May 20th

BUSINESS • 12:51 Restaurant - 12:51 is James Cochran's signature restaurant. With parents from St. Vincent in the Caribbean and Glasgow, Scotland, he grew up by the sea in Whitstable, Kent - a mixed-heritage reflected in his innovative and exciting dishes. After getting his first job at Wheeler’s Oyster Bar in his hometown, his talent took him to the world-renowned, two-Michelin-starred, The Ledbury - where he honed his skills under mentor Brett Graham - before he went on to run the kitchen at Michelin-starred gastropub The Harwood Arms. He opened 12:51 in Islington, north London in 2018 - the same year he won the BBC’s Great British Menu - a feat he repeated in 2020. A winner of the prestigious Eater London Chef of The Year, James also runs Around the Cluck offering a gourmet twist on the classic fried chicken takeaway. https://www.1251.co.uk/ • Book & Kulture - Visit the Book & Kulture Pop Up Shop opening May 3rd - 31st July in the heart of Wembley Park https://www.bookandkulture.com/ • Ghana Fresh - Ghana’s Fresh prides itself on ensuring a fair deal in trade for Ghana’s agricultural sector. We source our products directly from farmers and producers and deliver them directly to consumers globally; continentally and abroad. Our business model affords producers more autonomy in deciding their prices for their efforts whilst the consumer also benefits from receiving the highest quality products as no third-parties are involved in bringing the products to the market. As such it is a win-win situation for all parties that use our services; we are the bridge that connects needs to efforts, in doing so creating a mutually beneficial eco-system for all involved. https://ghanasfresh.com/ • Kenyan Craft Company - London-based and proud Kenyan, Zipporah van der Vijver, is founder of The Kenyan Crafts Company. She works with a team of Kenyan women from remote rural villages to weave the most beautiful handcrafted Kiondo baskets. Ethical, handmade and eco-friendly, purchasing a basket supports its makers and helps preserve an ancient craft tradition. You can buy baskets, bowls, bags and even beaded belts and dog collars. Shop directly via the website or Etsy. https://www.thekenyancraftscompany.com/ •Quemamu Mosaics - Bedfordshire-based Dionne Ible is a full-time mosaic artist and founder of Qemamu Mosaics. Inspired by her African/Caribbean heritage, she explores her roots in the form of mosaic. Dionne sells beautiful wall murals, greeting cards and gift wrap over on her Etsy shop. https://qemamumosaics.co.uk/gallery/ Self Made Candles - Selfmade Candle is a home and wellness brand providing eco-friendly and vegan-friendly products. Using natural soy wax infused with 100 per cent essential oils, it's a lavish scent experience and entirely guilt-free – even down to the ink and glue used on its labels. You can buy a range of candles and candle-making kits. Shop directly via the website. https://selfmadecandle.com/ EVENTS • The Fellowship (Hampstead Theatre 17 June - 23rd July) - Children of the Windrush generation, sisters Dawn and Marcia Adams grew up in 1980s London and were activists on the front line against the multiple injustices of that time. Decades on, they find they have little in common beyond family... Dawn struggles to care for their dying mother, whilst her one surviving son is drifting away from her. Meanwhile, high-flying lawyer Marcia’s affair with a married politician might be about to explode and destroy her career. Can the Adams sisters navigate the turmoil that lies ahead, leave the past behind, and seize the future with the bond between them still intact? The world premiere of Roy Williams’ The Fellowship, directed by Paulette Randall, is, by turns, an electrifying, hilarious, gripping tale set in modern Britain. https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2022/the-fellowship/ •Nine Night - “Three things you don’t mess with when it comes to Jamaicans. Their money, their food and their traditions.” When Gloria’s time comes, the traditional Nine Night rituals begins Natasha Gordon’s debut play has been described as “a touching and very funny exploration of the rituals of family.” Intrinsically specific in its cultural references to Jamaican traditions, it touches on universal experiences of families dealing with death and talks about grief, love, exposed secrets and greed. Nine Night is also a play about migrants’ eternal struggle to define themselves. It enjoyed a stunning sold-out run at the National Theatre in April 2018 before transferring to Trafalgar Studios, making Natasha Gordon the first black British female playwright to be produced in the West End. https://www.towertheatre.org.uk/nine-night/ •The Voices of Black Folk in Unexpected Places (Peckham Theatre 23 & 24 May) - The latest instalment in the ‘Voices of Black Folk’ series dedicated to shining a light on the forgotten rich history of Black voices across the UK and Europe. Bringing to life the fascinating lives of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin the father of Russian literature, Britain’s first Black Queen Philippa of Hainault, and composer, violinist, swordsman and army General Joseph Bolgone. All of whom pop up in history in places we wouldn’t expect such as the Roman empire, the British Royal family and the French Revolution and the birth of modern Russia. https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/the-voices-of-black-folk-in-unexpected-places/ • Kings & Queens of Colour in Business (The Holiday Inn, Birmingham, B43 7BG)- Queens of Colour proudly presents 'Kings and Queens of Colour in Business' This special event is to promote and support our Kings & Queens of Colour in Business. You can be sure to find some amazing exhibition stands from Beauty, Fashion, Food, Herbal Products, Entertainment and so much more! Come along and see whats on offer. We have some amazing Raffle Prize winnings to be won! So order your raffle ticket for a chance to win some great prizes! •Spirit of the Caribbean Annual Ball (Saturday 4th June, Ilec Conference Centre, London) - Annual ball showcasing Caribbean culture & heritage. The event includes welcome drinks. a 3 course silver service keal, the Black Honour Awards presentation and live entertainment. •Taste of the Caribbean:Food & Drink Festival + Live Music (Saturday 2nd July, Croydon Road Recreation Ground) - An unforgettable outdoor street food experience with food from different islands of the Caribbean, live music, funfair rides and rum punch. The UK's biggest food festival dedicated to Caribbean food returns bigger and better for another amazing family day of food, drink, shopping and music. We have a brand new site located in a popular London park, with 30,000 square metres of parkland event space that can easily accommodate up to 8000 people with social distancing. This will be an unforgettable outdoor experience where you can purchase delicious cuisines from different islands of the Caribbean. Bring your picnic blankets and foldable chairs, spend the day with us, dance to reggae, the music of Motown, R&B classics, 80s, 90s and drink lots of rum punch. https://happeningnext.com/event/taste-of-the-caribbean-food-andamp-drink-festival-live-music-eid4sntn8v3ld1 B(Y8 Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5BY BOOKS • Hope & Glory (Jendella Benson) -Written with passion and conviction. We think that Jendella will be an author that will have a firm place on all of our bookshelves. As an ex south Londoner our founder, Carolynn had high hopes for this book written by south London based Jendella and since reading it, she won't stop telling us how good it is. Hope and Glory is a story where death is not the end… but the very beginning. Funerals often bring distant family https://afroribooks.co.uk/ • The Durbar's Apprentice by Remington Blackstaff Published:25 May 2022 - 17th century northern Nigeria. A royal messenger has died under suspicious circumstances. Tasked with investigating the death, a Durbar warrior and his young apprentice must endure trials of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice to solve the mystery and prevent the bitter rivalry between two kingdoms from descending into a bloody war.

https://afroribooks.co.uk/products/the-durbars-apprentice-by-remington-blackstaff-author-published-25-may-2022 • The Day I Fell Off My Island by Yvonne Bailey-Smith Published: 17 Mar 2022- The Day I Fell Off My Island tells the story of Erna Mullings, a teenage Jamaican girl uprooted from her island following the sudden death of her beloved grandmother. When Erna is sent to England to be reunited with her siblings, she dreads leaving behind her elderly grandfather, and the only life she has ever known. A new future unfolds, in a strange country and with a mother she barely knows. The next decade will be a complex journey of estrangement and arrival, new beginnings and the uncovering of long-buried secrets. https://afroribooks.co.uk/products/the-day-i-fell-off-my-island-by-yvonne-bailey-smith-published-17-mar-2022?variant=42447586623702

• Trail of Echoes : A Detective Elouise Norton Novel : 3 by Rachel Howzell Hall - "When we speak of our origins, that which made us, we speak of our roots. We acknowledge how our identities are intertwined with land, whether it's the one we are standing on or another we lay claim to." Unearthed is the story of how Claire Ratinon found belonging through falling in love with growing plants. For years her troubled relationship with the land of her birth left her feeling unwanted, but reconnecting with nature allowed her finally to put down roots. • You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi - (May 24, 2022)- Words can’t express how ecstatic we are to read Akwaeke Emezi’s debut romance novel. In You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, we’re introduced to artist Feyi Adekola, who’s finally finding her way back to herself after losing the love of her life in a car accident. And she seemingly has it all: a healed heart, her own artist studio, and a brownstone apartment that she shares with her BFF. But when she finally jumps back into dating and starts seeing a great guy, she finds herself meeting eyes with a forbidden love. The conundrum begs the question: what is she willing to do for another go at love? And has she really let go of her past? PODCASTS • Your Aunties Could Never - no nonsense straight talk from women who aren't afraid to say all the things you wish you could say. https://www.yourauntiescouldnever.co.uk/ •Blaxit Global - Hugely centered on the wide-ranging and varying experiences of the African diaspora abroad, Blaxit Global podcast chronicles the ‘Blaxit’ from the United States out into the exciting and often times daunting world of Black Expathood. Blaxit Global is largely about educating, informing and empowering listeners, all while host Chrishan Wright delves deeply into the work of demystifying the process of moving abroad. Blaxit Global RADIO • Heart & Soul (BBC Sounds) - In traditional Maasai culture one of the central figures of the community is the laibon. A laibon is a person who has been gifted with the power to see the future. They are not really a fortune teller and they are certainly not a witch doctor. They are more like a seer, but some also have the power to cure illnesses. A laibon is the one who advises the community as a whole on the best course of action to take in a given situation. For example, they can use their powers to say where the community’s cattle should be taken in order to find better grazing when there’s a drought. They are the ones who can pronounce when the time is right for important ceremonies. Today hardly any laibon remain. There is still one though. Called Mokompo, he is today an elderly man who lives in one of the remotest corners of Kenya, far from towns, villages, and surfaced roads. Although very few Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania have ever met him, he continues to command huge respect. In this programme journalist Stuart Butler travels to Kenya to meet Mokompo and find out the spiritual secrets of one the country's last laibons. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4236

• If you don't know (BBC Sounds)- Have you ever felt lonely? Black people are more likely to feel lonely than the general population, according to research from the Mental Health Foundation. Marwah El-Murad, who works for the organisation, explains why. And Rhyanna shares her own story of being young, black and lonely. She tells De-Graft and Roshan that you can feel like that even when you have lots of people around you. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00173pm

FILM/TV •Granite Harbour (BBC One & Iplayer) -Set in Aberdeen and starring rising talents Romario Simpson (Small Axe, Noughts and Crosses) and Hannah Donaldson (Murder Island, Annika), Granite Harbour is a new three-part drama series for BBC Scotland, BBC One and iPlayer, made by LA Productions, which recently started filming in Scotland. Alongside Dundee-born actress Hannah Donaldson, other leading Scottish acting talent joining the cast include Dawn Steele (Holby City, Liar), Gary Lewis (Vigil, Rig 45) and Fiona Bell (The Nest, Shetland). Granite Harbour centres on the story of Lance Corporal Davis Lindo (Romario Simpson) who arrives in Aberdeen as a new recruit to Police Scotland. Having completed his final tour with the Royal Military Police, Lindo dreams of being a detective at New Scotland Yard. However, he finds himself being sent to train as a Detective Constable in the North East of Scotland, he must quickly adapt to his new life in Aberdeen, a world away from anything this soldier has known before. • Blood Sisters (Netflix)- Bound by a dangerous secret, friends Sarah and Kemi are forced to go on the run after a wealthy groom disappears during his engagement party. https://www.netflix.com/title/81521086 • The Woman King - Billed as an historical epic, the film – which is set in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of Africa's most powerful states throughout the 18th and 19th centuries – tells the story of army general Nanisca (Davis), and soldier Nawi (The Underground Railroad's Thuso Mbedu), who fought those who sort to oppress their people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxwV5KyKOA • Get Millie Black - The Channel 4 and HBO co-production of Get Millie Black has cast Tamara Lawrance to star in the title role, with Tanya Hamilton to direct. Get Millie Black, produced by Motive Pictures, is a vivid, unflinching, and gripping six-part crime noir, follows the inimitable Millie-Jean Black, a police detective forced to quit Scotland Yard and return home to Jamaica, where she is soon pursuing a missing persons case that threatens to expose more than she may be willing to confront. The series, which also stars Joe Dempsie, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr and Chyna McQueen, marks the screenwriting debut of Booker Prizewinning author Marlon James. Production began this week in Jamaica, with additional shooting in London to come. • The Game - The football-centered series, which evidently has a cat-like lifespan, has found a new home with Paramount+ more than five years after its last season finale aired in 2015, and more than 10 years after it was originally canceled by The CW. The latest reboot centers around Robinson’s beloved character, Tasha Mack, and her co-dependent relationship with her son, Mailk Wright, played by Hosea Chanchez. Since its inception in 2006, fans of the series have seen a host of characters come and go; however, the mother-son duo are still a constant. https://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Season-1/dp/B09L3RSQKS WHAT AM I PAYING ATTENTION TO? • Diversity? It's what makes us British, says poll - Three-quarters of Britons feel that social diversity is part of the UK’s culture, rather than a threat to it, a survey has found. This is a significant shift from 2011, when more than half the public said that having a variety of backgrounds undermined British culture. Yesterday’s results found that 84 per cent of the public would be comfortable with an ethnic minority PM succeeding Boris Johnson, with only 10 per cent saying it would be a negative. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/diversity-its-what-makes-us-british-says-poll-z2dpclqsd • Black Pound Day - Black Pound Day aims to be the biggest market place and directory to spend black in the UK and Europe. Black Pound Day, the most influential socio-economic movement in the UK & Europe. Serving the needs of the global diasporic community. https://blackpoundday.uk WHAT I AM PERSONALLY RECOMMENDING? 1. Jamaican Patty Company - Jamaica Patty Co. was founded in 2013 with the aim of bringing high-quality Jamaican food to the UK. Frustrated by her inability to find the flavours and aromas of straight from the oven patties in London, Jamaican-born entrepreneur Theresa Roberts decided to launch Jamaica Patty Co. in order to give UK consumers the opportunity to enjoy the fresh flavour of Jamaica.http://jamaicapatty.co.uk/ 2. Soul Food Movie & TV Series - Movie and TV show about black family life and relationships. It's a must watch! 3. Beloved by Toni Morrisson - The classic novel by Toni Morrisson. A tale of brutality, horror and above all love at any cost. Have a great weekend!