March 11, 2023

BUSINESS • Treat's Club - Treats Club is London’s only cooked-to-order donut shop, based in the heart of Shoreditch. We specialise in hot donuts, hot desserts, ice cream and hot chocolate. Everything we serve is made fresh in-house, using the best ingredients we can get our hands on. We really care about what we serve you. And we spend hours everyday ensuring the quality is second-to-none. https://thetreatsclub.com/ • Charlotte Mensa - Award-winning hairstylist, owner of the Hairlounge salon and founder of the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil product range - Charlotte Mensah has covered amazing ground. An inspiration to stylists, business owners and women worldwide. She’s achieved all this and more through hard work unwavering self-belief and it also helps that she’s such a genuine, down-to-earth person. Charlotte trained at the London College of Fashion in the late 80’s perfecting her craft under the guidance of ‘The Godfather of British Afro Hairdressing’ the late Winston Isaacs. At her salon, Hairlounge, situated on London’s eclectic Portobello Road, Charlotte welcomes a constant tide of devoted clients, from the world of business, entertainment and politics to people who’ve simply just walked through the door so many times they feel like childhood friends. https://www.charlottemensah.com/ • The Stack World - The Stack World powers women's communities, giving you the tools and confidence to build your new peer circle and develop your leadership skills. We believe that together we can go further. Our mission is gender equity through community. By forming new peer groups and power networks, women feel more confident to lead" - Sharmadean Reid https://thestack.world •Image Gang - South London rooted Jewellery and accessory brand Image Gang has garnered a global community of courageous and creative young women. In just little over a year some of its biggest markets span across the UK, USA, Germany and France, pointing to Image Gang quickly becoming to go to for nostalgic jewels and gold. Inspired by the 30 year old owner Isabelle’s childhood, the girls she was surrounded by and the jewellery they would wear, Image Gang holds a strong symbolism of girl power, togetherness and an overall sense of youthfulness. Isabelle explains ‘The reason I started the brand was just a lack of choice in regards to the stuff I liked to wear and quality available. Everything would turn green in a matter of weeks and it was all very basic and the same everywhere.’ https://www.imagegang.co.uk/ •Paddycakes - Hey There It’s The Husband And Wife Duo Chrystal And PatrickbWe Are Just A Happy Couple That Love Baking And Designing Cakes For Some Of The Most Important Milestones. From Birthdays To The Biggest Day….Weddings! We Feel So Blessed To Be A Part Of Clients Journeys. In 2014 We Merged Our Skills Of Fine Art And Construction To Created Paddy Cakes; Baking The Best Cheesecakes And Cakes In London.We Are Obsessed With What We Do. Producing Delicious Cakes With Unique, Modern Romantic Designs. https://www.paddycakes.uk/ • The Underargument - Premium lingerie meets empowerment in a brand that advocates individuality and places womxn's stories at the centre of everything. Founder of lingerie brand The Underargument, Maïna Cissé is passionate about empowering and embracing female individuality. One way this shows up is in the business’ anti-casting concept, which selects real women as models based on their stories, rather than physical appearance. This sense of ‘the reveal’ is felt in these images, commissioned for a piece about global female designers. https://theunderargument.com/ • Doyle Wham -Doyle Wham is the UK's first and only contemporary African photography gallery. The gallery was founded in October 2020 with an itinerant programme of physical and digital exhibitions, as well as participations in art fairs such as Photo London and Abuja Art Week. As of March 2022, Doyle Wham has launched its first permanent location in Shoreditch, London. The gallery exhibits both emerging and established artists from Africa and across the African diaspora, with a focus on supporting early-career artists. To celebrate photography in all its forms, from traditional analogue photography to film, highlighting innovative and experimental expression is at the core of Doyle Wham's ethos. The gallery's 2022 programme will explore this further by expanding into mixed media exhibitions that show the versatility and influence of photography, from commissioning sculptural responses to photographic works, to physical presentations of NFT art.https://www.doylewham.com/ EVENTS • August in England Bush Theatre, London 28 Apr 2023 - 10 Jun 2023 -‘You never allow me tell my story. I been trying to tell it someone and nobody listenin’ Charming, flawed, and with the gift of the gab, we all know a man like August Henderson. Between his three kids, devoted wife-to-be, and part-ownership of a fruit and veg shop, he is proud of the life he has built since landing in his beloved West Bromwich. So, when faced with deportation to a country he has no memory of, he isn’t prepared to go quietly. Listen up, he is ready to tell his own story. Poignant and hilarious in equal measure, August in England gives insight into the lives impacted by the injustice of the Windrush scandal. Written and performed by Lenny Henry in his playwriting debut, the celebrated actor and comedian brings his vast talents onto the stage in this intimate one-man show. Co-directed by the Bush Artistic Director, Lynette Linton (Sweat, House of Ife), and Associate Artistic Director, Daniel Bailey (Red Pitch, The High Table), August in England makes its world premiere in April 2023. •A WORLD IN COMMON: CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHY, Tate Modern 6 July - 14 January 2024 -A celebration of the varied landscape of contemporary African photography today Bringing together a group of artists from different generations, this exhibition will address how photography, film, audio, and more have been used to reimagine Africa’s diverse cultures and historical narratives. Moving beyond a traditional photography exhibition, the show seeks to explore the many ways images travel across histories and geographies. Using themes of spirituality, identity, urbanism and climate emergency, the exhibition will guide the viewer through dream-like utopias and bustling cityscapes viewed from the artists’ perspectives. The exhibition follows artists across the many landscapes, borders and time zones of Africa to reveal how photography allows the past and the future to co-exist in powerful and transformative ways. •Isaac Julien: What Freedom is to Me, Tate Modern, Celebrated for his compelling lyrical films and his video art installations, Isaac Julien is one of the leading artists working in film and video today. This ambitious solo exhibition reveals the scope of Julien’s pioneering work in film and installation from the early 1980s through to the present day. The exhibition highlights Julien's critical thinking and the way his work breaks down barriers between different artistic disciplines, drawing from film, dance, photography, music, theatre, painting and sculpture by utilising the themes of desire, history and culture. The exhibition will present works from early films to large-scale, multi-screen installations which investigate the movement of peoples across different continents, times and spaces. Isaac Julien’s work across forty years will be presented for the first time in the UK. https://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/bootycandy/ • SAMSON BAKARE: Let this be a sign, Dorothy Circus Gallery, 9 Mar - 8 Apr 2023 -The exhibition of Samson Bakare is a remarkable moment in the global art market, as it recognizes the potential of contemporary African art. Through his art, the artist invites viewers to explore the relationship between art, physical and temporal space, which he portrays in a psychedelic canvas. His artworks capture the gaze and thought of viewers, as they become authors of a new writing of the Black Cultural Figuration. Bakare makes use of a flamboyant, floral-inspired palette, as he investigates the psychological effects of color in reference to the traditional stereotypes associated with its use and enjoyment according to gender. Bakare’s style has been influenced by Pop Art, Impressionism, Dadaism, comics, and manga, producing a narrative pictorial result of great impact. The opening of this exhibition is a significant moment for the contemporary African art scene, as it challenges the status quo and provides an opportunity for the black population to reclaim its position in the future. Institutions and private collectors alike are becoming increasingly interested in contemporary African art, and the artist hopes his artwork will make African art as familiar to people as any other art form. https://www.dorothycircusgallery.com/exhibitions/138/overview/ • G: WOAH WOE (4 MARCH - 2 APRIL, The Bower) - WOAH WOE is as much about life and living as it is about death. It is about looking away from the macabre and acknowledging that there is a beauty/joy and respect for living in death. Through this work G creates a conversation about death, a dialogue that is gentle, permission-based and held with care, humour and love. The work encourages us to think about who has a voice, who is heard, what is value, what objects we place value on, and how decisions around life and death are made, accepted or disregarded. • #CityNights: Black Professionals Networking Party in London (march 25, The Telegraph, London) - #CityNights is an exclusive networking event set in the heart of The City of London to bridge the gap between Black Professionals in the UK.Tickets from £20. Over 21's only. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/citynights-black-professionals-networking-party-in-london-tickets-559381433927?aff=erelexpmlt BOOKS • Fire Rush by Jaqueline Crooks - Yamaye lives for the weekend, when she can go raving with her friends at The Crypt, an underground club in the industrial town on the outskirts of London where she was born and raised. A young woman unsure of her future, the sound is her guide - a chance to discover who she really is in the rhythms of those smoke-filled nights. In the dance-hall darkness, dub is the music of her soul, her friendships, her ancestry. But everything changes when she meets Moose, the man she falls deeply in love with, and who offers her the chance of freedom and escape. When their relationship is brutally cut short, Yamaye goes on a dramatic journey of transformation that takes her first to Bristol - where she is caught up in a criminal gang and the police riots sweeping the country - and then to Jamaica, where past and present collide with explosive consequences. 'I was blown away by Fire Rush ... Mesmerising, imaginative and incantatory' Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other 4.0 out of 5 Amazon 3.8 out of 5 Goodreads • Good Hair: The Essential Guide to Afro, Textured and Curly Hair (Charlotte Mensah) - Featuring case studies of clients who came to her looking for a hair fix, Good Hair dispels common hair myths and give you the knowledge and tools to attain good hair health. Charlotte's expertise is second-to-none and her advice acts as a corrective to the conflicting and misguided advice that can be found online. Packed with expert advice, nourishing recipes and top maintenance tips, Good Hair is a celebration of the unique beauty of Black hair. It is the ultimate guide on how to: · Identify and understand your curl textures · Promote hair growth and find good products · Choose the right protective styles · Overcome hair loss, itchiness and dryness · Try styles such as cornrows, locs and bantu knots

4.6 out of 5 Amazon

4.3 out of 5 Goodreads

PODCASTS •Pass The Meerkat- Animated black British Web Series full of banter and comedy from 9 men from London. The funniest new viral podcast out of the UK. 9 Men from London bring their relatable group chat stories to life through animation and hilarious skits. A 9ine Degrees Production. https://passthemeerkat.podbean.com/

•2 Girls and 1 Doc - A (crime) documentary recap podcast like no other! Join besties, and Black British babes, Beedie and Fourens as they recap your favourite documentaries with a little alcohol and a lot of laughs! They cover a range of (mostly true crime) documentaries and discuss the impact of any crimes and the underlying themes. They also let you know which docs you should definitely watch (and which ones aren’t worth your time). https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-girls-1-doc/id1498332375 RADIO • Athena's Cancel Culture (BBC Sounds) - Comedian Athena Kugblenu tries to explain the cultural phenomenon of cancelling the famous by examining high profile examples, and setting out some all important cancel rules.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m000tslg

FILM/TV • Rye Lane (Out now, UK Cinemas) - Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson), two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London -- helping each other deal with their nightmare exes, and potentially restoring their faith in romance. 98% score on Rotten `Tomatoes •Die Hart: The Movie (February 24, 2023) - With Kevin Hart • Nathalie Emmanuel. Tired of being the comedic sidekick, Kevin Hart gets his wish when a famous director offers him his dream – to be a leading man action star – but there’s a catch: Kevin must first train at the world’s greatest action star school, run by a lunatic. •IChris Rock Selective Outrage (Netflix) -Chris Rock delivers an electric stand-up set on non-racist yoga pants, spoiling his kids, the Kardashians and his thoughts on the Will Smith fiasco. •Swarm (March 17 Amazon Prime) - Swarm is an upcoming American horror thriller television series created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. It stars Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey, and Damson Idris. The series follows Dre, a young woman whose obsession with a pop star takes a dark turn. It is set to debut on March 17. •Midtown (Coming to Netflix) - The new series, called Midtown, is about a group of five South Londoners who unexpectedly develop superpowers. The show was originally called Supacell but has since changed its name to Midtown, the release date is currently unknown WHO is WHO? • Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha - is an extraordinary Soprano based in Europe and South Africa. In 2021, Masabane Cecilia won the Song Prize as well as reaching the Main Prize final of the world famous Cardiff Singer of the World competition where she was described as “transcendental” a word which has followed her talent. Masabane Cecilia started singing at an early age at her beautiful Mother’s knee in Limpopo province. Her great enthusiasm for life and remarkable voice sets her apart and her career is already an inspiration. Praised at a young age for her charity work with cancer sufferers in Johannesburg. Masabane Cecilia’s performances have been described as terrific, outstanding, richly coloured, vivid, glorious, ravishing and tantalising, such performances are acclaimed and never forgotten by audiences and experienced opera lovers. Masabane Cecilia’s charm is her African warmth and strength of adventure as she travels the World in pursuit of her passion which already has great professional foundations with Opera’s finest including, Sir Antonio Pappano at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She fulfils her life time dreams, once shared with her Mother in Limpopo. Hardworking and focused, she readily always finds humour while fulfilling her destiny and dedicates time to preparation and detail. Masabane Cecillia’s passion for life embraces her art and captures hearts and minds from all around the World from her professional beginnings in Cape Town, to maturity in London and Washington and Moscow. In London, Masabane Cecilia was invited to the world re-known Jette Parker Young Artists Programme forthe 2018/21 Season, in Covent Garden at the Royal Opera House, having finished her training in the University of Cape Town and the Artist Programme at Cape Town Opera. In 2020, Masabane Cecilia performances in London have won many admirers and great reviews. At the close of 2020, saw her invited to perform in Moscow for 30 years centenary of the Helicon Opera. n the Autumn of 2021, Masabane Cecilia joins the Konzert Theater Bern for two Seasons. The 2022/23 season she described as exciting, because Masabane Cecilia with her roles of Mathilde Guilliame Tell and the title role in Iphigenie en Tauride at Theater Bern. Masabane will return with great acclaim we are sure to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Liù Turandot conducted by the great Sir Antonio Pappano whose guidance she loves. •Yazmin Lacey - Yazmin Lacey is east London-raised but began making music from her living room after a move to Nottingham. Since 2017 she has released three EPs, and the title track of the last one, 2020’s Morning Matters, is a standout, saxophone-heavy ode to a new day. Her debut album, Voice Notes, produced by Dave Okumu, is an escapist, feelgood project that overflows with great storytelling. It offers introspective soliloquies, with lyrics derived from voice notes, memos and reminders journalled on her phone. (THE GUARDIAN) The Nottingham-based artist’s debut album delivers a seamless mix of jazz, soul and electronica •Sharmadean Reid MBE - Sharmadean has also launched her revolutionary angel investor-funded platform, Beautystack. This invitation-only hub for beauty professionals connect consumer and beautician, enabling the consumer to book appointments directly with the next generation of beauticians whose work showcased on the platform catches their attention. Sharmadean’s pivot into tech has given her a vast amount of consumer data. She is an expert in millennial consumer trends and is often invited to consult large companies on on In 2021, after over 10 years of organising women’s communities and events across beauty, business and self development, Sharmadean launched The Stack, a meeting place for women who are changemakers, entrepreneurs and innovators. TOP 10 FOR MARCH 1. Get tickets for the hottest show in town 'Mandela the Musical'. 2. Take your loved one or girlfriends to go see Rye Lane at the cinema. 3. Book a table at Tatale Restaurant in the Africa Centre. 4. Watch Riches on ITVX (Riches is about the beauty empire built by ruthless businessman Stephen Richards). 5. Book dinner at Parks Edge Bar & Kitchen 6. See the Lynette Yiadom-Boakye exhibition at the Tate Modern 7. See Will Smith's redemption in the well-reviewed movie Emancipation. 8. Book your tickets for John Legend at the Royal Albert Hall in April . 9. Have dinner and drinks at Idris Elba's Kings Cross restaurant Porte Noir (4.7 review on Google) 10. Book tickets for Ballet Black at the Barbican Theatre