They say art depicts life and Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, an Ivorian artist brings the disputed Ivorian presidential election of 2010, to the fore in a series of painting currently showing at the Jack Bell Gallery, London. Diarrassouba is known for his large-scale, heavily layered, brutally energetic paintings that combine an innocence and spontaneity with the […]
Described as the first pop-up gallery of its kind in London, Transcending Boundaries features the contemporary art of work of 21 leading Nigerian artists, including recognised masters, Edosa Ogiugo, Abiodun Olaku, Ben Osaghae and sculptors Bunmi Babatunde, Fidelis Odogwu and Reuben Ugbine. Artists whose work range in style – from Olaku’s stunningly lifelike oil paintings […]
Over the weekend, I read the NYT article – Successful and Schizophrenic. It blew me away. The author, Elyn Saks articulated some things I have felt and believe, when it comes to living and dealing with a medical condition. But this line stood out for me – “What I refused to accept was my prognosis.” […]
Where do I start? Okay, let me start off by saying I apologise for putting your business on full blast but you are so worth it. I have not blogged for a while and for reasons you know but for you, that hiatus is on hold for a day because I need you to know […]
The first time I heard Zena Edwards as a performance poet, I was a first year student at University. It turns out she had graduated from the same institution, Middlesex University, and studied on the same Creative Writing course I was on. One thing I remember vividly is the fact that as she was ‘spitting […]
Big Question – Was The Arab Spring A Fasle Dawn? – feature in the current edition of Arise magazine. Pleae read and add your comments. Many thanks to the various contributors and to Lara Akinnawo for your help. In order to read the full article, click on image, which will open in a new browser, […]
The biennial Afrovibes 2012 Festival returns for an extensive national tour of the UK, following its 2010’s inaugural debut. More than just a show, Afrovibes offers an eclectic and thought-provoking programme of performance from South Africa, including theatre, dance, music and the spoken word. Produced by UK Arts International, Jan Ryan, its director believes it […]
A collection of verses and chants for children, Atukwei Okai has put together poetry and illustrations which reminds you of childhood stories as told by grandparents, uncles, aunties and older family members. If his aim was to take parents back in time and remind children about what it means to be a child being raised […]
Hisham Matar wastes no time in laying the foundation for a profoundly moving story about the loss of a loved one and the psychological impact it has on those they leave behind. “My father disappeared at the beginning of my school Christmas holiday, when I was fourteen”, says Nuri. Matar’s protagonist does not know if his father, who […]
The ills suffered by women during war and conflict is now a discourse that international bodies like the UN, UN Women and various women campaign groups around the globe take seriously. From the Liberia to Sierra Leone to DR Congo, some of Africa’s most recent wars, women have found themselves sandwiched between multiple warring factions […]
It is not hard to understand why President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stressed the need for reconciliation and reconstruction, and placed emphasis on national unity as a priority during her second tenure, when she was sworn into office for a second term earlier this year; without first understanding the complex historical context and deep divisions which […]
Now in its 10th year, The London African Music Festival, which has been described as an “impressively eclectic affair” returns with a diverse line-up of musical talents from the continent and the diaspora. Set to take place across multiple venues in London, the 2012 festival is gearing up to be one for the history books. […]
Leila Djansi is one of the new voices emerging from Africain recent years to help shape the narratives of the diverse people of the continent using the visual platform to portray its culture, values and shared experiences. An award-winning filmmaker, Djansi’s film credits include, I Sing of A Well, an ‘intriguing piece of film’ exposed […]
Baroness Scotland is a woman of many firsts in theUnited Kingdom’s history. her rool call of duty is so impressive that it leaves many in awe: first black female QC; one-time youngest Queens’s counsel when she was only 35; first black female government minister in Tony Blair’s Labour government in 1999; in 2007, she became […]
FGM – one topic we either shy away from or tackle with a whole lot of challenges. Well, FORWARD (Foundation for Women’s Health, Research & Development), an African Diaspora women led campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African girls and women, is not letting […]
The Southbank Centre’s month-long celebration of African culture with its African Utopia festival, launched under the spreading branches of a multi-coloured, 15 metre high baobab tree. But the colour didn’t end there and today, friday, 20, July, promises to take things to pulsating heights as the festival’s three-day programme of talks and debates which aims […]
This post is not an invite to a pity party. This post is not about look at what I have been through, feel sorry for me. I don’t feel sorry for myself. Though I have a lot great days and there are seasons when I have shitty days and there are days when I am […]
Tiffany Amber is becoming one of Africa’s foremost fashion brands. The fashion house is headed by the formidable Folake Folarin-Coker, an award-winning and internationally acclaimed Nigerian designer, renowned for her eclectically contemporary designs. Beyond fashion, Folarin-Coker is an astute business woman, who understands the importance of marrying the art of fashion to the art of […]
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