May 20, 2023

BUSINESS Matugga Rum About: Our company and brands draw upon our rich ‘Rum Triad’ – rooted in Jamaica’s rum making traditions; showcasing the culture and flavours of East Africa; blended with Scotland’s proud distilling heritage. We have substantial ties to Uganda, and our team shares a common desire to support the livelihoods of sugar cane growers in East Africa. With this at the forefront of our thought process, we are developing a sugar cane plantation on our family land in Matugga that will employ and train local agricultural workers. By harvesting cane from our land and converting it into high-quality distilling molasses we will also become a “Cane to Cask” rum producer. Industry: Food & Drink Location: Online Website: https://www.matuggarum.com/ Sip’N Stroke About: Painting session with a twist. Unleash your creativity - cocktail in one hand, paintbrush in the other, Hip Hop + R&B in the loudspeakers.bArt x Music x Self Expression. Sip ‘N Stroke feeds your creativity while providing an atmosphere for you to be surrounded by like-minded young professionals, as you listen to the music you love, sip your favourite drinks, and paint your imagination to life on canvas. Industry: Entertainment Location: Birmingham, London Website: https://www.sipnstroke.com/ Rendoll About: Established in June 2019, Rendoll is a Global womenswear brand founded by Nigerian Fashion and beauty Entrepreneur, At Rendoll, we aim to inspire confidence. Our brand is focused on femininity and body positivity. We believe that as you are wonderfully unique, you should have the freedom to be you. To fulfil this goal and with you in mind, we create head-turning attainable luxury resort and party pieces to be treasured for a lifetime.We work with numerous fabric suppliers around the world and all our pieces are produced by gifted artisans who are all paid above-average wages. Industry: Fashion Location: Online Website: https://www.rendoll.com/ Ma Petite Jamaica About: London's first Caribbean Diner. We're proud to have served the most authentic Jamaican food in the capital. We're proud of our heritage and want to show you why! nLocated in the heart of Camden and now newly-opened in Shoreditch, East London. we may not be the biggest restaurant, but we have the biggest heart and we can show you this through our famous rum cocktails & Jerk Chicken!nWe're happy to welcome you to our outside restaurant in centralLondon. Look no further Ma Petite Jamaica is the place to dine out and enjoy the best Jamaican food ! Industry: Restaurants Location: London Website: https://www.mapetitejamaica.com EVENTS Ashanti CATEGORY: MUSIC COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: May 29, 2022 TO: May 29, 2022 VENUE: OVO Arena Wembley Wahala Comedy Clash: Jamaica v Africa CATEGORY: COMEDY COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 3, 2022 TO: June 3, 2022 VENUE: 205 Pensiula Square The Wahala Comedy Clash is coming to London, UK on June 3, 2022, at 205 Pensiula Square. This comedy event promises to be a night filled with laughter, as comedians from Jamaica and Africa come together to entertain the audience. The event will showcase some of the best and funniest comedians from each country, who will engage in a friendly battle of wits and humor. The comedians will perform in front of a live audience in London, bringing their unique styles and perspectives to the stageAudiences can expect to see hilarious skits, jokes, and one-liners that will leave them in stitches. The show will not only provide entertainment but also an opportunity to experience the cultural differences and similarities between Jamaica and Africa. So mark your calendars for June 3, 2022, and get ready for a night of non-stop laughter with the Wahala Comedy Clash: Jamaica v Africa, at 205 Pensiula Square, London. Spirit of the Caribbean Annual Ball & the Black Honour Awards CATEGORY: NIGHT LIFE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 4, 2022 TO: June 4, 2022 VENUE: ILEC Conference Centre Once On This Island CATEGORY: THEATRE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: May 10, 2023 TO: June 10, 2023 TYPE: Musical VENUE: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre On a Caribbean island, a group of storytellers gathers to impart the tale of peasant girl Ti Moune. When a ferocious storm casts a shipwreck onto her shores, Ti Moune rescues a boy called Daniel and begins to fall in love. But the Gods demand something in return for Daniel’s life, and this young orphan girl soon embarks on a quest to prove that love is more powerful than death. The Pitt Lecture 2023 in Camden: David Olusoga on Lord David Pitt CATEGORY: EDUCATION COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 19, 2023 TO: June 19, 2023 VENUE: British Library The Pitt Lecture 2023 in Camden is a highly anticipated educational event set to take place on June 19, 2023, at the British Library in London, UK. The lecture, which will be delivered by the renowned historian and broadcaster, David Olusoga, will focus on Lord David Pitt. Lord David Pitt was a prominent politician and anti-racism campaigner who played a pivotal role in shaping modern Britain. He was the first black person to be elected to Parliament in the UK and went on to become the first black Cabinet Minister. He was also a champion of equality, diversity, and social justice and fought tirelessly against discrimination and prejudice. Black Owned Hackney Market CATEGORY: MARKET COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 23, 2023 TO: June 23, 2023 VENUE: Bohemia Place Markets The Black Owned Hackney Market is a one-day event held on June 23, 2023, in London, UK. The market is located at Bohemia Place Markets and is focused on showcasing and promoting black-owned businesses. Visitors can expect a vibrant and diverse atmosphere, with a range of vendors selling goods and services such as food, fashion, beauty products, art, and more. The market provides a platform for local black entrepreneurs to display their products, gain exposure, and connect with potential customers. Lux Afrique Polo Day CATEGORY: SPORT COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: July 29, 2023 TO: July 29, 2023 VENUE: Hurtwood Park Polo Club Now in its 5th year, Lux Afrique Polo Day is the largest African polo festival in Europe, which attracts over 2,500 attendees per event. The day is all about incredible polo, fashion, African food and live shows, performers and the regal spirit of Africa. LAPD strives to showcase the different up-and-coming teams from the region, championing the rapidly growing sport in Africa and providing a platform for young and emerging African talent to compete on prestigious, British grounds. BOOKS Sweet Soul Baking Author: Barbara Brennen Published: April 19, 2023 Rating Amazon: 5.0 Family time, after school, around the table was always the best part of the day for me. It felt safe and happy, and I loved listening to everyone trying to tell the story of their day all at the same time. Laughter and pain mixed like the perfect cake recipe that feeling of pure love hitting you deep within your soul. Sweet Soul Baking ignites those feelings of joy, of fun times with the ones you love, and hopefully pushes you to get baking again. The recipes will work if you are baking for the first time or an experienced baker looking for something fresh. But fill your heart with joy as you read the recipes before you bake. There are encouraging affirmations to help keep your newfound confidence and inspirational excerpts throughout to set you up for success in anything you do in life. Keep reading, keep baking, and keep building your confidence. Many families have different dietary requirements. So, including BAD ASS CAKES most popular GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN, AND KETO recipes in this book, so that there is something for everyone is important to allow each family member to feel connected and loved. In addition, the SAVOURIES are easy, quick, and packed full of flavour. The Day I Fell Off My Island Author: Yvonne Bailey-Smith Published: June 10, 2021 Rating Amazon: 4.4 Rating on Goodreads: 4.2 "The Day I Fell Off My Island" is a memoir written by Yvonne Bailey-Smith. The book recounts the author's experience of growing up on a small island in the Caribbean and her eventual move to the United States. The memoir provides a vivid description of the island's culture, traditions, and way of life, and how the author's experiences on the island shaped her worldview. The book also highlights the challenges the author faced when she moved to the United States. The cultural shock and the struggle to adapt to a new environment were major obstacles she had to overcome. However, through hard work and determination, she was able to build a successful career and raise a family.

PODCASTS/RADIO People Person by Candice Carty-Williams Country: UK Description: From Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of Queenie, a funny and frank portrait of a young woman trying to find belonging. Dimple is an aspiring social media influencer, disconnected from her wayward dad and her four half-siblings who are dotted across south London - until one fateful night when she needs to call on them. In this opening episode of a 10-part abridgement for BBC Sounds, a teenage Dimple meets her brothers and sisters for the first time. Source: BBC Sounds

Blacktalk Country: Canada Description: Blacktalk is a podcast about the personal experiences of global Black experts and Black Canadians contextualized within the historical experience of being Black. Ethnic, modern, inclusive and informative, Blacktalk leaves listeners with new perspectives about anti-Black racism and Black achievement. The show is conversational, not judgemental. It provides a unique take on the Black experience to help people of all backgrounds open their eyes, reflect and challenge their thinking. Source: Podcast The Know Your Caribbean Podcast Country: UK Description: Coming from the much loved platform Know Your Caribbean, this podcast is geared entirely to telling the stories of the Caribbean, it's history and culture, food, music and more. Including the fan favourite Gangsta Stories from the Caribbean. Here to uplift, empower through education in ways that make you feel connected to yourself. So get to know yourself through Know Your Caribbean. Source: Podcast

FILM/TV Surrounded Cast: Letitia Wright, Michael Kenneth Williams. Medium: Film Story: After her stagecoach is ambushed, a woman is tasked with holding a dangerous outlaw captive and must survive the day when the bandit’s gang tries to free him Type: Thriller When: June 16, 2023 Where: General release The Perfect Find Cast: Gabrielle Union, Gina Torres, Janet Hubert, La La Anthony, Numa Perrier, Aisha Hinds, Keith Powers. Medium: TV Story: Will a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line - her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account - risk it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback, for good? Type: Romcom When: June 14, 2023 Where: Netflix Diary of a CEO Cast: Steven Bartlett Medium: TV Story: Steven Bartlett interviews successful CEO’s Type: Documentary When: May 17, 2023 Where: BBC iplayer Black As Night Cast: Ashjha Cooper, Mason Beauchamp,,Fabrizio Guido Medium: TV Story: A teenage girl with self-esteem issues finds confidence by spending her summer battling vampires. Type: Drama, Horror Where: Amazon Prime Working What We Do All day Long Cast: Barack Obama Medium: TV Story: For some, it's a paycheck. For others, it's a calling. This docuseries explores the meaning of work for modern Americans in a time of rapid change. Type: Documentary When: May 1, 2023 Where: Netflix WHO is WHO? Femi Oguns Background: With clients including Letitia Wright (Black Panther), John Boyega (Star Wars) and Cynthia Erivo (Widows), Femi Oguns has one of the most impressive client lists of any agent in the world, which he oversees as the Founder of the London-based Identity School of Acting. Set up in 2003 in response to the deficit in minority acting talent being picked up by mainstream drama schools, the school now has over 900 students. Oguns is also the Founder of the Identity Agency Group, a talent agency, and has appeared in several award-winning television dramas. Industry: Media Resides: UK Reece Wabara Background: Former footballer turned entrepreneur Reece Wabara is the Founder of fashion label Maniere de Voir, a sports-luxe clothing company that the former defender launched in 2014 after his contract with defending Premier League champions Manchester City was terminated by mutual consent. Despite having never attended university, Wabara has built his multigendered fashion brand to £30m in revenue without outside capital, and exports to more than 95 countries around the world. Wabara has also been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 – Europe – retail & e-commerce list. Industry: Fashion Resides: UK Dr Tunde Okewale MBE Background: Dr Tunde Okewale is the Founder of charity Urban Lawyers, a multi-media education and information centre designed to educate, engage and stimulate discussion amongst young people about their attitudes towards criminal law. The barrister at Doughty Street Chambers has had a remarkable career; having previously worked in the fruit and veg section at Sainsburys whilst studying law at London Metropolitan University, Dr Okewale was honoured as master of the bench of Inner Temple in 2019 at the age of 35, making him one of the youngest in its 650-year history. Industry: Non-Profit Resides: UK TOP 10 FOR MAY/JUNE 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 Ashanti at the Wembley Arena. 9. Have dinner and drinks at Stork in Mayfair. I went a few weeks ago and the decor and food was amazing! 10. Enjoy Sunday lunch at the Prince of Peckham