College, Massachusetts, USA on ‘Offerings for eternity: Decoding the language of religious art from the royal pyramids at Meroe and elite burials in Meroitic Nubia’. Followed by a reception in the Sudan, Egypt and Nubia Gallery (Room 65). On Mon 29 Sep at 6-7pm at Stevenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1. Adm: £15 / £12.50 - Members / Concs / £10 - SARS members. Tel: 020 7323 8500 / 8306. E-mail: sars@britishmuseum.org Web: sudarchrs.org.uk
~ ‘FIRST WOMAN IN THE GARVEY MOVEMENT’ LECTURE. On Sat 4 Oct at 4-8.30pm at Maa Maat Centre, 366a High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 9HT. Tel 07956 052 821.
~ TALK YUH TALK IN ASSOCIATION WITH CARNIVAL VILLAGE PRESENTS KAISO LIME THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL. Special guest joining D Alberto for this month’s special Kaiso Lime is Kaisonian Trinidad Rio. Listen and dance to classic music by Soca Massive and DJ Fats and then enjoy the show. On Sat 4 Oct at 7pm at the Tabernacle, Carnival Village, Powis Square, London, W11. Adm: Free.
~ PAN-AFRICAN CONGRESS MOVEMENT PRESENT ASHRA AND MERIRA KWESI UK TOUR
- ‘The Ancient Kush**es, Nile Valley Origin of Civilization’ and ‘Ethiopia and Pan-Africanism: Occupied but Never Colonised’. On Sat 4 Oct at 6-11pm at West Indian Community Centre, Carmoor Road, Longsight, M13 0FB. Adm: £5. Tel: 07908 820 918 / 07577 057 960. E-mail: manchesterpacm@yahoo.co.uk
- ‘African History & Spirituality Origin of the Bible and the Koran’ and ‘Sisters in Struggle: A Tribute To Black Women Liberators’. On Sun 5 Oct at 3-6pm at PACM, Per Ankh Community Enterprise, 10 Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3AJ. Adm: £5. Tel: 07974 611 667. E-mail: office@perankhce.com Web: perankhce.com
- ‘African Origins of Christianity’ and ‘Cultural Destruction of African Fashion’. On Wed 8 Oct at 7-11pm at Nyabingi Charity Enterprise, Lewsey Learning Centre, 92 Tomlinson Avenue, Lewsey Farm, Luton, LU4 1QQ. Adm: £5. Tel: 01582 722 711 / 01582 595 995. E-mail: nyabingiwellbeing.org
- ‘The Ancient Kush**es, Nile Valley Origin of Civilization’ and ‘Ethiopia and Pan-Africanism: Occupied but Never Colonised’. On Fri 10 Oct at 7-11pm at Soho Community Hall Association, 48 Chapel Street, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0PA. Adm: £6 / £5 – concs. Tel: 0121 554 2747 / 07904 709 311. E-mail: mamaauset@hotmail.com
- ‘African History & Spirituality Origin of the Bible and the Koran’ and ‘Sisters in Struggle: A Tribute To Black Women Liberators’. On Sat 11 Oct at 4.30-9pm at Platanos College, Clapham Road, London SW9 0AL. Adm: £8 / £5 – concs. Tel: 07793 724 845 / 07956 052 821. E-mail: Kwame.pacm@yahoo.co.uk or pepukayi@hotmail.com
- ‘The African Builders of Civilization’ and ‘Cultural Destruction of African Fashion’. On Mon 13 Oct at 7-11pm at Hill Top Community Centre High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1UA. Adm: £5. Tel: 01494 526 753 / 07970 050 490. E-mail: denkar.stewart@hotmail.com or asare.bonsu@ntlworld.com
[NB: PACM door policy applies at all events. Under-16s admitted free to all talks except London.]
~ BRENDA LEE VITAMIN D AND AFRIKAN DIET HEALTH TALKS
- ‘Afrikan Diet’. On Sun 5 Oct at 4-6pm at Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, London, N15 4JA. Tel: 020 8489 5309.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Fri 10 Oct at 6.30-8pm at Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Square, Dalston, London, E8 3BQ. Tel: 020 8356 2539.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Sun 19 Oct at 1-3pm at Wood Green Central Library, 187-197A High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6XD. Tel: 020 8489 2700.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Sat 25 Oct at 02011am at South Norwood Library, Lawrence Road, SE25 5AA. Tel: 020 3700 1021.
- ‘Afrikan Diet’. On Sat 25 Oct at 2.30pm at Thornton Heath Library, 190 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 7JB. Tel: 020 8726 6900.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Thurs 6 Nov at 6.30pm at Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London, NW10 8BE. Tel: 020 8937 3570.
- ‘Vitamin D’. On Thurs 20 Nov at Wembley Library, Brent Cross Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0PJ. Tel: 020 8937 3500.
E-mail: brenda@brendaleenutritionandhealth.com Web: http://www.vitamindafrikandiet.info/
~ HARROW BHM GROUP SEASON HIGHLIGHTS MARCUS GARVEY / UNIA @ 100. Pan-Africanist icon Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities League (UNIA) in Jamaica in 1914. By the 1920s it had become the biggest Afrikan-focused organisation in the world. The UNIA advocated self-confidence, entrepreneurship, connection to Afrika, its history, and Afrikan pride. In marking UNIA@100, we aim to examine different aspects of Garvey’s organisation, and what we can take from it, going forward.
- Launch event - ‘Marcus Garvey / UNIA@100: The Legacy’ (Dr Lez Henry). On Mon 6 Oct.
- ‘Highlighting Women & Their Role In The UNIA’ (Sister Nzingha). On Fri 24 Oct.
- ‘Reflecting On UNIA’s Enterprises’ (Hugh Francis). On Wed 12 Nov.
- ‘Moving Forward: Taking From The Garvey / UNIA Legacy’ (Brother Andrew Muhammad) including Youth Opportunity. On Fri 19 Dec.
All events at 6.30-8.30pm at Civic Centre 1, Harrow Council, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. Adm: Free. Booking: www.harrowbhm.eventbrite.com E-mail: harrowBHM@hotmail.com Web: www.harrowbhm.co.uk
~ BOOK LAUNCH OF ‘MOTHER COUNTRY’ BY DONALD HINDS. On Wed 8 Oct at 7-8.45pm at Brixton Tate Library, Brixton Oval, London, SW2 1JQ.
~ IN CONVERSATION: WANGECHI MUTU. Wangechi Mutu, the Kenyan-born, New York-based artist, known for her complex paintings and collages of the female body, has developed a distinctive practice spanning drawing, video, sculpture and installation. Straddling tradition and taboo, Mutu’s work challenges the uneasy interplay of the ethnographic and erotic in visual culture. She discusses her career to date via her varied sources of inspiration, rarely-seen sketchbooks and insights into new directions in her practice, including her current exploration of the possibilities of printmaking, mythology and more with Curator of International Art, Zoe Whitley, in advance of Mutu’s exhibition Nguva na Nyoka (Sirens and Serpents) at Victoria Miro. On Thurs 9 Oct at 6.30–8pm at Starr Auditorium, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Adm: £12 / £8 concs. Tel: 020 7887 8507. E-mail: mark.miller@tate.org.uk Web: www.tate.org.uk / https://circuit.tate.org.uk/
~ ‘BEAUTY IS’ SCREENINGS AND Q+A WITH DIRECTOR TOYIN AGBETU
- On Thurs 16 Oct at 8-11pm at Ipswich Film Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk.
- On Wed 22 Oct at 6–9pm at Bradford University Students Union, Bradford.
For all screenings check: http://www.beautyis.org.uk/screeningsdvd.html
~ CHI CREATIONS PRESENTS ‘THE GRIOT WAY STORYTELLING TRAINING’. On 17-19 Oct, 13-15 Feb 2015 and 15-17 May 2015 at Etherly Farm, Dorking, RH5 6PA. E-mail: Info@shanti-chi.com Web: www.shanti-chi.com
~ AUTOGRAPH ABP PRESENTS BLACK CHRONICLES II’. A new exhibition exploring Afrikan presences in 19th and early 20th century Britain, through the prism of photography – particularly studio portraiture. Drawing on the metaphor of the chronicle, the exhibition presents over 200 photographs, the majority of which have never been exhibited or published before. This research also coincides with Autograph ABP’s continuous search for the earliest photographic image of a black person created in the UK. Curated by Renée Mussai and Mark Sealy. Exhibition runs until Mon 24 Nov at Autograph, Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA. Adm: Free.
~ BUNDU DIA KONGO (BDK). Afrikan cultural and spiritual group working towards the spiritual and psychological growth and development of Afrikans all over the world. Let us make a positive change now. Learn about Afrikan prophets, Afrikan history and Afrikan spiritual practices at our weekly Zikua.
- Sun at 1.30–4.30pm at Chestnuts Community & Arts Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, Tottenham, London, N15 5BN. Tel: Makaba - 07951 059 853.
- Sun at 12.30–3.15pm at Malika House, 81 George Street, Lozells, Birmingham, B19 1Sl. Tel: Mbuta Mayala – 07404 789 329.
~ THE AUSAR AUSET SOCIETY GI GONG CLASSES. Every Monday at 7.30–9pm at Hazel Road Community Centre, Hazel Road, Kensal Green, London, NW10 5PP. Adm: £5 per class. Tel: 07951- 252-427. E-mail: Tauinetwork.europe@gmail.com
~ THE GREAT AFRIKAN BOOK SALE! Every book and CD is on sale at 50% off or more! There are over 5000 titles in the sale - never before have so many Afrikan interest books been offered on this scale in a sale. The finances raised will go towards the development of the MAA MAAT Project. On Fri & Sat at 5-10pm, Sat 12-8pm and Sun 12-5pm at Maa Maat Centre, 366a High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 9HT. Tel 07956 052 821.
Contact: Kubara Zamani, Afrikan Quest International, PO Box 35165, London, SE5 8WU. Tel: 07811 494 969. E-mail: afrikanquest@hotmail.com
Afrikan Quest International
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