African Music event in London!
It's next Tuesday, it's in Olympic-esque Stratford and it's Nigerian music!

Live at the Theatre Royal Stratford East

BEZ, KEZIAH JONES AND KING SUNNY ADE

Tues 24 Jul 2012

http://stratfordeast.com/waje-bez-etc

Artists

Bez

Bez creates alternative soul, an understated and unusual hybrid of soul, rock, jazz and R&B that sets him apart from the mainstream Afro hip-pop movement.
A natural performer with a charismatic and playful stage presence, his songs of love, life and loss are modern gems that fit right beside the music of singers like John Mayer, Amy Winehouse, and John Legend.

Keziah Jones 

Blufunk is a fact! Committed artist and philosopher Keziah Jones blends funk, soul, blues, pop, rock and acoustic, with a particular touch of African style and sound, bossa nova and afro beat, creating a modern, multi-faceted and totally original musical style.

King Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade, more affectionately known as KSA, is a musical phenomenon respected around the world. Having been a part-time percussionist at school, KSA joined the famous comedian, Moses Adejumo’s musical band in 1963.
KSA went onto establish his own group in 1967: Sunny Ade and his High Society Band. Success came quickly and most of his albums sold in excess of 500,000 copies. In 1983, KSA became the first Nigerian to be nominated for a Grammy Award. He has shared the stage with legendary artists including James Brown, Peter Tosh, The Police and Peter Gabriel.

Tickets

Front stalls & dress circle: £30
All other seats: £25

Times

7pm

Location

Auditorium

Additional Information 

Running time: 3 hours
This is a seated event.
Nigeria House is adjacent to the Olympic Park. Please ensure that you travel to the venue by public transport. More information at www.getaheadofthegames.com
Please note the details of these events are subject to change. Keep checking the website for updates.


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http://stratfordeast.com/waje-bez-etc

A taste of Japan... for a change

The wonderful Photographers' Gallery in London is hosting a very special exhibition dedicated to Japanese photography:

Website:

http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/contemporary-japanese-photobooks-2


From 13 July to 9 September 2012, this exhibition transforms the Wolfson Gallery into a reading room featuring over 200 Japanese photobooks that are - according t the gallery 'virtually impossible to find in the West', all produced within the last ten years.

"A rich and varied book culture dominates production and distribution of photography in Japan, and this exhibition proposes that Japanese photography is best understood through its publications. These books are not easily categorised, as their content, format and design values are often unique. The exhibition encourages a non-hierarchical approach to different kinds of photographic work, and visitors are invited to come to the Gallery more than once to make their own journeys through this wealth of material".

 This exhibition is curated by photographer Jason Evans and Tokyo-based publisher Ivan Vartanian.


See more on the tumblr here:

http://contemporaryjapanesephotobooks.tumblr.com/#!/

The First Lines of Zadie Smith’s 'NW'

Good news in the literary world! The website The Millions has published the first paragraph of awaited new novel by British writer Zadie Smith, 'NW', to be released in September.

Here is the link:


http://www.themillions.com/2012/07/exclusive-the-first-lines-of-zadie-smiths-nw.html

And the text:

"The fat sun stalls by the phone masts. Anti-climb paint turns sulphurous on school gates and lampposts. In Willesden people go barefoot, the streets turn European, there is a mania for eating outside. She keeps to the shade. Redheaded. On the radio: I am the sole author of the dictionary that defines me. A good line—write it out on the back of a magazine. In a hammock, in the garden of a basement flat. Fenced in, on all sides".


Earlier this month, the site also published a small preview about the book among other expected novels:

http://www.themillions.com/2012/07/most-anticipated-the-great-second-half-2012-book-preview.html


Lots of links, I know, but one last: in June, Zadie Smith published a text on North West London (hence NW) in the New York Review of Books that is really worth a read according to me:

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/jun/02/north-west-london-blues/

Enjoy!

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More on 'NW' bfrom its publisher, Peguin, here:

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781594203978,00.html?NW_Zadie_Smith

ICG publishes latest report on Mali: 'Mali - Avoiding Escalation'

Mali: Avoiding Escalation

Africa Report N°189 18 Jul 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In a little more than two months, Mali’s political regime has been demolished. An armed rebellion launched on 17 January 2012 expelled the army from the north while a coup deposed President Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT) on 22 March. These two episodes ushered Mali into an unprecedented crisis that also threatens regional political stability and security. An external armed intervention would nevertheless involve considerable risks. The international community must support dialogue between the armed and unarmed actors in the north and south to favour a political solution to the crisis. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must readjust its mediation efforts to avoid aggravating the already deep fault lines in Malian society. Strengthening the credibility of the transitional institutions to restore the state and the security forces is an absolute priority. Finally, coordinated regional security measures must be taken to prevent originally foreign groups from turning northern Mali into a new front in the war on terror.

Read ICG's recommendations:

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/west-africa/mali/189-mali-eviter-l-escalade.aspx?utm_source=malireport&utm_medium=execsum&utm_campaign=mremail

 

The World in London @ Photographers' Gallery

The World in London

27 July - 12 August 2012

At least some good news comes with the London Olympic Games, the art events...

Let's not remain in the ambiant gloomy mood dur to traffic nightmarish news, Transport For London's misery, Theresa May's failure about security and let's enjoy the good mood that should come along with the long-awaited sport event!

Here is my first choice of activity matching exactly the Games' dates:

The exhibition at the London's Photographers' Gallery entitled the 'World in London'. 

"The World in London is an ambitious outdoor photography project for 2012, showing London's diversity and photography's unique role in capturing the human form", the gallery promises.

It is to be seen from July 27th, on a offsite in Victoria Park, London E3.

Over the past three years we have commissioned acclaimed and emerging British and international photographers to take portraits of Londoners of all ages and from all walks of life. Each portrait is unique in its composition, setting and style.

Coinciding with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this project set out to bring together 204 portraits of 204 Londoners, each originating from one of the competing nations.

The World in London celebrates London as a place where individuals from all parts of the world live side by side, each of them contributing to make London the unique city it is.

All photographs will feature on the project's website, launching on 27 July, which includes background stories on each of the participating Londoners.

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Details here:

http://www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk/the-world-in-london-3

Kenya / UK: Historical trial opened

Thanks to The Independent, it is possible to follow the Mau Mau trial where three Kenyans are asking for compensation for the suffrance they went through during Kenya's independence fight in the 1960.

Here is the first of a series of articles published by Jerome Taylor in The Independent:

In a British court after 60 years – the elderly Kenyans asking for justice at last

Empire goes on trial over historical torture claims – with many more such cases to come

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/in-a-british-court-after-60-years--the-elderly-kenyans-asking-for-justice-at-last-7946671.html

The Kenyan Human Rights Commission and Redress are the lead rights groups on this case.  

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And this afternoon, the British government has accepted that "colonial forces in Kenya tortured and abused detainees during the Mau Mau rebellion", the High Court has heard.

Three elderly Kenyan men who are suing the government for damages were told it did not dispute that "terrible things" had happened to them. Their lawyers say it is the first ever official acknowledgement by the UK.

See on the BBC's website:

Mau Mau case: UK government accepts abuse took place

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18874040 

The hearing continues.

French (Muslim) Women forgotten?

An article I highly recommend about France and women issues, on the angle of discriminations towards Muslims and veiled women:

The French minister for women has let down Muslim voters

When Najat Vallaud-Belkacem became minister for women's rights in Hollande's cabinet, French Muslims had high hopes – sadly they have been disappointed

By Nabila Ramdani

For the Guardian: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/16/french-minister-women-muslims?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

Nabila Ramdani is a Paris-born freelance journalist and academic of Algerian descent, summarises the Guardian. She specialises in Anglo-French issues, Islamic affairs, and the Arab World. She was named a Young Global Leader 2012 by the World Economic Forum and was a winner of the inaugural European Muslim Woman of Influence Award in 2010. Her website can be found at http://nabilaramdani.com and you can follow her on twitter @NabilaRamdani

I have been discussiong about the issue, the hope Mrs Vallaud-Belkacem and French politics with Nabila Ramadani and other experts on Twitter. You can follow here if you want:


https://twitter.com/melissachemam

@melissachemam

Africa Utopia !

Africa Utopia is a month-long festival of music, theatre, film, literature, dance, fashion, talks and debates programmed by Southbank Centre in conjunction with renowned Senegalese singer and human-rights campaigner Baaba Maal, as part of Southbank Centre’s Festival of the World with MasterCard.

Throughout the festival there are performances by iconic musicians who share Baaba Maal’s belief in the power of music for social change.

You can also hear from writers who provide insight into the reality of contemporary African culture. Meanwhile an invited group of young delegates – guided by ‘elders’ including Baaba Maal and Lemn Sissay – explore how art projects can be mobilized to bring about social change.Come along, join in and be part of this brand new festival!

Examples:

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Oumou Sangaré & Béla Fleck

Wednesday 18 July 2012 - Thursday 19 July 2012

A genre-bending collaboration between banjo virtuoso and 18-time Grammy award winner Béla Fleck with Malian diva and Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré, here performing tracks from Fleck's 'Throw Down

The Clore Ballroom

The Ultimate Afrobeats Utopia

Saturday 21 July 2012

The very best in Afrobeats comes to Southbank Centre for one night only. 

The Front Room at QEH

Art Connect: Contemporary African art and Global art market

Saturday 21 July 2012

Sound and video artist Emeka Ogboh, visual artist Mary Evans and other distinguished artists and curators discuss contemporary African art and the global art market.

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More:

Africa Utopia explores where the continent can lead the world, including the role of music and theatre, sustainable technologies and the spirit of innovation and hope of the continent’s young people.

Senegalese singer and human rights champion Baaba Maal leads a council of elders of international musicians, artists, writers and activists in a three-week cultural summit, to show what Africa has to offer the world.
Taking the imagery of a traditional African village as a forum, 30 young people will be invited to discuss some of the world's pressing problems, using examples of groundbreaking projects in Africa to suggest solutions. The Royal Festival Hall will be at the heart of the village with a wide range of music, theatre, dance, talks and debates.
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.
Africa Utopia is produced with support from Arts Council England. Part of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of the World.

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Southbank Centre

Belvedere Road

Southwark

SE1 8XX

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk

'Half a Yellow Sun' - the movie

The acclaimed novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Half of A Yellow Sun is becoming a movie.

It is currently filmed in Nigeria, as this article shows in Arise Magazine:

http://www.arisemagazine.net/articles/half-of-a-yellow-sun-in-nigeria/119587/

It is adapted for screen by Nigerian theatre director, playwright and novelist Biyi Bandele.

The production stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Genevieve Nnaji. It is filmed in Calabar, Nigeria. Filming ended on 23 June, according the Arise.

More details ont the story: Adichie´s bestselling story is set during the Nigerian-Biafran war during the 1960s. It then follows the lives of Olanna and Kainene, glamorous twin sister from a wealthy Nigerian family who must deal with a new reality amidst war.


So, it is the British-Zimbabwean actress Thandie Newton who has been chosen to take on the role of Olanna, one of the main character.

We can note that there's been a polemic about the choice of actress Thandie Newton to play the main character, an Igbo Nigerian woman facing war and hunger among other plagues. See for instance here:

http://afripopmag.com/2012/01/can-thandie-newton-play-an-igbo-woman/

I remember meeting Newton about 9 months ago, for the premiere in London of the brilliant documentary An African Election, by her actor friend Jarreth Metz. She was very happy to support this film reporting the 2006 Ghanean presidential election with brightness and talent. She was restless and very Hollywood... Mertz is Swiss Nigerian and grew up in Ghana. One of the interesting part of their discussion introducing the documentary was their shared experience of mixed origins between Europa and Africa, and the hassle of being a coloured actor in Hollywood, both being pretty good at relevently joking about it...

I guess we'll see about her performance once the film's out, let's give her a chance.

British-Nigerian Golden Globe nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the role of revolutionary professor Odenigbo, with John Boyega as his 'houseboy' Ugwu.

The wonderful singer-songwriter Keziah Jones is also said to be involved in the production, creating original music for the soundtrack.

The film is set to be released in 2013.

A website is dedicated to the book, if you want to know more:

http://www.halfofayellowsun.com/



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More here: 


http://afripopmag.com/2012/07/half-a-yellow-sun-the-movie-wraps/

Updates on DR Congo's conflict in North Kivu

This past few days I have been following along the team of journalists from BBC Afrique at the BBC World Service the latest event in Eastern Congo.

M23 rebels have started taking control over a few vilalges around Bunagana, neat Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.

Today in our main evening programme I interviewed the Congolese Ambassador Barnebe Kikaya bin-Karubi in Great Britain about the latest statement from the Congolese governement in Kinshasa. You can listen to the interview on our website in :

• BBC Soir 1800 30:00
  
• or here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/afrique/

The interview is in French on our network, in English on Focus on Africa:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2011/04/000000_focus_on_africa.shtml

Barnebe Kikaya bin-Karubi accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, who, according to him, are not defectors from the Congolese army (FARDC), but Rwanda milicians trying to destabilise Eastern Congo.

He also assures that stability has now return to North Kivu.

We'll have more reaction from DR Congo in the next few days. Stay tuned. 


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See also from the BBC World Service:

BBC News - DR Congo: M23 ‪rebels threaten to march on Goma:
bbc.in/N01bLH  ‪

In French, Q&A on the rebellion in DR Congo:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/afrique/region/2012/07/120711_rdc_questions_reponses.shtml