African events in town

11 April 2012

The obvious starting point for all things African in London; music (Club Limpopo), food (the Calabash restaurant), children's workshops, craft shop, book centre. The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, WC2 (020-7836 1973).

RESTAURANTS

CALABASH

Choose from pan-African dishes covering Kenya to Sierra Leone, a great introduction to the continent's cuisine. Plus local beers. The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, WC2, (020-7836 1976). £32

MANDOLA Sudanese with an upmarket feel, despite being a BYO: candlelight and tasteful Afro decor. Expect a mix of Middle Eastern and African meals. 139 Westbourne Grove, W11 (020-7229 4734). £45

LALIBELA Popular two-floor Ethiopian serving stewed dishes with plenty of veggie options. Snag a low table in the window upstairs and watch the world go by as you eat with your fingers. Ethiopian coffee, super strong and an important ritual. 137 Fortess Road, NW5 (020-7284 0600). £38

AFRICANA Unassuming exterior belies a warm heart at this friendly Nigerian. Huge portions of pounded yam, egusi soup, jollof rice and plantain chips and lovely staff. Local beer has a kick. 91 Camberwell Road, SE5 (020-7277 4977). £22

MILLENNIUM CAFE

Run by lovely Eritreans this is the spot for an African breakfast: foul mesdames with a pitta-like bread called kitcha, comes chopped with butter and hot pepper, cheese and veg. 192 Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 (020-7625 3235). £10

ADDIS In the summer the front of this friendly Ethiopian opens onto the street for a mellow Mediterranean feel. Food is very good, veggie and meat dishes are generally better than the fish. 42 Caledonian Road, N1 (020-7278 0679). £28.

RECORD SHOPS

AFRICAN RECORD CENTRE Proudly and rightly claims to have the biggest and broadest range of African music in London including gospel, rumba and soukous. 293 Euston Road, NW1 (020-7387 5550).

EDEN MUSIC RECORDS Specialises in 'musique Africaine' and also sells a range of traditional African foodstuffs. 60 West Green Road, N15 (020-8800 6779).

BLACK STAR RECORDS Specialists in Ghanaian music. 532 Lea Bridge Road, E10 (020-8556 2001); 32 West Green Road, N15 (020-8800 8838).

DARA'S AFRICAN SOUNDS African & Caribbean specialists. 317 New Cross Road, SE14 (020-8691 1344).

AFRICAN MUSIC STORE Sells a selection of salsa, rumba, zouk and Afro-zouk sounds. 417 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 (020-7733 7779).

CLUBS

CLUB SAï SAï

Saï Saï plays an ambient mix of Congolese, Western and Latin American music. 169-171 Fore Street, N18 (07880 867 867).

CLUB LIMPOPO at the Africa Centre African dance music plus live bands every Friday. King Street. WC2 (020-7836 1973). 10am-3pm,£7-£8.

THE SHRINE at Cargo Contemporary African music: Monthly African club night with residents Max Rhinehart, Nikki Lucas. Sat 23 Aug sees special guests Dele Sosimi's Afrobeat Gbedu, JJC and 419 Squad. Rivington Street. 83 Rivington Street, EC2A (020-7739 3440).

PIER ONE NIGHT SPOT Top DJs play a blend of African music plus soul, R&B, and zouk. Ladies free on Fri. 91-93 Kingsland High Street, E8 (020-7690 0769). Fri, Sat, Sun. www.pieronenightspot.com

LA SANZA at Kokonut Groove African rhythms from makossa and zouk to Latino music. Kokonut Groove, Waterden Road, E15 (020-8986 2299). Fri & Sat.

KAKADU at the O Bar Kakadu was the hippest Nigerian Club back in the Sixties and Seventies. Promoter Keiday is hoping to recreate the heady atmosphere in a monthly club night starting Fri 31 Oct promising top bands and DJs including Tony Allen and Susheela Ramen. O Bar, 43 Peckham High Street, SE15 (07984 288 223). Last Friday of every month.

DANCE/MUSIC CLASSES

AFRICAN DANCE SUMMER SCHOOL Last chance to catch the African Dance Summer School at Sadler's Wells, with an open level session in Bata, the Yoruba dance tradition on Fri 15 Aug, plus an intensive weekend course on Sat 16 & Sun 17 Aug. Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1. To book contact Badejo Arts on 020-7482 4292.

ORISHA SINGING Workshops in Afro-Cuban sacred Yoruba singing. Yoruba Contemporary Arts, 115a King's Road, SW3 (020-7795 3300).

AFRICAN DANCE & DRUMMING 10-week courses in African dance and drumming for beginners/improvers with the Nzinga Dance Co. Starts Sun 21 Sep at the Horniman Museum. 100 London Road, SE23. Call 020-8314 5328.

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

AFRICA AT THE PICTURES
The best of contemporary African cinema. Q&As and masterclasses. Various venues. Fri 17-Fri 24 Oct. Call 020-7727 5052 or visit www.africaatthepictures.co.uk

AFRICAN SHOWCASE & MARKET Vibrant music and dance from the Congo, Nigeria and Morocco plus 30 market stalls filled with authentic African arts, crafts and food. Also craft workshops. Wembley High Road,Wembley (020-8937
5064). Fri 15 Aug, noon-6pm, Sat 16 Aug, 10am-7pm, free.

MANDOZA, MAFIKIZOLO South African bands Mandoza and the award-winning Mafikizolo play at the Stratford Rex on Sun 24 Aug. 361-373 High Road, E15 (020-8215 6003).

EXPRESSIONS Contemporary stone sculptures and paintings from Zimbabwe. Bhownagree Gallery, Commonwealth Institute, 230 Kensington High Street, W8 (020-7603 4535). Ends Fri 22 Aug.

UMOJA Hit West End show Umoja (meaning togetherness) brings a taste of South Africa to Croydon. Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey (020-8688 9291). Mon 18-Fri 22 Aug.

MISS GHANA UK (GRAND FINAL) Beauty contest aside, expect artists and dance from Ghana. Caesars, 154-160 Streatham Hill, SW2 (07956 338 504). Sun 24 Aug, 8pm, £15-£20.

UNESCO DAY FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION Community stalls, African and Caribbean food, dance, storytelling. Tour of the museum's African collection and historical slave trail. Cutty Sark Gardens, SE10 (020-8312 8565). Sat 23 Aug, noon-6pm. Visit www.antislavery.org for more info.

UNESCO'S CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL RESISTANCE With a cross-continent mix of contemporary music from Africa and the diaspora. Programmed by DJs Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt. Acts include Soweto Kinch, JJC and 419 Squad, Linton Kwesi Johnson. Cutty Sark Gardens, SE10. Sat 23 Aug, 6pm-11pm. Visit www.antislavery.org for more info.

BUTABU - ADOBE ARCHITECTURE OF WEST AFRICA An exhibition of photographs by James Morris. Many of the most noble buildings in Africa are made of mud. These images show the creative ways in which local architects shape this material into works of art. Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1, (020 7898 4046), Mon-Fri 10.30am-5pm, free. Until 19 September.

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