April, 22 2023

BUSINESS Afrori Books After a successful recent crowdfunding campaign Afori has moved into its new premises at Brighthem Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD. They have created a bookstore with the largest wholesaler in the country offering our customers one of the biggest selection of books by black authors in one place. Aaron Wallace We are passionate about good quality afro hair care for Black men. As a company, we are determined to build a brand that black men everywhere can be truly proud of. We are on a mission to champion and redefine the perception of black men world wide. We want to inspire black men to be the best they can be, by looking and feeling good and exuding confidence from the inside out. Which is why we have spent the last two years researching and developing a line of products that will help solve many of the hair and skin care challenges faced by Black men. We have ensured that our products are vegan and contain only the very best in quality natural ingredients that work. Black Seed Oil and Mango Butter are rich in much-needed nutrients and can be found in all our products. Stork Restaurant ### Elegant Pan-African dining - paving the way for borderless cuisine BBC Radio London "Truly fabulous" House & Garden "Stunning Contemporary Art Collection" Vogue "Life changing" Stork has landed in the heart of Mayfair serving innovative and erudite Modern Pan-African cuisine. Celebrated for sophisticated flavours and artistic visuals, every course is a culturally rich experience. EVENTS Blue CATEGORY: MUSIC COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: April 23, 2023 TO: May 4, 2023 TYPE: OPERA VENUE: Coliseum A generational rift leads to father and son at odds, with the fate of the family at risk. Asking ever-relevant questions of race, duty and the extent to which loyalty can hold before breaking, Blue follows an African American family as the patriarch’s job as a policeman clashes with his activist son’s notions of equality and justice. Acclaimed Tony Award-winning composer, Jeanine Tesori’s score contains influences from jazz, gospel, hymns and musical theatre – perfect for those new to opera, as well as opera enthusiasts. In the UK opera debut of this intimate family drama, ‘fast-rising’ (The Guardian) star of British theatre Tinuke Craig fuses the joy, hope and pride of the community with a devastating emotional core. Zwakele Tshabalala plays the Son alongside former ENO Harewood Artist, Nadine Benjamin (Mother), and Kenneth Kellogg, who reprises his role as the Father following rave reviews for his performances across the US and Europe. Former ENO Mackerras Fellow Matthew Kofi Waldren, conducts, with set and costumes by Alex Lowde. Unseen Unheard CATEGORY: THEATRE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: April 27, 2023 TO: May 4, 2023 VENUE: Peckham Theatre Award winning directors Simon Frederick and Suzann McLean come together to stage a new play based on the lived experiences of Black British women and their journeys with breast cancer. Unseen Unheard: The untold breast cancer stories of Black Women in the UK is written by trailblazing playwright, Naomi Denny, and will premiere at Theatre Peckham for a limited run this April. The play is commissioned and funded by Gilead Sciences Ltd and will be presented by Theatre Peckham in association with Black Women Rising. The play is based on the stories of six women from Black Women Rising (BWR), a pioneering cancer support project founded by The Leanne Pero Foundation, that seeks to address the inequalities faced by Black women undergoing cancer treatment. Set in real time on a normal evening the six women gather to unravel their shared experiences of the abnormality that Black women experience through their diagnosis. As one would expect, the women invite us into their world with an honest and candid insight that combines honesty and humour. There is a real-world objective to staging this play. None more important than changing habits that will lead to saving lives. Each performance will host a post-show panel discussion, which will be facilitated by award-winning community champion Leanne Pero, founder and CEO of Black Women Rising. Women with experiences of breast cancer attending will be invited to share their experiences around the topics discussed in the play, so that a report showcasing real voices can be presented to key change-makers. Merky Book Festival CATEGORY: BOOKS COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: April 22, 2023 TO: April 23, 2023 TYPE: FESTIVAL VENUE: Roundhouse Announcing the #Merky Books Literature Festival as part of Roundhouse’s In the Round Festival. A celebration of creativity, culture and arts, the event will showcase both established authors and new voices from Stormzy’s award-winning imprint at Penguin and beyond. Sponsored by Netflix, the festival will aim to demystify creative industries and inspire a new generation of creatives. Each day of the festival will be split out into 3 Chapters. A Chapter 1, 2 or 3 ticket is required to gain access to the respective session in our Main Space. Tickets will also grant access to activity across the venue including book signings, live mural painting, film screenings, career workshops, food and drink trucks, book design and photography workshops, live podcasting and more. Discover the full programme below. Lemar CATEGORY: MUSIC COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: April 28, 2023 TO: April 28, 2023 VENUE: O2 Arena Lemar, the renowned British musician, will be performing live in London on April 28, 2023, at the O2 Arena. The show promises to be a spectacular event that should not be missed by any music lover. Lemar is known for his soulful and captivating performances and has won numerous awards in his career. The O2 Arena, located in the heart of London, is one of the best venues in the world for live music, and it's the perfect place to experience Lemar's electrifying stage presence. Fans can expect to hear some of Lemar's biggest hits, including "If There's Any Justice," "Dance (With U)," and "50/50." There will also be some surprises in store, as the artist will undoubtedly showcase some new material off his latest album. So mark your calendars for April 28, 2023, because this is a show you won't want to miss. Get your tickets now and be a part of what promises to be an unforgettable night of music at the O2 Arena in London.

Ballet Black: Pioneers CATEGORY: DANCE COUNTRY: UK City: Birmingham FROM: May 3, 2023 TO: May 4, 2023 TYPE: BALLET VENUE: The Rep Ballet Black: Pioneers is a dance show that celebrates the achievements of black ballet dancers in the UK. The show features a range of classical and contemporary ballet pieces, all performed by the talented dancers of Ballet Black. From May 3, 2023 to May 4, 2023, audiences in Birmingham can experience this groundbreaking show at The Rep. Each performance is sure to be a feast for the senses, with stunning choreography and beautiful music. Don't miss your chance to see Ballet Black: Pioneers and witness the incredible talent of these pioneering dancers. BOOKS Memphis Author: Tara M Stringfellow Published: April 27, 2023 Rating Amazon: 4.4 WH Date: April 22, 2023 LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION** **SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE** Joan was only a child the last time she visited Memphis. She doesn't remember the bustle of Beale Street or the smell of honeysuckle as she climbs the porch steps to her aunt's house. But when the front door opens, she does remember her cousin Derek. As Joan learns more about her family's past she discovers she's not the only North woman to have experienced great hurt. But she also sees their resilience and courage, how these extraordinary women fry green tomatoes and braid hair and sing all the while. The Gospel According to the New World Author: Maryse Condé Published: March 7, 2023 Rating Amazon: 3.7 WH Date: April 22, 2023 LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2023 “The great voice of the Caribbean.” —Jury, International Booker 2023 One Easter Sunday, Madame Ballandra puts her hands together and exclaims: “A miracle!” Baby Pascal is strikingly beautiful, brown in complexion, with gray-green eyes like the sea. But where does he come from? Is he really the child of God? So goes the rumor, and many signs throughout his life will cause this theory to gain ground. From journey to journey and from one community to another, Pascal sets off in search of his origins, trying to understand the meaning of his mission. Will he be able to change the fate of humanity? And what will the New World Gospel reveal? For all its beauty, vivacity, humor, and power, Maryse Condé’s latest novel is above all a work of combat. Lucid and full of conviction, Condé attests that solidarity and love remain our most extraordinary and lifesaving forces.

PODCASTS/RADIO This Cultural Life Country: UK Description: Reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson reveals the influences and experiences that inspired his own creativity. Born in Jamaica, he moved to south London in 1963 at the age of eleven. He made his name as a performance poet, reciting politically motivated verse to a dub-reggae backbeat, and becoming a powerful voice of resistance and protest in response to racism on the streets of Britain in the 1970s. He became the first black poet to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series, was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize in 2020, and recently published a collection of prose under the title Time Come. On stage and on record, he is renowned for angry and uncompromising works such as Five Nights Of Bleeding, Sonny’s Lettah, and Iglan Is a Bitch. For This Cultural Life, Linton Kwesi Johnson recalls growing up in poverty in rural Jamaica, where his grandmother told him ghost stories and read The Bible. Appalled at the racism he experienced, he joined the Black Panthers whilst still at school and became a political activist. He began to write and perform poetry, set to music and delivered in Jamaican patois, after being inspired by reggae artists such as Prince Buster and U-Roy, and the American group The Last Poets. Johnson also talks about the tragic fire that killed 13 young partygoers in New Cross, south London in 1981, an event that he commemorated in one of his best known works, New Craas Massahkah. Source: BBC Sounds.

Black, Broke and Brilliant Country: UK Description: Black, Broke and Brilliant - perfect insta bio - is hosted by Ivy and Samira. These girls are not shy when it comes to dragging the UK government and we love to see it. "From thriving to surviving" the girls keep it real to the core. Source: Podcast Streamcast Country: UK Description: Streamcast is a Black British gaming team striving for a safe community for all and better representation for black people in games. Andy, Troy, Akira and Hassan, along with friends and special guests, discuss the latest gaming news, niche gaming topics and promote diversity across all industries. Source: Podcast

FILM/TV The Little Mermaid Cast: Daveed Diggs, Halle Bailey, Noma Dumezweni. Medium: Film Story: The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. Type: Drama When: May 26, 2023 Where: Nationwide Trees of Peace Cast: Eliane Umuhire, Charmaine Bingwa Medium: Film Story: In April of 1994, four women from different backgrounds and beliefs are trapped and hiding during the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Their fight for survival against all odds unites the women in an unbreakable sisterhood. Type: Drama WH Edition: April 22, 2023 When: April 1, 2023 African Folktales Reimagined Cast: Tracy Kababiito, Arnold Mubangizi Medium: TV Story: Six African folktales are reimagined in this multilingual anthology series exploring themes of grief, love and mysticism. Type: Drama When: April 1, 2023 Where: Netflix Gangs of Lagos Cast: Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington Medium: TV Story: Best friends Obalola, Ify and Gift were born and raised in Isale Eko, where politically affiliated gangs rule the streets. When rival gangs paint the streets red with blood, Obalola, Ify and Gift get caught up in gang wars which lead to the uncovering of secrets that shake the very foundations of Isale Eko and, ultimately, bring them to the realization of their destiny. Type: Drama When: April 1, 2023 Where: AMAZON PRIME WHO is WHO? Charlie Mitchell Background: Charlie Mitchell Becomes The First Black Michelin-Starred Chef In New York City. Mitchell helms the restaurant Clover Hill located in Brooklyn Heights, which remarkably earned this prestigious award during its first year of operation after opening its doors last February. Mitchell also won Michelin’s 2022 New York Young Chef Award. Industry: Restaurants Resides: US William Adoasi Background: Adoasi is the founder of Vitae London. Vitae translates to life and each Watch sold supports a child’s life by providing key resources for education. Their Watches are owned by the likes of Richard Branson, Ava DuVernay & the President of Ghana. Industry: Retail Resides: UK Raphael Sofoluke Background: Sofoluke is the founder of The UK Black Business Show, an annual conference and exhibition highlighting and promoting businesses founded by people from the black community. The 2019 show had over 2,500 attendees and 110 businesses from across Europe and Africa. Industry: Business, Events Resides: UK Industry: Photographer OTHER NEWS Springer Nature has launched a DEI internship program and are seeking candidates. The Springer Opening Doors internship is a paid opportunity for students and recent graduates in the UK and the US to gain experience in research and science news publishing in our journals, books or magazines The Start date is June and applications are open now until 5 May 2023. The Company's Black Employee Network is particularly keen to get the advert out to Black candidates. Please see the link below for more details, and please share widely with your networks. Springer Nature Internship Programme TOP 10 FOR APRIL 1. Get tickets for August in England Lenny Henry's new play. 2. Take your partner to see Rye Lane at the cinema. 3. Book a table at Tatale Restaurant in the Africa Centre. 4. Binge on Dating Black Series 2 on BET UK (YouTube). 5. Book dinner at Parks Edge Bar & Kitchen. 6. Take a black history bus tour. 7. Buy tickets for the Africa Oye Festival in June. 8. Go see For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. 9. Have dinner and drinks at Ayanna's in East London. 10. Enjoy Sunday lunch at the Prince of Peckham or take a sip and paint class.