Life In Colour - Dec/Jan 09

London’s Original No.1 Multicultural Listing Guide Over 250,000 Monthly Readers

Issue 18 • Dec & Jan 2009

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Entertainment L i s t i n g s

MUSIC Erik Rico

CLUBS

Amplified’s Pre New Years Party

THEATRE

Piped Piper - A Hip Hop Dance Revolution

COMEDY

Nivea Funny Women Stand Up

COMMUNITY

London Ice Sculpting Festival

SCREEN Soy Cuba!

GALLERY

Growing Up Black

EVENTS

Asia Expo 2010

WRITTEN & SPOKEN

Lyrical Healer

FAITH

Soul Inspired

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Counsellor Mike

This Issue Sponsored by

OP B EN OO EX TR AT S T K N A RIC H O DA H IS W TE M W !

S A IX EE DD K ED

CONTENTS 21

05

Theatre Production

By JB Rose

A Word From The Editors

Starring

HI I tak e great pleasure i n welcomi ng you to your latest edition of Life I n Colour.

Without a doubt I’m London’s biggest fan so a job where I provide you with the best things to see, places to visit, and events to exper ience in London, i s… well, i t ’s not a j ob at all!

37

Dionne Mitchell

(Former X Factor finalist)

Written by JB Rose, Directed by Angela Michaels The battle of the sexes begins in this Caribbean Christmas tale suitable for the whole family.

FREE goodie bags after each show!

Plus ! Win 2 free Virgin tickets to the Caribbean courtesy of

Also! A special gift will be given to those who bring along their elderly grandparents 17th, 18th & 19th Dec 2009 Rich Mix in Shoreditch Tel: 020 7613 7490

*** DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND EXTRA DATES HAVE BEEN ADDED *** 21st, 22nd & 23rd Dec 2009 Bernie Grant Arts Centre Tel: 020 8365 5450

04-12

MUSIC

40

WRITTEN & SPOKEN

13-18

CLUB

19-25

THEATRE

42

COMMUNITY

26-27

COMEDY

45-45 46-48

FAITH

30-33

SCREEN

34-37

EVENTS

50

FOOD

39

GALLERY

51-53

HAIR & BEAUTY

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Editors

Samera Owusu Tutu

Assistant Editor

Cassah

Design

Piuchi Fu Milly Lam

Contributors:

Photography

Lyrical Healer

Advertising

Cassah Robert Springer Shabbar Lakha

Published by

Life In Colour Ltd, A Seven Media Company

Publishers

JB Rose Derek Morrison-Bowen

Piuchi Fu Milly Lam

We at Life I n Colour have dug ex tra deep to make sure you see your new year in with st yle — no matter what your preference. We have something for the clubbers, soul for the loungers, slow jams for the nostalgic and all the fi lms, events, and theatre produc ti ons i n bet ween.

As a spec i al C hr i stmas present to you, we’ve mad e thi s a bumper edi ti on, giving you listings for both D ecember and Januar y. We’ve even thrown in an exclusive inter view with LA soul singer Er ik R ico (p10-11) to boot. I f you don’t k now about this music impresar io, get to k now — he’ll be per for ming live at Jazz R e:freshed; see M usic listings for more i nfor mati on.

And for those who not only like to reflec t on the years past but also on the year ahead. Wi nsome ‘ Lyr i c al Healer ’ D uncan has offers inspirational words about mak ing change in your life. And she’s r i g ht, why wai t unti l 1 Jan? S he urges you to star t today in her feature The New Star ts Now (p38).

I t ’s fitting that this edition is as festive as can be, given that we’re not only seeing in a new year, but also a new decade. Check out our round up of the ‘noughties’ in The Noughties Changed M y L i fe (p28-29).

S o there you have it. We’ve made sure your soc i al d i ar y ’s pac k ed full of the hottest events the capital has to offer.

Have fun whatever you choose to do.

M aybe I’ ll see you there!

info@telltarra.com www.telltarra.com

This production is made possible due to the support of Halfmoon

To advertise in the next issue contact: Life in Colour A Seven Media company 16 Skylines Village, Limeharbour E14 9TS T: 020 7005 0590, F: 020 7005 0970 Please e-mail all listings information to E: lifeincolour@level7media.co.uk W: www.lifeincolour.uk.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the advertisers. Life In Colour can not take responsibility for any incorrect or misleading claims made. ©2009 Life In Colour

MUSIC

MUSIC Cost: £15 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk/

Mc Solaar

20 Dec

L’AFRIK C’EST CHIC featuring Cheick Tidiane Sec, Tony Allen and guests

L’Afrik C’est Chic presents Cheick Tidiane Seck, the terrific keyboardist of Bamako. For 35 years, the Malian organist has been part of every musical adventure — from Jazz to African music, international groove to French Pop and Hip Hop — and is now the backbone of contemporary Malian music scene.

Cheick Tidiane Seck will host a night of very special guests for his rendezvous at the Jazz Cafe. Tony Allen the famous Fela drummer and Greg Koffe Brown from the African band Osibisa will join him for a Christmas spectacular along with many other surprise guests.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £16.50 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk/

03 Dec

Jazz Re:freshed presents...

ERIK RICO with Full Live Band

Jazz re:freshed welcomes back after 3 years Multiinstrumentalist, writer, producer and singer Erik Rico — all the way from L.A. Live and direct!

Erik is one of the freshest music makers out there at the moment.. he fuses live music and electronic music into a style of music that can best be described as “electrosoul”.

The last time he hit Jazz Re:freshed everyone was blown away by his performance, so, dont miss him this time as he will be exclusively backed by a full band.

Location: Jazz Re:freshed, Mau Mau Bar, 265 Portobello Road Cost: £5 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.jazzrefreshed.com

06 Dec

UKSoulJam Christmas Special

A Celebration Of UK soul and gospel, featuring CK Gospel Choir and many more. Live Performances from: CK Gospel Choir, Jaz Ellington, Elisha La’Verne, Sharon Rose, Organic Family and Louise Golbey.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £10, £8 Advance Times: 7.00pm – 1.00am Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

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Dec Michael Olatuja — Album Launch Party

Olatuja has been playing bass bass guitar professionally since the age of 16, absorbing everything he has heard along the way, including soul, jazz,

R&B, gospel and more.

He says, “Jazz encouraged the freedom to improvise, soul encouraged me to do it from the heart, R&B encouraged an undeniable deep groove and world music encouraged me not to forget my roots. Gospel gives it all a sense of purpose; it inspires and uplifts.”

Olatuja incorporates such hallmarks of traditional African music as the talking drum and hand drums (Conga and Djembe), call-and-response vocals and the Yoruba language, while working comfortably with musical vocabularies more familiar to Western ears: neo-soul balladry, hip-hop, modern jazz and deep groove.

Olatuja launches his new album, Speak, with support from special guests Ty and Terri Walker.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG

MC Solaar is one of the most internationally renowned and influential French rappers on the scene. He’s best known for his complex wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry, which is all layered on dance rhythms.

Solaar was signed by London acid jazz label Talkin’ Loud and invited to record with British group Urban Species and Guru, a member of the famous and highly acclaimed New York group Gang Starr. He has since released seven studio records and one live album. This is his first London show in 5 years. Not to be missed.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £15 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk www.solaarsystem.net

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Dec Jazz Re:freshed presents...

Jessica Lauren

A leading light of the 90’s Acid Jazz Scene, Jessica Lauren has been described as one of UK’s great talents. Expect a superb band grooving out on tunes from the back catalogue together with a sneak preview of material from the forthcoming acoustica project ‘Jessica Lauren Four’ Location: Jazz Re:freshed, Mau Mau Bar, 265 Portobello Road, Cost: £5 Time: 7.30pm – 11.30pm Info: www.jazzrefreshed.com

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Jan Jazz Re:freshed presents...

Mark de Clive Lowe Live

Musical impresario Mark de Clive Lowe with be holding court at West London’s Jazz Re:freshed. The night will feature Bembe Segue, Richard Spaven plus one or two surprise guests.

Put this one in your diary with permanent black marker.

Location: Jazz Re:freshed, Mau Mau Bar, 265 Portobello Road, Cost: £5 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.jazzrefreshed.com

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– Jan Carleen Anderson

Being the daughter of Vikki Anderson and goddaughter of James Brown, Carleen Anderson’s funky credentials speak for themselves.This highly rated soul/jazz vocalist has reached great heights, both as a solo artist and in the company of acts such as The Brand New Heavies, Paul Weller, Bryan Ferry and Courtney Pine. Anderson will be backed by the mighty Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

Location: Ronnie Scott’s, 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT Cost: £25.00 - £40.00 Time: 8.30pm Info: www.ronniescotts.co.uk

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Dec Lowkey

Award-winning rapper, poet, playwright and political activist Lowkey has gained huge acclaim from both hip hop press main players alike.

Even Benjamin Zephaniah has dubbed him “One of the best lyricists in the Western Hemisphere”. He challenges mainstream stereotypes of hip hop artists wherever he

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Dec Proud Presents: Love Music Hate Racism

performs and he’s sure to add you to his following after this his only headline show in London in December.

Location: Rich Mix — Bar, 35 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £9 – £13 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

Alex O’Neal and Cherrelle

Ultimate Boogie Nights present The Ultimate Chrismas Party!

This event features old school heavy hitters like Alex O’Neal (Criticize), Cherrelle (Saturday Love), D Train (You’re The One For Me) and Colonel Abrams (Trapped). This is Alex O’Neal and Cherrelle’s first live appearance together in over 10 years! There will also be an appearance from Light Of The World (London Town). All will be

performing with live band.

Ticket includes exclusive afterparty with DJs playing disco & club classics all night until 2am.

Lcoation: IndigO2, The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX Cost: £20 – £45 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.theo2.co.uk

13 Dec – 17 Jan

Natalie Williams Soul Family

Charismatic and talented soul singer Natalie Williams and her band host Soul Family Sunday where you can catch some of the best R&B, soul and jazz musicians in the UK up close and personal. Hear music of the highest quality with the varied roster of stars from the British scene. This is a showcase not to be missed.

Location: Ronnie Scott’s, 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT Cost: £20.00 - £36.00 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.ronniescotts.co.uk

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Dec Slum Village

With a rich catalog of raucous anthems and the flavor of studio fresh cuts, Slum Village is back on the international scene. The trio hit the Jazz Cafe crowd with their distinct mix of comedic interplay and aggressive voices over distinctive hip-hop beats. Their current workings are built from an arsenal of vaulted J Dilla tracks and other acclaimed producers including Denaun Porter and Young RJ. This is a must attend for all Hip Hop heads.

Love Music Hate Racism: incredible all-stars line up!

An eclectic line-up of the highest pedigree is coming together to play for the fight against racism.

The all-star line-up includes Kid British, Bashy, King Blues, Mpho Skeef, and many more special guests. The event will be topped off by some of the most exciting and cutting edge DJs bringing the night to a close, all in aid of a great cause.

Location: Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 8AH Cost: £10 – £12, with all profits going to LMHR Time: 7.30pm – 1.30 am Info: www.proudcamden.co.uk

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Dec DJ Jazzy Jeff

West Philly’s Jazzy Jeff Townes was asked in 2001, by UK label BBE, to produce a solo album as part of their beat generation series, which focused on producers. With full creative control DJ Jazzy Jeff jumped on it. “The Magnificent” was released in August 2002. His Jazz Cafe show of the same title shows how he continues to represent the DJ and do it as his 2002 hit says: ‘For Da Love of Da Game’.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £16.50 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

One Love Reunion Christmas Special

The One Love Festival 2010, UK’s number one reggae dub event, kicks off a early with its Christmas special. Expect good vibes from Saxon Sound, Nick Manesseh, Earl Gateshead, Brother Culture, Artikal Sounds featuring Ruben Da Silva, Princess Jewels and Dub Rockers.

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One to look out for!

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £16.50 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

MUSIC 11 12

– Dec YolanDa Brown

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2008 and 2009 MOBO “Best Jazz” award winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown is considered by many to be one of a kind, the emerging “voice” of mainstream Jazz in the UK. YolanDa’s versatile mix of classic jazz tones with a twist of R&B and soul have positioned her at the forefront of the UK music scene. Experience YolanDa Brown at the Jazz Café with full live band and special guests.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £15 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk/

In the Dubsteppers Room, you have the South Bound Hangers, Lowki, Kosine, Dialect and Voytek.

Location: Plan B, 418 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 7AY Cost: £5 Time: 7.00pm – 3.00am Info: www.plan-brixton.co.uk

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Dec Taio Cruz

Hi Volume Entertainment together with JK Entertainment and Kiss100 brings you Taio Cruz Christmas party live in concert for one very special night only.

See the No.1 selling artist of ‘Break Your Heart’ at indigO2.

Taio Cruz has worked with artists such as Usher, David Guetta, Akon and Britney Spears — there has never been a better opportunity to see one of the biggest stars of the music industry.

Taio Cruz will be supported

by X-Factor’s, Miss Frank and special guest Sway, among others.

Lcoation: IndigO2, The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX Cost:£25 – £60 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.theo2.co.uk

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– Dec James Taylor Quartet

James Taylor Quartet, the British Hammond Organ-led funk outfit, returns to the Jazz Café for Christmas Residency. The Theme from Starsky and Hutch, cemented JTQ’s reputation as master of the jazz-funk-r’n’b workout; 60s spy themes, psychedelic and free-form jazz all added something to the band’s distinctive sound.

James Taylor - one of the great instrumentalists of his generation - supplements his trademark howling Hammond sound with grand piano on his new album. New World features 11 original tunes by the James Taylor Quartet, which will be showcased at the Jazz Cafe.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £20 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

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Jan Denys Baptiste - Let Freedom Ring

Be stirred by Mercury and MOBO award winning saxophonist Denys Baptiste’s ‘Let Freedom Ring’, a piece inspired by the spirit of Dr Martin Luther King’s

momentous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. This event is part of Rich Mix’s Retrospective season, looking at controversial and influential Black Nationalist leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.

Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £15 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

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Jan Groove Lineage Friday Soul

This is the perfect Friday getdown for all lovers of soul — new and old, roots and raregroove. All in the chilled surrounding of the Hobgoblin bar. Keep The Faith’s Paul Aaron takes you on a soul journey migrating through different era’s, tempo’s, sub genres and regional styles of Soul & Roots music. Live instruments, occasional live appearances and launch parties from visiting US artists are also thrown into the mix. Every week, Groove Lineage celebrates a different musical legend. On the roster for December and January are James Brown, Peven Everett and Dwele.

Also, don’t miss the Christmas special on 18 December.

Location: Hobgoblin, 73 White Lion St, Angel, N1 9PF Cost: Free Times: 9.00pm–2.00am

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Dec Teena Marie

After a long absence from performing on UK shores, Teena Marie is back for this exclusive Ultimate Boogie Night concert, where she’ll perform all her classic hits.

After joining Berry Gordy’s Motown Empire in 1976, she was spotted by Rick James, who effectively became her mentor.

Her debut album release, Wild and Peaceful, was originally conceived as a project to be produced by Rick James for Diana Ross. It scored Teena Marie her first top ten R&B hit, I’m Just a Sucker For Your Love, which was a duet with Rick James.

Other Teena Marie classics

include ‘Now That I Have You’, ‘Portuguese Love’, ‘Oh La La La’ and many more.

Location: IndigO2, The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX Cost: £20 – £50 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.theo2.co.uk

Wale Ojo and Band

Wale Ojo and band will take you on a journey through Folk music into Afro-Cuban vibes. They’ll lay down some Santana tunes and Fela Kuti covers as well as original material. With Ayan Ayandosu I on talking drums you’ll float through African rhythms, while Simon Pires will electrify you with some funky lead guitar all laced with live trumpet and drums.

Location: Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 8AH Cost: £7 Time: 7.30pm – 1.30am Info: www.proudcamden.co.uk

The Magnets

Six men, six mics, infectious tunes, slick moves and a tight rhythm section … but no instruments.

The Magnets have taken acappella music to a whole new level. Combining harmony vocals and beat box drumming they have created a sound to rival any band, with songs by artists as diverse as Joy Divison, Bon Jovi and the Beatles. This will most definitely be an experience!

Location: The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH Cost: £12.50 – £20.00 Time: 7.30pm Info: www.roundhouse.org.uk

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Dec Roy Ayers’ New Years Eve Party

In his 40-plus years as a vibraphonist, Roy Ayers has produced a string of soul and funk classics, like “We Live In Brooklyn Baby” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” making him arguably the second-most sampled musician in hip-hop, after James Brown. You may have heard snippets of his music in songs by 50 Cent protégé Tony Yayo (Fake Love)

MUSIC Unsigned and Happening

Fidel Fidel is a singer & songwriter who burst onto the U.K. scene with his own unique sound in music. His music incorporates blues, jazz, reggae with touches of everyday life & politics from a humorous albeit serious point of view.

Fidel wrote 4 tracks for U.K soulstress Hil St Soul’s album ‘Black Rose’ her most successful songs to date. Fidel’s calm & easy going nature is contrasted sharply by his intense focus on making good music and he puts the smooth back into UK soul music. His debut E.P. “I Write What I Like!” is sensational and incorporates the finest ingredients that London has to offer. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=1dd5QQETGdA

From such a small frame Lil Simz sound is phenomenal and at the tender age of 15 this talented up and coming female rap artist is the one to watch for 2010. Lil Simz strings to her bow consists of being a writer, producer, actress, professional dancer and has made a great impression on artists such as Sway he says “Simz is one of the best female rappers I have ever seen and she is only 15” (Sway).

Currently Lil Simz is recording her EP and has graced the stage with greats like N-DUBZ, Chipmunk, Ms Dynamite and Wretch 32. www.myspace.com/simzartistx www.youtube.com/ watch?v=u3v3ImTybZ0

Roy Ayers

After his New Years Party, Roy Ayers returns for a new years residency, where he’ll be serving up his trademark soul, funk and jazz. Every night will see him team up with a different top Jazz DJ. Monday sees DJ Ralph Tee of Jazz FM stepping up to the decks. Tuesday is the turn of DJ Matt Smooth of Scratch and DJ Richy Pitch rounds things off on the Wednesday.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £20 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

or A Tribe Called Quest (Bonita Applebum).

And 68-year-old Ayers, though humble, still definitely has it.

What would the holiday season at the Jazz Café be without resident vibes master Roy Ayers? There’s no better way to see in 2010 than with Roy Ayers and special guests. The after party, from 1am with DJ Perry Louis, will make sure you start 2010 on a high.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £36 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk/

Soul Brew New Years Eve Party

This is the first of Jazzie B’s new years offerings. Alongside Ashley Beedle, Mr Thing, Spin Doctor, Andy Bird, Kidkanevil and Kyri, he’ll be spinning the best in disco, house, soul, funk and Hip

Hop across to two floors.

Location: East Village, 89 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HX Cost: £20 Time: 9.00pm – 5.00am Info: www.eastvillageclub.com; Www.ticketweb.co.uk

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Jan DJ Jazzie B — New Year Special

UK Soul music pioneer DJ Jazzie B of Soul II Soul fame is set to have you rocking into the new year. This self-certified pleasure giver has dedicated 30 years to his love of music — no doubt on Friday 1 Jan it’ll be dancing room only on the ground floor of the Jazz Cafe.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £10, Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk; www. soul2soul.co.uk

Kasha Kasha released his debut album called ‘The Oracle’ on April 6th 2009 his delicately fierce rap style has been likened to the lyrical intensity of Tupac but with all the sparkle of Frank Sinatra. It has been described as a breath of freshest air for Hip Hop and he has been labelled ‘the strongest lyricist in the UK’ by Kiss100, “set to explode” by Hip Hop Connection and a “star in the making” by Richard Blackwood. This is most definitely international Hip Hop but with all the diverse magic of the independent UK sound. www.kashamusic.co.uk www.youtube.com/ profile?user=phatriff

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Lil Simz

28 – 30 Jan

Erik Rico words: Samera Owusu Tutu

The music maestro talks to our editor Samera Owusu Tutu about his beginnings, the music industry’s corporate reality and the highs of independence.

From the moment Erik Rico takes the mic in his hand and pulls the stand towards him, you know you’re about to witness something amazing. Standing on stage in his usual jeans and trainers, Erik offers no distractions. All is primed for his voice to take centre stage — and rightly so. After years of production for the likes of Q-Tip, Tupac Shakaur, Mos Def and Nelly Furtado, this über-talented singersongwriter-musician is stepping into the fore, and with his unique blend of electronica and traditional soul, he’s ready to claim the limelight.

“I’m really against being pigeonholed stylistically. I’m known as a producer first and it’s been three years this November that I’ve been doing my thing as an artist. As a producer I’m known for doing neo-soul, hip hop, broken, electronic stuff, dub… all kinds. I wanted my stuff as an artist to be a reflection of all the things I’m into as opposed to one, type of thing. Whatever I do there’s always traditional soul in the foundation, but I never want to get boxed in.”

Not surprisingly, Erik comes from a creative family.

“I thought all families were like mine. Everybody sang, everybody played instruments, everybody painted. I kind of took it for granted. The most prominent musician in my family is actually a session musician, an uncle of mine. I grew up around a very artistic and creative family, but I moved into atheletics — I didn’t really take music seriously. I had a sports injury in my senior year of high school. My brother went away to the military and I went

into his room and discovered all these instruments he’d got from my uncle. As I was rehabilitating from the knee injury I started messing around with the bass guitar and drums and different things. It kind of lit a fire in me. A light bulb went of and I got serious about it at that point. I auditioned for a friend’s school, a school of the arts; got a scholarship, never looked back.”

Erik started out producing for independent hip hop acts on the East Coast, before he was discovered by Randy Jackson — yes American Idol’s own — who worked for Sony at the time. Erik relocated to the West Coast to take up the publishing and production deal, which later turned into an artist deal, but the corporate route didn’t suit him much…

“I was signed at a time when [artists like] Erykah, D’angelo and Maxwell were peaking. I was positioned to be the start of the second wave of that movement.

They kept pushing for me to undersign with the New York branch because at that time they’d taken on a new president of urban music and he wanted to take the credit for my career, but I really had a strong relationship and bond with Randy Jackson. He’s an artist and a musician and understood the creative process; I didn’t want to leave. That developed into a lot of in-feuding and Randy left. I didn’t have support at the label so I wanted to leave. They kept me on a contract for another two years; didn’t release anything.”

The West Coast was making moves too.

“Pharcyde and all those guys were

starting to blow up. The more underground hip hop scene started to take shape. I was kind of stuck in the middle: do I go back east and do this deal, do I stay out here… Did I really want to do an artist deal? Did I just want to go back to production? Production is something I’m comfortable doing.

You’re not the one in front of the camera; you’re not the one out on tour selling the music. It allows me anonymity while I work on all kinds of projects. At the same time, I was producing a lot of stuff for major labels and a lot of artists weren’t getting released. After Sony, I moved East for a while.

I realised I couldn’t say what I want to say through someone else. So I got back to being a songwriter. I stepped away from all the electronics and just wrote. I decided to go back out to California without the safety net and see what I could get done on my own.”

Despite going back to songwriting basics, Erik continued the digital theme with his independent label, Lifenotes. It was first a production company; now it’s a fully fledged digital brand, taking his music directly to the ears of his listeners.

“I saw technology as a means of getting the music out globally without having anyone in the middle; without taking any meetings with someone saying ‘oh we like this one, but let’s put a breakdown here,’ or ‘why don’t you put a rapper on this verse’. I just take the music to the public and see what they think about it.”

Erik’s professional journey has been epic. His three top tips for independent artists, songwriters, producers are invaluable.

“The first thing I would say is, if you’re doing urban music — and by urban I mean anything with soul, jazz, African roots, black roots — concentrate on songwriting.

There’s a very serious shortage of songwriters and understanding of melody. Sampling is cool, beatmaking is cool, nothing against an of those things, but if you want something with longevity, write songs. The samplers, producers, beakmakers and programmers, they’re sampling songs! If you want your music around when you’re gone? Write songs. Second thing I would say is get some books and research the publishing side of the business so that you understand the publishing aspects — ownership of your masters, things like that. Third, it’s very important that you get the word out by yourself. Develop a website; don’t just put up a page on Myspace, because in the sea of millions of people that have pages, no one will know how to get to you. Develop a website. And if you can, put a little money aside and get a street team together that can actually help you get the word out.”

So which does he prefer, the performance or being in the studio?

“They’re two different highs. I try to practice the philosophy of being a conduit, and what that means is being still enough to let things pass through you. You may get the basic idea, but if you’re open, things will pass through you. I may have a beat or melody in mind, but by the time the song has taken on its own shape, it’s way bigger than anything I could ever have thought of. So I want to be open and still enough to let things come to me. That’s primarily were I’m at with the studio. With performing, I would say the instant call and response with the audience; that is amazing. To me, they’re both ultimate highs.

They’re two different worlds. I don’t prefer one of the other. If I could bring the audience into the studio and perform while I’m writing, then we’ll have everything.”

And Erik definitely gets into the zone before his performance.

“Before a performance I try to be very still and quiet and just get into a real

spiritual space. I always try to keep the noise to a minimum, turn off all phones. Sometimes I fast.

Backstage, I’m really quiet before a performance. A lot of people are like, is he on some diva stuff? No! I’m just trying to envision where I want to go on stage, and at the same time where the stage is going to take me. When you perform in front of an audience, it’s really about the energy the audience gives you — how you ride on top of that and how you guys can elevate together.”

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Toni Braxton Yesterday Release date: 2009 Toni Braxton has realised that sticking to what she is good at will give her the best chance of making a proper comeback. Her single “Yesterday” featuring Trey Songz and performed during the opening of the 2009 Soul Train Awards, followed up by big ballad “Not Enough (Woman)” about female empowerment, are my two favourite tracks. C

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Marvin Sapp Here I am Release date: 2010 Marvin Sapp won every Gospel Stellar Award that he was nominated for in 2009 with his hit album “Thirsty” and his follow-up, “Here I Am”, is expected to be released in early 2010. Expect amazing tracks like “Freshwind”, a song with a churchy/quartet feel to it written by Jonathon Dunn , “He Has His Hand on You” written by Stan Jones, “He Saw the Best in Me”, written by Marvin Sapp and Aaron Lindsey, and of course “Here I Am”. Marvin Sapp proves yet again that he’s not a singer that happens to preach but a preacher called by God to sing. C

Jay Sean All Or Nothing Release date: 2009 Now with hip hop label Cash Money in the US, Jay Sean’s sleekly effective R’n’B pop has made him arguably one of the most successful British urban artist ever. While there’s not much evidence of his London or Punjabi roots on his third album, All Or Nothing features various transatlantic guests such as labelmate Lil Wayne on current hit “Down”, which has already topped US charts this year. Further collaborations include Craig David and Keisha Buchanan. There are some stand-out tracks, especially the soulful Eastern hook of “Ride It” — it’s a shame they couldn’t add his Hindi version as a bonus track. Sean has proved he’s a musical survivor and he can hit the right notes. C

N’Dambi Pink Elephant Release date: 2009 N’Dambi’s folk soul sound is in full flare on her sophomore album, Pink Elephant. With stand out ballads like the infectious ‘L.I.E.’ the sultry ‘What It Takes’ and the gritty ‘Imitator’, N’Dambi works her usual magic and truly gets under your skin with her honest and intelligent wordplay. Whether you’re in it for the thought-provoking lyrics or the bluesy melodies, this one needs to be in your collection — a real modern classic.

Life In Colour Club Section Sponsored by

CLUBS 04

Dec Sweet & Spicy Launch Party

The First Friday Club is held on the first Friday of every month at the exclusive Wall Bar in the heart of the city.

As TFFC is becoming increasingly popular we ask that you come early to enjoy yourself and take in the atmosphere, as overcrowding will not be permitted.

“Everybody is talking about it, TFFC is one of the friendliest places to be - it is our “cheers” where someone knows your name, new friends are made or old acquaintances are greeted – so why not be a part of it?

No gimmicks, no fuss, just pure social partying in a friendly environment.”

Address: The Wall 45 Old Broad Street London EC2N 1HU (Between Liverpool Street & Bank Station) www.thewallbar.co.uk Parking is at Finsbury Circus, Copthall Avenue (approx 2 mins away).

Doors open from 10pm until late

The First Friday Club

For the first time ever, DesiLicious brings you a neon Desi rave, an Album Launch & Cheap Entry & Drinks - for the first time @ Desi-Licious - we are also going to have a Bollywood/Arabic Music - by popular demand hosted by DesiHits.

Time: 10.00pm – 3.00am Cost: £22.50 Venue: Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, Elephant & Castle SE1 6DP Info: www.desi-licious.info

12 Dec

5th Birthday Celebrations

05 Dec

Voodoo Entertainment cordially invites you to celebrate their 5th Birthday at an exclusive private members club in the heart of Kensington. Join them for a night of celebration with friends and members to celebrate five years of Voodoo! Mingle with like minded professionals and glamorous guests, all looking to make the effort and make this a party not to be missed!

Music and Entertainment shall be provided by London’s Finest DJs, who shall be playing RnB, Hip Hop & Asian Beats. This is a strictly over 23 event and you must be on the guest list and arrive in mixed groups.

Time: 9:30pm Cost: £15.00 Venue: Decoucher 20 Kensington Church Street W8 4EP Info: www. voodooentertainment.co.uk

Soul Funky

Catch DJ VIP on a night of soulful vibes. If you’re a serious house head, this is the event for you. The main room will play pure soulful house all night.

If you fancy a break there’s classic R&B, Hip Hop and soul in room 2.

Location: Raduno, 85 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HJ Cost: £10 Time: 10.00pm – 6.00am

Rumba Caribe

Rumba Caribe is a Saturday night tropical music party presenting top Latin, Caribbean & African DJs in a stylish club with a bass heavy sound system & plenty of room to dance. DJ Halan (Paris/French Caribbean), DJ Lio (Paris/Cameroon), DJ Loco (London/Colombia), DJ Marito (Portugal) & guests will be playing the best selection of Zouk, Dancehall/Bashment, Soca, Reggaeton, Salsa, Merengue, Kizomba, Kuduro, N’Dombolo, Coupe Decale, RnB, Hip Hop & all Latin, Caribbean, African & Urban Tropical sounds.

Time: 10.00pm – 4.00am Cost: From £7 Venue: Departure, 2 Crutched Friars, London EC3N 2HT. Info: 07950 634 045 or info@ tropikalmusic.co.uk

11 Dec

Bombay Funkadelic

Countdown to Christmas in the heart of Soho. London’s original retro Bollywood night is back with a one off Xmas special, guaranteed to get you into the festive spirit. DJ Shai Guy spinning classic Bollywood (past and present), masala funk, disco and desi beats.

Time: 9.30pm – 3.00am Cost: £11.75 Venue: Amuse Bouche

Champagne Bar 21-22 Poland Street W1F 8QG Info:www.chillitickets.com

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Dec GBSN Superstar Christmas Party

The Ghana Black Stars Network invites you to their Annual Christmas Party at APT on Saturday 12 December. Makosa and Excel Ents will be playing the best in Hip-Life, High-Life,

Naija Beats, Club Classics and much more.

Entry is FREE on the Guest List so signup at the GBSN website and join in for the last GBSN event of 2009!

Location: APT Bar, 10-15 Queen Street, EC4N 1TX Cost: Free Time: 21.00pm – 3.30am Info: www.thegbsn.com

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Dec I am Souful House Christmas Party at PACHA London I am Soulful House shall be hosting the Global room at Pacha London on Friday 18th December. Playing the best in Soulful Sexy House in the Global room shall be: DJ Steve Austin (Soul Funky), DJ Crookid (Unknown FM), DJ Able (Gimmegroove), DJ VIP (Fourmotion), DJ Paul Philips (Soul Funky) and DJ Ryan KB (So-Soulful). They’ll be bringing with them none other than the legendary JOEY NEGRO so this is surely going to be a night not to be missed.

Location: PACHA, Terminus Place, Victoria, SW1V 1JR Cost: Time: 10.00pm – 6.00am Info: www.pachalondon.com

Final TB Nights of 2009

A christmas filled night with many other attranctions.

Audiences will be able to enjoy the regular performances in the relaxed and contemporary

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We present the right atmosphere, people and DJ’s every month 10pm til Late with the best in RnB, Old Skool, Upfront, Reggae and Rare Groove, from some of London’s most sought after DJ’s.

10

Dec Desi-Licious - The First Ever Neon Desi Rave

A brand new night at a brand new venue! Sweet & Spicy launches at the exclusive Bless Bar. This spacious venue with two separate rooms & its own large VIP room with its sumptuous sexy booths you can expect to enjoy the lavish contemporary surroundings alongside all the celebrities & stars.

Venue: Bless Bar 142 Uxbridge Road, West Ealing Broadway, Ealing, W13 0TL Time: 9:00pm Cost: From £10.00 Info: www.chillitickets.co.uk

CLUBS DJ Gurps DJ Fivestar, DJ Zeberdee, DJ Krish, DJ Encee, DJ M & Jazzy J, DJ Suj, DJ Romie and an exclusive live set by Team Dips playing the Dholi’s.

Time: 10:00pm - 3:00am Cost: £13.25 Venue: Zoo Bar 13 - 17 Bear Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7AS

Enchanted

DJ Rhodium of the Phat Kontrolaz words: Samera Owusu Tutu

When did you become a DJ and why?

It was not an obvious choice for me. If anything I just enjoyed collecting music, trying to keep up-to-date with the latest records and CDs coming out. After I left uni I would go out w day of the week — even on a Monday if I could find somewhere to go. Going out clubbing I heard a lot of good and bad DJs, which made me think it would be interesting to do what they do. After playing my own little music compilations to my friends and testing the water by playing a few tunes at a few house parties, I suddenly had the urge to DJ properly. It was like a race between myself and the other members of Phat Kontrolaz of who could buy the DJ equipment first.

Tell me about your favourite event, and what made it such.

For me there is only one event that lives up to all its expectations and that is the Gorgeous Party. The people and the vibe are second to none and everyone feels satisfied that they have heard the music they came out to hear.

I can’t name the event of course (laughs) but when I turned up to DJ, only one of the vinyl turntables in the club was working. I was putt in a situation where I had to start and stop the music between each song. It felt awkward at first but I’ve got to say it didn’t phase Francis Mantis or VK [fellow members of Phat Kontrolaz] who, being more up to date with technology, handled the music nicely. The crowd did not even notice.

CDs or vinyl?

I am a little bit old school and would prefer vinyl. You’ve really got to look after it, which in turn makes your music collection a personal thing — something you treasure. I don’t think you get that feeling with CDs. It’s only been three months ago that I stopped buying vinyl, now I use Serato.

Do you have any fav tracks that you just never get to play?

Not really, there are so many different types of events that I’ve been involved in that somehow I would be able to sneak a tune that may not be in the ‘norm’.

What makes a ‘real’ DJ? A ‘real DJ’ as you put it is someone who can connect and vibe off their

audience. Not only do they give the crowd what they want, they can lead them onto other musical paths without them noticing and still keep the party going. A great DJ is a forward thinker and will have a plan three or four records ahead. Also it’s a good skill if you can mix all your records smoothly throughout the music set.

When not behind the decks, what do you do?

I like to unwind and do nothing at all for a few hours (laughs).

Otherwise I like to go out to the pictures and eat out. I just do what regular guys do!

Tell me about your radio show?

I do a show on www.playvybz. com every Sunday evening from 6-8pm. I play all the latest RnB and Hip Hop joints and try to make the show informative so people know the latest developments within the scene. The show has been going for over a year in it’s current format.

Do you ever get bored of the music?

I can honestly say I do not get bored because there is always great music coming out. Sometimes you have to search high and low for it, but it’s definitely worth it.

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December Christmas Eve at Buddah Bar

As the sun sets on December 24th, excitement shall loom in the air as we come together for the most anticipated over 25s Christmas Eve Party to date. Celebrate the most festive time of the year with friends in sheer opulence, as we promise nothing less than glitz, glamour and pure festive cheer. The night will commence with world class chefs serving scrumptious Three Course Meal from the pan-Asian menu Time: 7:00pm Cost: £ 25 Venue: Buddah Bar 8 Victoria Embankment WC2R 2AB Info: www.voodooentertainment.co.uk

surroundings of Tiffinbites St Paul’s.

Time: 9:00pm Cost: £ 15 Venue: Tiffinbites 23 Russia Row St. Pauls EC2V 8BL Info: www.chilltickets.com

24 Dec

Jingle All The Way @ Zoo Bar Come and enjoy Christmas Eve at your favorite party venue, enjoy 3 rooms of music, 1200 students, the cheapest drinks in London and a line-up that will make your mouth water.

Prepare for the Award winning DJ H and Jas Johal, DJ Rugrat,

Bombay Dreams

Enjoy a live performance from our Xmas Gift to you, yes

Christmas Eve Ball

This Year’s most Exclusive Royal Christmas Eve Party A passionate, wild, exotic & sumptuous night.... This magical affair is hosted by Imran Khan Time: 8:00pm - 3:00am Cost: £16.75 Venue: Café De Paris, 2 Coventry Street, Leicester Square W1D 6BL Info: www.chillitickets.com

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Dec XS Meets Getdown New Years Eve Special

Start the new year with a bang!

Rainforest will play host to some of London’s finest DJs playing the very best in Bashment, RnB, Hip Hop, Funky/Soulful House, Party Classic and Slow Jams.

Hosted by the teams behind Spoilt for Choice and The

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Dec Amplified’s Pre New-Year’s Throwback

As ever Amplified brings you the finest in classic and progressive soul , all with a new venue and refreshed line up. With Amplified’s JC and Ahmed Akasha and Que Rhythmic’s Daniel Simpson, this in one event for the season that must be attended.

Cost: £ 5 Time: 8:30pm – 3.00am Location: The City Arts and Music Project, 70-74 City Road, London, EC1Y 2BJ Info: www.amplified-online. co.uk

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And your worst...?

The night will commence with world class chefs serving scrumptious barbecue food and Santas little helpers serving Shisha so be sure to arrive early. Nestled within the magical themed gardens is a spectacular A List Club which is the ideal back drop to host such a VIP Party. Enjoy the perfect balance between the toasty warmth of the inside and the frosty winter of the gardens.

Expect Snowflake & Mistletoe throughout the club complete with pea lighting on the windows creating an enchanted Christmas atmosphere.

Time: 9:00pm Cost: £25.00 Venue: Kensington Roof Gardens 99 Kensington High Street W8 5SA Info: www. voodooentertainment.co.uk

that’s right Imran Khan will be joining us for a Xmas Eve to remember!! Music beats by the infamous DJ’s spinning the best in mainstream club and Bollywood. DJ Karizma Roadshow London, Taz Jay and Dj-k9 hitting the beats non-stop till 5am if you dare!

Time: 7:30pm Cost: £22.00 Venue: Bombay Dreams, London Road Wembley HA9 7HQ Info: www.chillitickets.com

CLUBS

Life In Colour Theatre Section Sponsored by

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Dec CRUSH - Boxing Day Special

After spending 24 hours couped-up with the family eating turkey you may be suffering from a little cabin fever so what better way to burnoff the Christmas grub?

CRUSH will take you back to the excitement of a big tune, or the anxiety of asking someone to dance. Once the DJ starts spinning Jodeci, H-Town and R. Kelly you’ll remember why these slow-jams defined a generation. And, located in the heart of the City, the cool clean urban interior Parker McMillan along with its Victorian brick vaults, make it perfect for a trip down memory lane…

Strictly over 25s. Last entry at 1.00am.

Location: Parker McMillan, 47 Chiswell Street, Moorgate, EC1Y 4SB Cost: £20 Time: 9.00pm – 4am

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Dec Asian Woman New Years Eve Party

Hosted by Asian Woman Magazine, the Asian Woman “New Years Eve 2009” Party promises to exceed your expectations with fantastic offers on group tickets, a private VIP area for the Perfect Luxury Treatment and not to mention Timeless Classics in London’s most Elite District.

Time: 9:00pm Cost: £30.00 Venue: Pitcher and Piano – Mayfair 0 Pollen Street Mayfair W1S 1NQ Info: www.blackrockevents.co.uk

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Dec New Year’s Eve - Arriba la Cumbia

Two of London’s top alternative promotions are teaming up for one awesome shindig of a tropical, cumbia, latino New Year’s Eve party.

Not one but two live bands, the hottest djs and a great venue: Rich Mix bang in the heart of the East End’s club land.

Movimientos and Hackney Globe Trotter aka Russ Jones have been throwing notorious alternative global parties and djing at places like the Barbican, Lovebox, Glastonbury, Notting Hill Arts Club, Cargo and all across Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and beyond and that is just this year.

Location: Rich Mix — Bar, Café and Mezzanine, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £20 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

Getdown, this will be THE place in the west end for real music and real ravers! So if you remember Gas Club, CCs, Ten Rooms, Sound, Hanover Grand/ Fresh n Funky… then this is the night for you.

Location: Rainforest Cafe, 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU Cost: £25 – £30 Time: 10.00pm – 4.00am Info: club.xs@live.com

GORGEOUS New Years Eve Party

Bring in the New Year in Gorgeous style with resident DJs Phat Kontrolaz, Mr Deezel & Mr Drew. There will be a Champagne & Chocolate reception from 9pm, a satellite link up with Big Ben & Time Square for the countdown and party poppers and baloon drop at midnight. All to Gorgeous music, in Gorgeous surroundings with Gorgeous like minded people.

Location: Agenda, 3 Mincing Lane, EC3R, 7AA Time: 9.00pm – 6.00am Tickets are available via Ticketweb.co.uk.

New Years’ Eve Dinner & Dance

Get your dancing shoes on for our NYE Special... it’s time for Aaja Nachle. Join us and bring in the New Year whilst enjoy a fantastic range of music and great food Time: 7:00 pm Cost: £45.00 Venue: London Darbar, 98 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4LU Info: www.chillitickets.com

Mint Leaf Lounge

UKs renowned DJ spinning pulsating sets of today’s and yesterday’s hottest hits resonating off the soaring vaulted ceilings will take this party to new heights. So sashay, frisk, frolic, cavort your night away like supermodels and rock stars.

Time: 7:00pm Cost: £30.00 Venue: Mint Leaf Lounge, Angel Court , Lothbury, London, EC2R 7HB Info: www. voodooentertainment.co.uk

Theatre Production

THEATRE Show of The Month About Tell Tarra

Established to celebrate and promote Britain’s most talented writers this exciting company was the brain child of playwright/ singer/ songwriter JB Rose who elicited the help and expertise of the highly respected director/actress Angela Michaels. Tell Tarra exploded onto the theatrical scene in 2004 and has fast become renowned for its Writers’ Festivals, showcases, networking events and high quality theatre productions.

2010 will see the full scale production of the musical The Next Big Thing by JB Rose and directed by Angela Micheals - an insightful, witty play about the highs and lows of the music industry and centered around two female characters determined to reach the top whatever it takes.

JB Rose

As well being a professional singer songwriter which includes touring around the world JB has been working with young people, writing, directing and producing plays for many years. ‘Darker the Berry’ and the musical ‘Syreena’s Song’ were both commissioned by Second Wave followed by BBC TV commissions ‘Striking Out‘ (a situation comedy) and BBC 2’ drama, ‘Brothers & Sisters’. In 2004 Halfmoon Young People’s Theatre commissioned JB to write the 50-minute children’s play ‘Rukia’s World’. JB’s play ‘King of The Castle’ was read at the first Tell Tarra event December 2004. In 2005 she wrote another a play for Halfmoon Theatre called ‘Tagged’, directed by Angela Michaels and has also completed writing a piece for Immediate Theatre for their Black History month showcase in October 2007. In September 2006 JB was writer in resident at Charter School in Southwark and is currently working on commission for Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts based in Deptford.

Pied Piper – A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution

Pied Piper is a contemporary performance inspired by Robert Browning’s poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is an innovative, original and thrilling fusion of dance and narrative, taking an edgy look at morality.

See the Pied Piper take on the mighty Asbos in an adrenalin fuelled hip-hop performance combining original street dance choreography with a bold urban soundtrack.

The Asbos are a threatening group of trouble-makers who enjoy reeking havoc on the streets. Displaying fierce krumpin’ moves, their stle is aggressive, dark and sinister. The Pipers protect the masses from the menaces of society. Using fluid moves and soulful street dance, they lead the crowd, set the trend, start a revolution. So which side are you on?

Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Cost: £10 Time: See box office Info: 020 7638 8891

Angela Michaels

Tell Tarra 16 Skylines Village, Limeharbour, Docklands, London E14 9TS. T. 020 7005 0590 E. info@telltarra.com W. www.telltarra.com

Three Black playwrights look at the state of Britain at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Category B by Roy Williams, Seize the Day by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Detaining Justice by Bola Agbaje

03 05

– Dec Tell Tarra presents: King of the Castle

A family Christmas provides the backdrop for Cornelius to announce that he and his wife should go back ‘home’ to spend their retirement basking in the sunshine. This is news to daughter Precious and the rest of the family. For the first time ever Precious stands up for herself as we are taken on a funfilled, thought provoking ride through family dilemmas we all recognise.

Written by JB Rose and directed

by Angela Michaels.

Post show chatback nightly.

Location: Hackney Empire, HE Studio, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £9.50 – £12.50 Time: 7.30pm Info: boxoffice@ hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

Handa’s Hen

Co-founder and joint Director of Tell Tarra Angela Michaels specialises in directing dynamic visceral theatre. Angela is co-founder and joint director of Tell Tarra, a company, dedicated to developing and producing new writing from BME communities, for which she has directed extensively at the Albany, Oval House and Royal Court Theatres, including The Politician

by Kwame Kwei-Armah and The Next Big Thing by JB Rose . Angela is also Associate Director at Half Moon, forwhich she has directed critically acclaimed national tours of Locked In (2006 and 2008) and We Are Shadows - both by award-winning writer Fin Kennedy. Most recently she took on the challenge of directing the devising of a non-verbal physical theatre piece, The Magical Adventures of Spud and Plum, for Half Moon’s Early Years Festival, “Exchange for Change”. Her interest in physical theatre has also been supported

by David Glass in her own piece, Charting the Journey at Chisenhale Dance Space. This year Angela has also curated Buskin Boy for a tour by the dance artist Sean Graham and directed a staged reading of Identity

by Paul Morris (winner of the ‘Adopt a Playwright’ award) at the Tristan Bates Theatre. Angela passionately believes in theatre as an art-form that not only inspires but also provokes thought and debate. Her next project at Half Moon is a national tour of Begin/End, a new play by David Lane.

– Dec Not Black And White

When Handa and her friend Akeyo go looking for Grandma’s

01 12 Dec

– Othello

Love, racism, jealousy and desire are at the core of emotional tragedy, Othello. Lenny Henry convincingly takes on the lead role in this poignant and intense adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic. In its final run this is a must see show that has garnered critically acclaim from both the theatre industry and audiences across the country.

Venue: Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall Road, London SW1 Time: 7.30pm Cost: From £20 Info: 020 7432 4220

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Dec Pieces

Ever wondered why the state of your hair is the root to you struggle? Well Pickiesha can tell you all about it. Then there’s old Brudda Brown who believes that twist is a dance not a hairstyle. They’re joined by ‘Bling economist’ Michellay, can’t-get-no-gyal D’White, weed-of-wisdom-smoking Roger Dank and many more characters in the award-winning comedy sketch show that promises to tickle your ribs to pieces.

Location: Hackney Empire, HE Studio, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £9.50 – £12.50 Time: 5.00pm; 8.00pm Info: boxoffice@ hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

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Co-founder and joint Director of Tell Tarra.

01 19

10 Dec – 03 Jan

THEATRE black hen Mondi, they find two butterflies round the hen house, three stripy mice under the grain store, four little lizards behind the pots… But where is Mondi?

Based on the book by Eileen Browne, this beautiful show has 55 puppets all newly created by hand for this production Venue: Stratford Circus, 15 Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London E15 Time: TBC Cost: £5 - £6 Info: 020 8279 1001

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Dec Childs Play

A new short play looking at the Psychology of the child. The playground is the platform for children to use escapism into different dimensions similar to the Twilight Zone where we observe their inner thoughts and feelings.

Location: Hackney Empire, HE Studio, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £2.50 Info: boxoffice@ hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

04 05

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Dec Common Law

When misguided misogynist Oliver Samuels tries to trade in Patsy, hisCommon-Law wife of 15 years for a younger model all hell breaks loose!Patsy refuses to be de-throned and Oliver must learn the painful way that no man can have his cake and eat it! The rights - in particular of those women who have not yet said ‘I do’ - are championed in this thought-provoking comedy that examines the pitfalls of the

‘Common-Law’ relationship and its rights and wrongs in what is still a ‘grey area’ of the legal system.

Venue: Broadway Theatre Catford SE6 4RU. Time: 8.00pm Cost: From £14 Info: 020 8690 0002

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11 Dec – 18 Jan

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat

10 12 Dec

– Pyaar Hai

What is Pyaar Hai? Come and find out in this exciting new production, combining Wushu, Tamil Poetry and 50 Cent. With an original hippity-hop score and script from ex-Eastenders writer Jez Simons, the show is a bittersweet comedy for anybody still searching for an answer to the eternal question: ‘what is love?’

Location: Rich Mix — Venue 1, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £8 – £10 Time: 7.30pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

This 45-minute production is an adaptation of Dr Seuss’s muchloved book about a mischievous cat whose instantly recognisable style involves a tall red-and-white-striped hat and a natty bow tie.

Venue: National Theatre, Cottesloe, South Bank SE1 9PX Cost: From £8.00 Info: 020 7452 3000 or www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

08 - 09 Dec

Panopticism

Panopticism is a devised play that explores how a group of friends who bear witness to an incident reap what they sow, as a nasty habit comes back to reek havoc, stirring up fear and suspicion, and how

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our environment can force an individual to choose an identity.

Today we live in a society where carrying a knife is expected and the un-written codes are protected; where young adults are forced to do someone’s ‘dirty work’, where the arms dealers are on high alert.

The walls have ears, the bin

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THEATRE

THEATRE 28 30

Jan Handful of Henna

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30 31

– Jan Sadler’s Wells Sampled

hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

10 12

– Dec Tell Tarra presents: King of the Castle A family Christmas provides the backdrop for Cornelius to announce that he and his wife should go back ‘home’ to spend their retirement basking

12 Angry Black Women is a verbatim play written by Lorna Blackman based on real-life stories. The play displays a jury’s weaknesses, indifference, anger, judgements, ignorance and fears as they are split between finding black women guilty or not guilty of allowing their anger to ruin their lives.

Location: Hackney Empire, HE Studio, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £10 Time: 6.00pm; 8.00pm Info: boxoffice@ hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

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Dec Detaining Justice

Sadler’s Wells Sampled is a unique event in which an exciting array of dance styles are presented over two days, across the whole building, allowing audiences to take in everything from flamenco and ballet to hip hop and contemporary dance. All for only £10 – or just £5 for proms standing tickets!

Performances from some of the world’s finest dancers take place in the main house alongside workshops and events in Sadler’s Wells’ studios and foyer.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 December along with details of the full line-up, which this year will include the winner of Sadler’s Wells’ Global Dance Contest. Early booking is strongly advised!

Location: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN Cost: £5 – £10 Info: 0844 412 4300

has a tongue. A bizarre setting all wrapped up in one. One incident … nine lives in the mix, as expected this tale has a twist, where the knife and pole are desperate to scratch an itch.

Location: Hackney Empire, HE Studio, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £5Time: 7.30pm Info: boxoffice@

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Dec 12 Angry Black Women

Justice is locked in a cold dark cell, his asylum application pending. His sister, Grace, would like to help but has been told to leave it in God’s hands.

The clouds of recession loom, unemployment rises and the fight to remain is tougher than ever. Olivier Award-winning playwright Bola Agbaje returns to the Tricycle Theatre with this excellent play as part of the Not Black and White season.

Venue: Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 Time: 8pm Cost: £10 - £20 Info: 020 7328 1000

in the sunshine. This is news to daughter Precious and the rest of the family. For the first time ever Precious stands up for herself as we are taken on a funfilled, thought provoking ride through family dilemmas we all recognise.

Written by JB Rose and directed

by Angela Michaels.

Post show chatback nightly.

Location: The Albany, Douglas

18 19

Dec When nobody’s looking

Musical and dance ensembles covering the themes of friendship, romance, missing persons, loneliness, alcoholism and HIV. ‘’What goes on behind the windows of your home and your soul?” Is it easier to just smile at your neighbour rather than say hello? “When Nobody’s Looking” is a musical theatre production, inspired by songs

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Being dragged back to the family village thousands of miles away by her mother is no fun for 13 year old Nasreen. In the monsoon rain, surrounded by wagging tongues of relatives and not being able to text her friends. Nasreen discovers that the mystical power of henna can lead to unexpected events.

Based on real stories from Muslim women this is an evocative and enchanting story of homecoming, adventure, fear and joy for a girl and her mother Venue: Watermans Theatre, 40 High Street , Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0DS Time: 7:45pm Cost: £ 8.00 - £ 10.00 Info: 020 8232 1010 or www.watermans.org.uk

Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4AG Cost: £6 – £9 Time: 8.00pm Info: Box office 020 8692 4446

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Jan The Uninvited

hear the extraordinary stories of refugees and exiles from all over the word, past and present, in Elizabeth Mansfield’s The Uninvited. Poems, writings and testimonies are woven into songs - Spanish, Yiddish, Filipino, Farsi, Bosnian - sung both in original language and in English translation.

Location: Rich Mix, Venue 1, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £8 – £10Time: 7.30pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

from the self-entitled album of gospel artists ‘Mary Mary’.

Venue: Pentland Theatre 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner North Finchley N12 0GA Time: 7:00pm Cost: £12.00 concession £ 10.00 Info: 020 8369 5454 or www.artesdepot.co.uk

20 Dec - 24 Jan London Tap Jam

Experience improvised tap dance with a live jazz trio at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, the fourth Sunday of every month, with exciting tap dancers from around the UK and the world. Everyone and anyone is welcome, whether you want to

get up and have a go, or just sit back and enjoy the tap.

For all those tappers new to the world of improvisation, Annette Walker will be hosting the renegade stage at 7:15pm before the main jam so that you can practice your freestyling skills in a more low key environment. The main jam, hosted by Junior Laniyan, begins at 8pm.

Due to the season, London Tap Jam will be held on the 3rd Sunday in December.

Location: Ronnie Scott’s, Location: 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT Cost: £6; £5 with tap shoes or instrument Time: 6.00pm Info: www.londontapjam.org

Transition Creative is made up of top creative industry specialists. The company continues to grow from strength to strength; from designing and producing simple business cards, sophisticated website designs, to high profile awareness campaigns, press and PR. 16 Skylines Village, Limeharbour, Docklands, London E14 9TS 020 7005 0590 020 7005 0970 transition@level7media.co.uk www.level7media.co.uk

COMEDY

COMEDY 05

Dec The truth about Hardeep Singh Kohli

Mirth Control

This comedy bill kicks off with Nicholas Marshall, fresh from success at the Edinburgh Festival. Next up is the UK’s only Somali comic, the sensational Prince Abdi. Headlining for the night is hip hop impressionist Toju. Hosted by comedian and actor Lateef Lovejoy.

Location: Rich Mix — The Bar, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £8 – £10 Time: 8.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

02 Dec

THE ‘Come Laugh With Us’ COMEDY SHOW.. Hosted By Slim

Napper, Celebrity Supa, Charlie Boi, Tazer Black & Aaron Fontaine have teamed up together to bring you “The Come Laugh With Us Show” Come Laugh With Us will be a night of great Stand Up Comedy hosted by ‘Slim’ (MTV BASE).

The line-up, including Travis J, Limz, Jo K, Axel and headline act Littleman, bring a young fresh take to the comedy scene.

Tazer & Aaron have also added

there “Opinionated Chat Show” to the event so it’s sure to be a great night. After the show we will be having a After Party until 1am with DJ Celebrity Supa on the Decks.

Lcoation: Murphis, 102-108 Clerkenwell Road, Farringdon, EC1M 5SA Cost: £5 before 7.30pm.. £8 after Time: 6.30pm – 11.00pm

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Dec Comedy Voyage Showcase

Five of London’s top comedians take to the stage for this

pre-Christmas special. Miss London, Slim, Quincy, Don and Bowa and Travis J perform live.

Included is a Caribbean buffet and live PA by Donna Reid.

Time: 7pm Cost: £20 Venue: Tereza Joanna Boat, King George Dock, Woolwich Manor Way, London E16 Info: 07960 791 156

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Dec PIECES

Ever wondered why the state of your hair is the root to

Catch Andi Osho London-based British comedienne and winner of the Funny Women Awards 2007 at Comedy Camp’s Christmas Cabaret show Time: 7:30pm Cost: £10.00 Venue; Barcode 3-4 Archer Street W1D 7AP Info: 020 7734 3342

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Dec For One Night Only

Another extraordinary night of award-winning comedy and variety starring ‘Have I Got News for You’ regular, the one and only Reginald D Hunter as well as the winner of this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award and star of Charlie Brooker’s ‘Screenwipe’, the abstract and poetical maestro, Tim Key. The bill also includes beatbox legend Beardyman who’s guaranteed to take the roof off the building with his vocal virtuosity, the Mighty Boosh’s very own Bob Fossil aka Rich Fulcher, along with Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees sketch group Idiots of Ants, physical comedy sensation from New Zealand, The Boy with Tape on his Face, star of Channel 4’s hit sitcom ‘Free Agent’ Sara Pascoe and the best MC this side of anywhere, the one and only Geordie genius, Jason Cook.

Time: 7.30pm Cost: £20 concession £17.50 Venue: 15 Gordon St, London, WC1H 0AH Info: 020 7388 8822

05 Dec

08

Dec Comedy Camp

10

Dec Find Your Feet

Come on down to an amazing night of live entertainment of Comedy, Music and Retro beats.

This charity event also has prizes to be won from Abel and Cole, Australian Bodycare, Bollywood Grooves, Brown-Forman Wines, Cafe Direct, Divine Chocolate, Manna Cuisine, Orion Publishing Group, The Ritzy Cinema, Sawday’s, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre and Suma among others.

Time: 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Cost: £ 12.00 Venue: Vibe Bar, Old Truman Brewery 91 - 95 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL Info: 020 7326 4464 or www.fyf.org.uk

10 11

– Dec Gina Yashere

Book ahead for an Albany comedy favourite - sure to be a sell-out!

Gina’s returning to Deptford this December. Gina’s live appearances are legendary. Her bombastic delivery, infectious personality and cheeky observations have wowed audiences in the UK and now she’s taking the US by storm too!

Gina’s one of the most highly sought after comics in the country, hosting the MOBO Awards and making numerous appearances on TV, radio and the big screen. book your tickets early — this one’s sure to be a sell-out!

Location: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4AG Cost: £12 Times: 8.00pm Info: Box office - 020 8692 4446

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Jan Remember, Remember

Remember, Remember 4th of November is a shocking and

sometimes disturbing but always hilarious story in which she wonders ‘Could Obama’s victory inspire her to better things?’ She certainly has the audacity to hope so.

Time: 9.45pm Cost: £12 Venue: Soho Theatre Company Ltd, 21 Dean Street W1D 3NE Info: 02074780100

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Dec A Wha Me a Go Win???????

Hosted by Dominic Dominica and the ever Glorious Gloria it’s your chance to win fabulous prizes in Britain’s best gameshow A WHA ME A GO WIN? Guest artists include Gina Yashere, Curtis Walker, Slim, Omar and Janet Kay. DJs include Kat, Mastermind and Nigel B from Special Touch.

Tickets include food by JaxNev, show (seated) and dance.

Get yours from Ticketmania, 0870 6000-888 or via the website.

Location: The Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, Cost: £19.99 – £34.99 Info: sarah@geestor.co.uk

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Dec Laughter Fest 2009

Back by popular demand and hosted by Jefferson & Whitfield this action packed night of entertainment will feature

13

Dec Nivea Funny Women Stand Up

Funny Women is at the vanguard of nurturing and promoting female comedy talent – from finding and developing new acts through its annual competition, the Funny Women Awards, to working with established performers.

Time: 7.30 p.m Cost: £12.50 Venue: The Basement Studio, Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX Info: 0844 847 2475 info@funnywomen.com

Quincy, Rudi Lickwood, Angela Reid, Kojo Slim, Teddy Bear, Felicity Ethnic & Gina Yashere.

Plus live band, Gospel Choir, Fashion Show, Poet and After Party. LUPUS is the designated charity set to benefit from this Laughter Fest project.

Time: 8:30pm Cost: £20 - £45 Venue: Camden Centre, Euston Road (opp. Kings Cross/st. St Pancras Station) Info: 07960 537 875 www.laughterfestlive.com

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Jan The Real McCoy Comedy Xplosion

Heartbeat Entertainment, the producers of the sell out shows The Kings & Queens of Comedy, proudly present The Real McCoy Comedy Xplosion!! The stars of the very popular ground breaking TV series return for 1 night only!

Starring Felix Dexter, Leo Muhammad, Robbie Gee, Eddie Nestor and Judith Jacob. Also appearing are special guests Mr Cee and the people’s favourite

Dibbi.

This night of top quality comedy mayhem is not to be missed!!

Location: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ Cost: £20 – £22 Time: 8.00pm Info: boxoffice@ hackneyempire.co.uk or 020 8985 2424

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Jan Comedy and Curry

Event featuring the top black comedian on the comedy UK circuit Rudi Lickwood, Jay Sodagar, Hyde Panaser and relative newcomer MC Prince Abdi whose set pieces such as his Bollywood and Nollywood reconstruction capitalise on the energy that makes the audience warm to him well.

Time: 7:45pm Cost: £12.00 Venue: Waterman’s Theatre, 40 High Street Middlesex TW8 0DS Info: 020 8232 1010 or www.watermans.org.uk

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Hardeep Singh Kohli stands up.

Actually, he might just do the hour sat down. He’ll chat, he’ll try and be witty and maybe even accidentally make you laugh. This is his first London gig after his debut Edinburgh show “The Really Naked Chef”. (He won’t be naked or cooking though.) Ages 16+ Time: 8:00 pm Cost: £ 16 concession £ 14 Venue: Pentland Theatre 5 Nether Street Tally Ho Corner North Finchley N12 0GA Info: 020 8369 5454 or www. artsdepot.co.uk

your struggle? Well Pickiesha can tell you all about it. Then there’s old Brudda Brown who believes that twist is a dance not a hairstyle. They’re joined by ‘Bling economist’ Michellay, can’t-get-no-gyal D’White and many more characters in the award-winning comedy sketch show that promises to tickle your ribs.

Time: 5:00pm and 8:00pm Cost: £12.50 Venue: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 Info: 020 985 2424

It all started with mass hysteria.

In case you forgot, in 1999 many thought the world was going to end!

Planes were supposed to crash and clocks around the world were going to get confused and spontaneously combust! When it didn’t the notion was quietly swept under the carpet.

Some may have spent the new year in a bunker, but I for one partied like it was 1999…

Ghana celebrates 50 years of independence — Forward ever, backward never; those were the workds of Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, and on 6 March 1957, Ghana was the first SubSaharan African country to gain independence. 50 years on and the nation is still making its mark, with its under-20s football team being the first African team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Tutankhamen exhibition in O2 — London had it’s own slice of history in November 2007 when the Egyptian boy king came to the O2. The grandeur of the exhibition and the ornate burial mask brought to everyone’s attention the highest heights reached by this magnificent Black civilisation.

Mother nature made herself known with Katrina, Tsunami, earthquake in Pakistan. These were all warning signs of the effect we humans are having on the world…

We are definitely taking note — in April 2009, 20 nations met in London for the G20 Summit to talk about how the global community can make a change and deal with the problem.

Previous Summits spoke about the global financial crisis.

World Trade Centre — 9/11 was the catalyst that sparked the war on terror that has seen British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq for the majority of the decade.

The Noughties Changed My Life… words: Samera Owusu Tutu

This was the decade of wars, natural disasters and the explosion of technology. Let’s take a look at some of the key events for the noughties.

Pakistani Prime Minister assassinated — Benazir Bhutto was murdered on 27 December 2007. An icon for women the world over, Bhutto foresaw her assassination but still tirelessly campaign for the good of her country.

First Black president — Barack Obama; tears from Jesse James and Oprah, singing from Aretha Franklin, Michelle Obama, first lady, icon and inspiration. Need we say more?

Yes We Can… but we won’t.

Decade of the Black Oscars — 2001 Halle Berry became the first black female to be awarded a leading lady Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball. Denzel earned his best actor Oscar in the same year for Training Day. Jamie Foxx was next for best actor in 2004 with his portrayal of Ray Charles. Then came Forest Whitaker in 2006 as Idi Amin in Last King of Scotland. And there’s no forgetting Jennifer Hudson’s best supporting actress Oscar for Golden Girls.

Janet Jackson causes a major upset at the American Super Bowl in 2004.

Quick as a flash (excuse the pun) a new noughties term was born.

Wardrobe Malfuntion officially made its way into the Chambers dictionary in 2008. Funnily enough, the furore really brought American football to the fore; now, many club nights, Any Given Sunday included, host special NFL party nights with the football shown on a big screen at 3am due to the time difference.

You Tube and blogs — this was the decade of the exhibitionist!

Everybody realised they could be a star, and what better way to make themselves known than through the Internet. Queue YouTube, launched in 2005. Blogs have also taken root in our consciousness, even grannies leave their opinions on the virtual soapbox.

Bernie Grant dies 2000 — Bernie Grant Arts Centre established in established in 2007 in memory of his name for all his activism and advocacy of the Black community.

Credit Crunch - Unfortunately this wasn’t a new noughties cereal.

Financially, the last 10 years saw the highest highs with average house prices in London tipping the scale at £340,000 in 2007, and some of the lowest lows with long-standing companies like Woolworths folding, banks crashing.

The decade we got social — these were the years of antisocial socialising. We were all talking online, sharing pictures and giving opinions. Social networking was an explosion, with Facebook launching in 2003 and Twitter in 2005. We haven’t looked back since and I think we never will.

30 became the new 20s — older good-timers turned the rave into the lounge, R&B in neo soul and danced the night away. Ones to watch are Amplified’s Mahogany and Any Given Sunday. Both nights are on Sunday

I remember sleeping at my uni computer suite so as to use the internet. No more dial and making tea while pages load, now it’s broadband all the way.

The evolution of the mobile phone — at the turn of the century we moved from analogue mobile phones to digital and things have gone up, up and up from then; with the inclusion of colour screens and the internet. Blackberry was born in 2002 and the iPhone followed in 2007. These phones are technology and style icons of their time. Now we’re super connected!

The rise of the reality tv star – 2001 Pop Idol; 2004 The X Factor; spawned stars like Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Brenda Edwards, who was featured in our November 2009 edition.

Death of Michael Jackson and This Is It tour — this was set to be the biggest comeback ever seen with a massive 50 dates in the O2.

Sadly, it was never to be, with the untimely death of a legend and a global treasure. Now the love for Michael Jackson lives on in a new generation of fans, with a huge increase in interest in the king of pop since his death.

London wins the Olympics that’s right! We got it! So at least we know we’ll have something interesting in the list for the next decade.

Though there are plenty of naysayers, I’m sure when the fireworks start they’ll all be won over.

The Millennium Dome, a tribute to the 20th century, lived a brief life. Many thought it would remain dormant, a white elephant for the capital. Instead, it became the O2 and changed the face of live performance in London forever.

We salute you — We said goodbye to many greats this year. James Brown, Luther Vandross, Barry White, Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac… These entertainers will live on through their life works.

The rise and fall of auto-tune — well every decade has a sound.

The noughties were all about autotune with stars like T-Pain using the devise to maximum effect to create his trademark digitalised sound. Unfortunately, auto-tune is the Marmite of music fads and the trend had definitely had its day by the time Jay-Zs number single Death of Auto-tune was released.

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15

Dec A Night With Adinkra Films

Adinkra Film Nights is back with a bang this December.

Adinkra Films is premiering “The 100 BEST BLACK MOVIES (Ever)” Join the Adinkra family to watch this documentary by award-winning film critic Shawn Edwards (FOX-TV) as he takes you, on a journey through Black cinema history in this enthralling documentary dissecting favorites such as The Colour Purple, Cooley High, Soul Food, Friday, To Sleep with Anger and Hotel Rwanda. With commentaries from Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Thandie Newton, Eddie Murphy, Danny Clover, Spike Lee, Paula Patton, Jamie Foxx and many, many more.

Dir Shawn Edwards, USA 2007, Documentary, cert PG, 70mins There’s also have the fabulous Adinkra lounge, a space to chill or network before and after the screening, playing old skool and a touch of Motown.

Location: Shortwave Cinema, 10 Bermondsey Square, London Bridge, SE1 3UN Cost: £10 Time: 6.30pm; 8.45pm Info: 0845 680 1597; tickets@adinkrafilms.com

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Following on his successful debut feature, Kunle Afolayan offers another inspired drama as he makes his mark as one of the most imaginative filmmakers from Nollywood. The Figurine is the story of two childhood friends whose lives change after finding a figurine ARAROMIRE in an abandoned shrine as recruits in the national service. The two go on from a life of hustling in Lagos to become successful businessmen. According to ancient legend this mysterious figurine bestows seven years of good luck. However no one had told them about the next seven years. The bizarre occurrences that follow stretch their family lives and their friendship to the core.

Revealing treachery and deception on all sides with outstanding and contrasting performances all round, especially from Ramsey Nouah who justifies the reputation as one of Nigerian top actors.

Dir: Kunle Afolayan, 2009, Thriller, cert 12, 120mins Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £10 Time: 3.40pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

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Dec 3 Idiots

Two friends embark on a quest for a lost buddy as they make their way through the perilous landscape, another journey begins: their inner journey through memory lane and the story of their friend Rancho who in his unique way, touched and changed their lives.

Rancho was a friend who influenced and inspired them to think creatively and independently, even as the conformist world called them three idiots.

Who was he? Where did he come from? Where is the original idiot now? Three Idiots is comedy of ideas that is as provocative as it is funny, as wildly entertaining as it is insightful. Running time: 180 minutes Director: Rajkumar Hirani Location: Vue Cinema The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich SE10 0AX Cost: £ 7.75 Time: See box office Info: 08712 240 240

The story of a lone hero who must fight his way across the wasteland of postapocalyptic America to protect a sacred book that might hold the key to saving the future of humanity. The despot of a small, makeshift town plans to take possession of the book. directed by the Hughes brothers and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis.

Location: Vue Cinema The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich SE10 0AX Cost: £ 7.75 Time: See box office Info: 08712 240 240

18 23 Jan

– Malcolm X

To celebrate Martin Luther King Day on Sun 18 January and the one year anniversary of Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tues 20 January, Rich Mix presents Voices of Freedom, a week of special events encompassing theatre, film, spoken word and live music. Their screening of the seminal film Malcolm X is part of this season.

Dir: Spike Lee , USA 1992, Drama, Cert 12, 202mins Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £5 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

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Jan Soy Cuba

Soy Cuba, part of the Rich Mix Cuban Stories series, charts the rise of the Cuban Revolution giving us four stories: a mistreated prostitute, a farmer in dispute with a greedy landowner, student revolutionaries, and the rallying of Castro’s forces in the hills.

DIr Mikhail Kalatozov, 1964, drama, cert PG, 141mins Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £5 Time: 2.00pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

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06

Dec The Figurine (ARAROMIRE)

Jan The Book of Eli

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LONDON AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

LONDON AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Captain Majid This simple and very likeable debut feature is

Zimbabwe A young 19 year old rural girl, named

Zimbabwe by her patriotic father, is orphaned.

Starving and with few choices, she leaves her village in search of a distant aunt. In the remote border town of Beit bridge, she is smuggled across the border into South Africa, in search of any life at all. Illegally in South Africa, Zimbabwe finds work as a domestic worker but is repeatedly abused by her employer. She must commit a violent act to protect herself, and escapes by handing herself over to the authorities. She is repatriated back to Zimbabwe, only to find that her brother has jumped the border to go in search of her.

Director: Darrel Roodt Writer: Darrel Roodt Cast: Kudzai Chimbaira, Farai Veremu Country: Zimbawe-South Africa Year: 2007

For The Best And For The Onion Winner of the best documentary at the African Movie Academy Awards 2009, the documentary is about the the Galmi purple, the onion from Niger that pervades West African markets with 400,000 tons a year. In Galmi, Salamatou’s been waiting for her wedding for 2 years. Her father Yaro, urged both by her future in-laws and the village gossip makes a decision : The wedding will take place at the harvest ! Yaro is aware that to be up to his commitment this time, he has to produce more and sell at a higher price …

Director: Sani Elhadj Magori Writer: Sani Elhadj Magori Country: France-Niger Year: 2008 Country: Zimbawe-South Africa Year: 2007

Homeless children, My Secret Sky follows the story of ten-year-old Thembi and her eight-year-old brother Khwezi. They decide to journey to the city of Durban from their village with their only possession of a traditional Zulu mat made by their mother for a craft competition. Their mother had woven the mat in the hope of entering a competition encouraged by a white priest who had visited the village. But when they arrive in the big city they are confronted with a gang of street kids led by 12-year-old Chilli Bites. Chilli Bites befriends them and tells them of a friend who knows the priest. The friend who turns out to be a pimp whose only intent is to sell Thembi to people with the pervasive myth that sex with virgin cures AIDS takes them in. The director has coaxed some remarkable performances from his young cast particularly Sibahle Mkhabase who gives a raw and delicate quality to the film as ten year old Thembi.

Director: Madoda Ncayiyana Writers: Julie Frederiske, Madoda Ncayiyana Cast: Sobahle Mkhabase, Sibonelo Malinga Country: South Africa Year: 2008

Kochkhach Set in 1940s Tunisia, Zakia

is a sexually frustrated woman who after giving birth was given the seed of the Kochkhach (opium) to calm her nerves. When the opium addicts her, those around her snub her. A moving exploration of the hopes, desires of the upper classes of the time.

Director: Selma Baccar Writer: Selma Baccar Cast: Rabiaa Ben Abdallah, Raoul Ben Amour Country: Tunisia Year: 2006

Gugu and Andile This award winning drama is a South African Romeo and Juliet tale,

GUGU AND ANDILE is a love-story set against the backdrop of the war that raged through South Africa’s townships in the early 1990s. It tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers, unlucky enough to be born into families on opposite sides of the political and cultural divide. Gugu, a sweet and innocent sixteen-year old, comes from a Zulu-speaking family, while Andile, eighteen and equally ready for love, comes from a family steeped in the Xhosa tradition. Their love is thoroughly disapproved of by the rest of the community. In the prevailing climate it is forbidden for two people from such different backgrounds to form a connection. The war, with its cultural differences and associated political allegiances, encroaches on Gugu and Andile’s lives and, in spite of their resistance, they become deeply embroiled. As in the original Romeo and Juliet, they will both lose loved ones and go through flame and fire for the sake of their love.

Director: Minky Schlesinger Writer: Lodi Matsetela Cast: Litha Booi,Lungelo Dhladhla Country: South Africa Year: 2008

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set in central African country of Chad. Majid as a captain of a local club who dreams of dreams of one day of playing in the Nu Camp, home of Barcelona Football Club. The young captain is only a few days away from the town’s championship game when Faiza, the team president’s daughter, catches his eye and that of the coach too. In the wake of his glory on the pitch and his wish to take Faiza’ hand in marriage, Majid makes a decision of grave impact.

Director: Abakar Chene Massa Writer: Abakar Chene Massa Cast: Abkar Chene Massar, Naadech Ngaryo,Ousman Adoum Country: Chad-Canada Year: 2009 Runtime: 96 min

My Secret Sky (Izulu Lami) Set in Durban South Africa and based on the experiences of the city’s

EVENTS

EVENTS

01-02 Dec

02 Dec / 06 Jan

The countdown to Christmas kicks off on Tuesday 1 December with a magic moment of Alexandra Burke and swarms of Londoners singing along to top Christmas hits by Tower Bridge on Southbank. The Quality Street Christmas sing-a-long looks set to fill the banks of the River Thames with tuneful renditions of Christmas classics including Silent Night, The X Factor star’s own No.1 hit ‘Hallelujah’ and of course the Quality Street favourite, ‘Magic Moments’. Passers-by will be treated to several hours of the nation’s favourite songstress in a winter wonderland complete with Christmas trees, snow and a church choir.

Time: 11.00am Cost: Free Venue: Potter’s Field, Southbank SE1 2AA Info: 0207 931 7200

04 Dec

Eid Ball 2009 Ladies Dinner & Dance Enjoy a 3 course meal with entertainment, live belly dance performance by Maria who has performed at Slum Dog Millionaire after party as well as at Liz Hurley Wedding! Dress code is smart traditional.Time: 7:00pm to 0.00am Cost: £17.15 Venue: Starlight Suite, Lea Bridge Road, E10 7LD Info: 0207 582 7077 or www.chillitickets.com

05 Dec

Christmas Thames Boat & After Party For the first time ever Asiana’s famous Thames Boat Party is getting a festive makeover.

Expect plenty of seasonal fun and frolics aboard a vessel with the opulence of some of

11 Dec

AnyGivenWeekday - SpeakEasy Head west for an evening of lively discussion in the sumptuous surroundings of Ruby & Sequoia. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Jimmy Swagger & HRH Nzinga.

You set the agenda and no subject is too taboo! It’s perfect place to meet up with friends, with great food and cocktails available at the award-winning upstairs restaurant. There’s 30% off food orders for all SpeakEasy attendees. Mojitos, Caiprinhas or a glass of Prosecco only £3.50 (between 6pm-8pm). Music is supplied by Mista Marquis of AnyGivenSunday. FREE on guestlist (£5 without). To sign up, text 07947 564 766 with your full names by 4pm on the day of the event. Don’t just be about it... Speak about it!

Location: Ruby & Sequoia, 6-8 All Saints Road, W11 1HH Cost: Free Time: 6.00pm – 10.00pm London’s top West End Venues, the deluxe Erasmus. You’ll be a part of our very own winter wonderland, sailing under the stars whilst taking in London’s breathtaking sites. Whether you want to snuggle up to that someone special or party the night away with friends to the hottest tunes, our boat party is certain to create some Christmas magic! And then if you’re in the mood for more… we have an After Party just minutes away.

Time: 7:30pm Cost: From £ 16.95 Venue: Bankside Pier, Bankside, Southwark, SE1 9TG Info: 0800 234 35 66 or info@mejimedia.com

05 – 06 December Jingle Bell Ball

The Jingle Bell Ball returns to The O2 this year featuring artists such as Noisettes, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Taio Cruz, Janet Jackson, Flo-Rida, Alexandra Burke, Alesha Dixon and JLS. The Jingle Bell Ball with Windows 7 will be the capital’s biggest indoor music event of the year and will be supporting Capital’s flagship charity, Help a London Child, with a donation being made from the proceeds of the event.

Time: 4:00pm Cost: £39.50 - £299.00 Venue: The O2, Peninsula Square,, London, SE10 0PE Info: 0207 931 7200

Tantric Club Start the Christmas season at Tantric Club’s fun & interactive Wine & Port tasting event. It’s so much fun as you try the different wine/ports, take part in the exciting games planned and more importantly, get a chance to meet everyone in the room.

After the tasting, you’ll be served a selection of scrumptious canapés, and then you’ll have the choice to stay on and mingle at the bar, or to party the rest of the night at a prestigious West End nightclub.

Time: 7:00pm

Cost: £34.99 Venue: Union Bar 88 90 George Street, W1U 8PA Info: 020 8352 0664

09 Dec

StorySLAM Live at the Albany Get up and tell it. This is your opportunity to hear and take part in a unique short story talent competition. Write a 4-5 min story, 500 words long, with

‘London’ as its theme. If you get picked, get up on stage and tell it. Winner takes £100 prize. Oh, and make sure you practise!

Time is strictly limited.

With live music, book stalls, networking, the works. All hosted by Lemn Sissay.

Location: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG Cost: £7 Time: 7.30pm Info: 020 8692 4446

19 Jan

Asian Dinner club

In Conversation with Ben Okri

The Asian Dinner Club is aimed at Single, Asian professionals who want to meet like-minded Asians. Join them for their Christmas drinks at the top of a stunning department store in Knightsbridge — the perfect place to be and to end a very busy year for Asian Dinner Club. The drinks reception will be held arrive early. Please book early to avoid disappointment and spaces are limited.

Time: 7:30pm Cost: £25.00 Venue: Fifth Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, SW1 7RJ Info: 07882 832 664 or info@asiandinnerclub.com

10-19 December Caribbean Christmas Experience

Tired of turkeys and the cold December nights? Banish the winter blues and fire up your Christmas with a celebration of the exotic at this Caribbean themed Christmas party in Kensington. The bountiful buffet offers something for everyone to enjoy from the Caribbean plus all your favourite Christmas classics. After guests have enjoyed their meal, the party hots up with entertainment from a live steel band. Throw some moves with the limbo entertainment and strut your funky stuff at the disco. The party DJ will keep the crowd grooving until late.

Time: TBC Cost: £39.00 Venue: SW7 Kensington London Info: 01273 224898

11 Dec

heading down to the Deep Blue Rooms of SEOne Club for the ultimate Xmas event Featuring Live and Direct From Barbados Alvin ‘Soca Superman’ Toppin.

XMAS Breakfast will be on sale.

Time: 11:30pm - 07:00am Cost: £10 Venue: SEOne 41-43 St. Thomas Street, SE1 3QX Info: 020 7407 1617

12 Dec UB40

This concert is sure to be a grand sell-out occasion, with huge loving crowds and a roster of rousing hits old and new to match. Expect an impressive show from old hands who are still learning new tricks and can keep a huge crowd rocking all night.

Time: 6.30pm Cost: £35 Venue: The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0PE Info: 0207 931 7200

The Xmas Sleepover

Padlock Party

Its almost Christmas and Santa needs some help in spreading the holiday cheer. So he’s called us at NEXT LEVEL PoisonUK and sent his sexy Elves to get you into the mood.

On 11th December we’re

AsianD8events host the Final Infamous Gherkin Christmas Padlock Party of the year and we are pulling out all the stops to make this The Biggest, The Best, Christmas Cracker Singles Party in London Town. Ladies

Be inspired as internationally acclaimed author Ben Okri reads from his 2009 collection ‘Tales of Freedom’. This event is part of Voices of Freedom, the Rich Mix’s series of events celebrating Martin Luther King Day and the oneyear anniversary of Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £5 Time: 7.30pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

have a padlock, guys have a key and interaction is encouraged through getting people to try to find a key and padlock which match! If you find a match then you are entered into a prize draw to win some fantastic prizes on the night.

Join us for the Padlock Party and experience a tantalizing Indian buffet and after party.

Time: 8:00pm – 3:00am Cost: From £15.00 Venue: The Sterling, Gherkin Tower 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8EP Info: 0871 873 28 38 or info@asianD8events.com

13 Dec

The Avantgarde Banquet Strictly a formal wear affair, with a culinary fusion that will please your eyes and delight your taste buds. Set in a plush and spacious venue you are assured of entertainment that will fill you with laughter, enjoyment and inspiration including a three course buffet and, poetry performance by Alan Charles, live PA by Courtney Hoillett & Co, and with music provided by DJ Cookie (Genesis FM).Time: 6:00pm Cost: £25 Venue: The Delfina 50 Bermondsey Street, SE1 Info: sales@ avantgardebanquet.co.uk

Tribute to Louisa Marks

16 Dec

Twenty-two top acts will join forces to pay tribute to the original queen of lover’s rock.

Artists confirmed to appear include Janet Kay, Aswad, Carroll Thompson, Sandra Cross, Peter Hunningale, Omar, Don E, Paul Dawkins, and Winston Reedy.

Time: 8.00pm Cost: £20 Venue: The Fridge, 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 Info: 020 8555 0044

The award-winning smash hit from the West End and two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals returns. Join two runaway kids on their adventures at the Ruff Endz estate. Meet aspiring singer Lil Red under contract to greedy producer Wolf, and Prince who is two-timing rapper Rap-on-Zel Time: 2:00pm & 7:45pm Cost: From £15 Venue: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 Info: 0844 875 0073

Into The Hoods

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Alexandra Burke Brings Musical Festive Cheer To London

EVENTS

EVENTS 18 – 19 December Botown

18 Dec

Tropical Island Tropical Island is a “feel good” and lively musical theatre show that will have adults and children doing the limbo, singing and dancing in the isles!

It is full of humour, calypso and salsa songs… The cast take you to their island paradise with tropical beats and rhythms, colourful costumes, dance and interactive story line.

Time: 11.30am and 5.30pm Cost: £3-Child £5-Adult Venue: Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road Tottenham Green, N15 4RX Info: 0208 365 5450 or boxoffice@berniegrantcentre. co.uk

19 Dec

Asian Woman “Winter Wonderland” Christmas Party This year’s most fashionable Christmas party promises to exceed your expectations with fantastic offers on group tickets, a private VIP area for the Perfect Luxury Treatment and not to mention Timeless Classics in London’s most Elite District.

Entertainment hosted by Mr Vee. Plus a chance to win prizes for the most glamorously dressed

female and for the best dressed couple a pair of tickets to the Asian Bride show at Wembley Stadium. Strictly over 23’s only no trainers, caps, t-shirts, sweats.

Time: 9:30pm - 3:00am Cost: From £15 Venue: Devonshire Terrace, Devonshore Square, London, EC2M 4WY Info: www.blackrockevents. co.uk

23 Jan

Olympia Musicmania January 2010 VIP present Musicmania and have been in the business of running music related fairs for over 25 years -— during this time more product has been bought, sold and displayed than any other selling medium in the world.

Whether you are a collector of a band or artist, or simply want to pick up some great music at affordable prices, this Musicmania expo can give you the best route to success.

They pride themselves on offering the best selection of Rock, Pop, Indie, Punk, Grunge and soul music, whilst several regular sellers cover music going all the way back to the early days of popular music - Rock and Roll, R&B, Doo Wop, Jazz etc.

They save you the time and expense involved in visiting hundreds of shops and bring these sellers all together, under one roof, in a high profile venue, at the same time.

Whether you are shopping for discounted CDs, cut priced DVDs, rare vinyl, memorabilia or even accessories you can save a small fortune at the fair. On top of this, it’s a great day out, so it’s win win all the way.

Saturday has an early entry of 8.30am for a higher entrance fee of £10 — perfect for grabbing those super bargains.

Time: 10.00am – 5.00pm Cost: £4 – £10 Location: Olympia Two, Hammersmith Road, w148ux Info: www.vip-24. com/olympia.htm

27 Dec

Diamonds Christmas Ball Strictly black tie event — men in suits/tuxedos, ladies in gowns; look forward to a dinner and dance event to remember. First class Caribbean fare will be on sale, prepared by Brenda Glen.

Time: 8:00pm Cost: £10 - £12 Venue: Wandsworth Palais 5456 Wandsworth High Street, SW18 4LD Info: 020 88757980

Jazzmothology

The Dream Team GB features in the ultimate Jazz happening of 2009. On the first night Courtney Pine Band supported by Omar Puente Band open up this Bernie Grant Arts Centre mini-season of the finest in UK Jazz! Day 3 sees Soweto Kinch Band with Special surprise guest and on New Year’s eve The Courtney Pine Band (with Special Guest, Soweto Kinch) leads the new year celebrations to open the gate to the year 2010.

Time: 7:00pm Cost: From £25 Venue: Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road Tottenham Green, N15 4RX Info: 0208 365 5450 or boxoffice@ berniegrantcentre.co.uk

31 Dec

Diamonds & Pearls New Years Eve This is the most hotly anticipated New Year’s Eve Party of the season and is a great excuse for you to flaunt your most stylish outfits, show-off those new shoes and party to your heart’s content. Join Voodoo in bringing in the New Year at what promises to be the most sophisticated and glamorous celebration in town.

Time: 9:30pm - 4:00am Cost: From £30 Venue: The Crescent Club 3a North End Crescent, W14 8TG Info: 07958 339 997 or www. voodooentertainment.co.uk

Midnight Affair 2009 If you like class and appreciate quality. Me, Myself & I Promotions have assembled a truly unbelievable New Year’s Eve event like no other.

One night accommodation including breakfast at a 4 star hotel, Champagne Reception, 3 Course silver service Caribbean meal, dance the night away with top Dj’s. Parking is free!

Time: TBC Cost: £125 Venue: Crown Plaza Hotel 2 Western Gateway Docklands Info: Brian Joseph 07950 412 035

W14 8UX Info: 020 7385 1200 or cs@ kenfair.com

26-28 Jan The Toy Fair

01-17 Jan

Indian Exhibition Featuring three thrones, jewel encrusted weapons and sumptuous paintings from India’s royal courts, the Indian exhibition at V&A explores the world of the maharajas in comprehensive detail. The display at the Victoria and Albert Museum features over 250 visually stunning objects, many of which are on show in the UK for the first time.

Time: 10am - 17:45pm Cost: £11.00 Venue: Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7 2RL Info: 0871 971 5939

20 Jan

National Television Awards The National Television Awards is Britain’s well-liked TV award show. Instead of a panel of judges, the British public decide which show will win each award by voting online.

Time: 6:30pm Cost: £18 Venue: The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0PE Info: 0161 385 3211 or www.nationaltvawards.com

24 Jan

Caribbean Jazz Dinner Hosted by Cutty Williams the evening includes a Caribbean Sunday Dinner Meal by celebrated Caribbean Chef Hassan De Four. The evening features the Engine Room Collective with Steelpan sensation Daniel Louis Jazz, Guitarist Tim Cansfield and Pannist Delphine James.

Time: TBC

17 Jan

African Drumming Course Learn how to play an African drum, or improve your playing skills if you have some experience, on these authentic 10 week courses. Classes take place on Sundays - nb: weekly payments not accepted, course fee to be paid in full. Drum provided for use in class if you don’t have your own.

Time: 11.30am Cost: £25.

Venue: Horniman Museum & Gardens 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ Info: www.nzingadance.org.uk Cost: £18.50 Venue: Carnival Village (Formerly Tabernacle) Powis Square, Notting Hill, W11 2AY Info: 020 7193 5859 or info@panjazzuk.com

Tantric Club Fun Quiz Event Before you start getting paranoid and reaching for the encyclopaedia, it’s not about your knowledge, it’s about you having some FUN whilst meeting and interacting with new people! Included in your ticket price is a welcome drink, canapes, professional quiz masters, fun TV style buzzers, gimmick prizes & more importantly Time: 2:30pm - 5:30pm Cost: £32.99 Venue: Slug & Lettuce 19 Hanover Street, Oxford Circus, W1S 1YH Info: 020 8352 0664 or www.tantriclub.co.uk

26-27 Jan

Offshore Production Technology Summit The Offshore Production Technology Summit 2010

includes a wealth of both formal and informal networking opportunities, including two sessions of pre-scheduled oneto-one meetings, so that you can maximise your knowledgesharing opportunities and ensure you make the most of your time out of the office. Our specialist team will work with you to ensure that you only meet fellow delegates and solution providers with which you share common interests and goals.

Time: TBC Cost: £1,795 Venue: Park Plaza Hotel Victoria Info: 020 7202 7690 or andrew. barrett@wtgevents.com

25- 27 Jan Asia Expo 2010

This three day Asia Expo will showcase original and unusual products as well as every day, household items. You will find everything from clothing to the latest gadgets on offer at the London Asia Expo in Olympia.

Cost: TBC Venue: Olympia Grand & National Halls, Hammersmith Road,

Over 9,000 toy industry professionals are expected at the Toy Fair in London Olympia.

The Toy Fair is a great chance for businesses from all areas of the toy industry to network with each other, creating new contacts and opportunities.

Time: 9.00am-6.00pm Cost: £15 Venue: Olympia Grand & National Halls, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX Info: 020 77017127

27-28 Jan

Learning Technologies Showcasing the very newest the learning industry has to offer, the Learning Technologies exhibition in London will address the effectiveness of learning technologies at work. It will also allow industry professionals to meet learning providers and benefit from their expert knowledge.

Time: 10.00am - 5.00pm Cost: Free Venue: Olympia Two, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX Info: 01730 817600

30 Jan

Vincent Nap Earthday Celebrations Performing live backed by the Indika Band are Don Campbell, Gappy Rank, Redman, Nerious Joseph, Starky Banton to name a few. Special guests include Michael Prophet, Chucky Starre, Beres Bassa. Sounds by One Love year to year. Not to be missed!

Time: 9.00pm Cost: £15 Venue: The Bless Bar, West Ealing, W13 0TL Info: 07944303657 or 02089089837

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Botown is a super-tight Asian soul funk band, performing Bollywood hits in a way you’ve never heard before. Featuring music from legends like RD Burman, James Brown, Prince, AR Rahman, Sly Stone, Kishore Kumar and original material, this is good time party music for everybody.

Time: 8:00pm Cost: £14.50 Venue: Rich Mix 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA Info: www.chillitickets.com

29 – 31 Dec

GALLERY

05 Dec

World Cities – Udaipur

making a living Communicate your vision to others.

Time: 7-9pm Cost: £25 Venue: London Buddhist Arts Centre, Eastbourne House, Bullards Place (off Morpeth St), Bethnal Green, E2 0PT Info: 020 8983 6134 or training@creativeengagement.co.uk

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Dec – which Jan Udaipur in India is famous for its lakes and palaces in centuries past served as the homes of royalty. Ranked seventh of Maharaja: The Splendour among the most beautiful cities inIndia’s the world, it isCourts often referred Royal to as the ‘Venice of the East’ and isThe renowned for its 17th maharajas (literally and 18th century waterfront temples and palaces andkings”) for its were translated as “great enchanting old town set in the heart of the Aravalli Mountains.

Indian princes who inhabited Time: 14.00-17.30 Cost: £25 aand £20world concessions lavish in colonial Venue: Victoria and Albert Museum, SW7 2RL India.Cromwell The show Road will explore Info: 020 7942 2211 or www.vam.ac.uk the extraordinary culture of

Indian Visions is a dramatic and thought-provoking selection of images by Indian and international photographers curated by Robin Saikia of Gallery 118, who has dedicated the exhibition to his late cousin Ashok Saikia, the distinguished former Joint Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and himself a keen photographer. Spectacular aerial kite photography by Nicolas Chorier will be shown alongside intimate scenes of working life by Diwan Manna.

Vinita Agarwal’s studies of life in Rajasthan complement prizewinning images by Carlo Bevilacqua. Ravi Agarwal shows striking studies of environmental issues alongside beautifully textured Mumbai street scenes

by Katarina Baliova.

Time: 6:15pm Cost: TBC Venue: Nehru Centre 8 South Audley Street, W1K 1HF Info: 0207 491 3567

15

Dec Making Creativity Work

Strengthen and maintain your creative process and apply it to business solutions. Use your creativity to find out what you really want to do. Find creative approaches to bringing your ideas and skills into a way of

As an eight year old choir boy at St Marks Church in Dalston, Dennis Morris was inspired to take up photography by the vicar who invited a professional photographer to the church.

From that moment he was hooked. The result is a poignant collection of images of the black community in Hackney; at birthday parties, at christenings, at blues dances, at home, on the streets or in church. Features a film by Kwaku Mensah with an interview with Dennis on the streets he grew up in.

Time: TBC Cost: TBC Venue: Hackney Museum Technology and Learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane E8 1GQ Info: 020 8356 3000

11

Jan The Legacy of the West African City of Timbuktu

PCS in conjunction with Black History Studies presents ‘Intellectual Life and the Legacy of the West African City of Timbuktu’ Everybody has heard of Timbuktu, but what do we really know about this mysterious city? Popular mythology presents Timbuktu as the most distant place on earth. Others describe it as a great early centre of West African learning that has still preserved its early manuscripts? What is the truth?

Where is the evidence? Please note, photographs will be taken at this event and may be used for promotional purposes. Refreshments will be provided.

Time: 6.45pm to 9:30pmCost: £4 Venue: PCS Headquarters 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, SW11 2LN Info: info@everygeneration.co.uk

princely India, showcasing rich and varied objects that reflect different aspects of royal life. The exhibits will include both Indian and Western works, featuring paintings, photography, textiles and dress, jewellery, jewelled objects, metalwork and furniture. These sensational works will be explored within a broader historical context of princely life and ideals, patronage, court culture and alliances.

Time: 4.00pm Cost: £11 Adults, £9 Seniors and £6 Students, Venue: Exhibitions Rooms 38, 39 and North Court Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL Info: 02079422000 or www.vam.ac.uk

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Jan Chris Ofili

This mid-career survey is Chris Ofili’s most substantial presentation to date, and his first solo exhibition in a public institution in this country for more than a decade. It brings together around 45 of the artist’s paintings, as well as pencil drawings and watercolours covering the period from the mid 1990s to the present day. See well-known works such as The Holy Virgin Mary 1996, No Woman, No Cry 1998 and The Upper Room 1999-2002, alongside previously unseen paintings and new canvases created for the exhibition.

Time: 10.00am Cost: £10 (£8.50 concessions) Venue: Tate Britain, Millbank London SW1P 4RG Info: 020 7887 8888

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Dec Exhibition of Photographs — Indian Visions

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– Jan Growing Up Black

WRITTEN & SPOKEN

WATCHA SAYIN'?

SPOKEN WORLD & BOOK REVIEW

22

Jan All-star Poetry Olympics Superjam

05 Dec

Brix-Tongue

if you wanna see some interesting live performances, Ritzy’s cafe is the place to be on 5 December. Brix-tongue is back in

Brixton above the Ritzy cinema with Mr Gee introducing local performers and trying out some new stuff. There’ll be music, poetry and DJ’s afterwards.

So get down to Brixton for the “Brix-Tongue Experience”.

with special guest performers.

Arrive early if you want to sign up for the open mic.

Time: 8.00pm Cost: Free Location: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN Info: www.stratfordeast.com

18

Dec Blessed Souls UK

Join the Blessed Souls team for a Christmas gospel inspiration show at their UK Open Mic and Show Jam’ Session. Anyone can bless the mic or just sit back and chill if you Like.

Time: 8.00pm to 1.00am Cost: £5 in advance MOTD Location: Black Grape 268 West Green Road, N15 3QR

20 Dec

Word4Word Christmas Special

Join poet and comedian Kat Francois as she celebrates the end of the year and leads you through an entertaining night of poetry, comedy and live music,

26 Dec

Poetry N Motion Boxing Day

Poetry N Motion Boxing Day event will take place at Grace Bar. You will have the option of Dinner, Show and a Party over this beautiful venue. The show will be hosted by the fabulous singer & poet FLOetic Lara, with various UK and international artists. The party will be blended with good music and great vibe.

Time: 7:30pm – 3am Cost: £7 in advance MOTD Location: Grace bar, GT Windmill St, Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7NB Info: www.ukfridays.com 08444 77 1000

Spare a thought

School Workshop Facilitator Singer & performance poet Inspirational Speaker Radio Presenter Book Lyrical Healer to perform or speak at your event, call 07944 455 010 or email: info@lyricalhealer.co.uk to see the services that Lyrical provides - visit: www.lyricalhealer.co.uk for more information.

Adorn the halls with festive cheer.

Although the walls of unity are rare.

Echoing corridor laughter resides near.

Dance footsteps are somewhat impaired.

Toasted hands in warm gloves.

Embrace festive cinnamon love.

Rosy cheeks resemble a roasted glow.

In the silent frosted winter snow.

Fellowship is the order of the day.

Warm hugs are on temporary display.

Family squabbles are wrapped up in a bow.

With glittering golden parcels on show.

A dazzling giant Christmas tree.

Is decorated to its finest glory.

Shedding needles for its final hour.

Extravagantly parading its star power.

When perched around the dinner table.

Spare a thought for the less able.

Whilst salivating on your juicy turkey And sipping on sweet sherry.

Spare a thought for a hungry belly.

While making plans over Christmas jelly.

Spare a thought for those in need.

Without ingesting commercial greed.

Christmas comes but once a year.

On Boxing day it disappears.

Remember when you are rushing home.

Senior citizens who dine alone Without food or a festive trolley.

Say a prayer for the lonely.

Today count your blessings And be embedded in the spirit of giving.

Written by Winsome “Lyrical Healer” Duncan

Double Cross Malorie Blackman Format: Paperback 448 pages Published: 06/08/2009 Publisher: Corgi Childrens ISBN: 9780552559607 RRP £6.99 Just this once... Please let me get away with it just this once... Tobey wants a better life — for him and his girlfriend Callie Rose. He wants nothing to do with the gangs that rule the world he lives in. But when he’s offered the chance to earn some money just for making a few ‘deliveries’, just this once, would it hurt to say ‘yes’?

One small decision can change everything...

Yes We Can! Speeches of Barack Obama Format: Audio CD Published: 16/04/2009 Publisher: Hachette Audio ISBN: 9781405507622 RRP £12.71 Yes We Can! offers highlights from speeches by Barack Obama running up to his memorable Inaugural Address.

For this 3 x CD collection, speeches were chosen to showcase President Obama’s powerful, inspiring rhetoric of hope and change and to represent his stands on issues such as climate, energy, service, and the Iraq war. In his own words, Barack Obama champions his ideas, dreams and visionary plans in messages of hope and change that galvanized millions of Americans and the global community.

The Thing Around Your Neck Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Format: Paperback 300 pages Published: 01/10/2009 Publisher: Fourth Estate Ltd ISBN: 9780007306213 RRP: £7.99 Twelve dazzling stories in which the author turns her penetrating eye on the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Nigeria and the West. In ‘A Private Experience ,’ a medical student hides from a violent riot with a poor Muslim woman whose dignity and faith force her to confront the realities and fears she’s been pushing away. In ‘Tomorrow Is Too Far,’ a woman unlocks the devastating secret that surrounds her brother’s death.

Singleholic Sarah Looking for Love in London ‘Yes, but Greg doesn’t love me,’ ‘Greg? Who’s Greg?’

‘He’s this dashing guy I met at Georgina’s house, on Saturday, and he still hasn’t called.’

‘Since Saturday? Hey, no big deal.

He’ll call. Just give him time.’

Jacquie pauses. ‘Is he white or black?’

‘White’ ‘Oh.’ ‘Oh?’ I say worriedly. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means you have a problem. Had he been black, I’d say give it another week and then start to worry,’ Jacquie explains, cocking her head back in that way that only real black women can do. ‘You know black men and their “black people’s time” thing and their “I’m so cool that I don’t need to ring you” attitude. But a white guy? At Georgina’s house?

Uh-uh.’ She wags her finger at me. ‘You have a problem…

Sounds like these white guys are as bad as the black ones.

I thought they were meant to be more committed and responsible…You know, they buy flats and invest in stocks while black guys buy BMWs and still live with their mothers.’

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Michael Horovitz presents a galaxy of scintillating superbards: Francesca Beard, Charlie Dark, Salena Godden, Daljit Nagra, Molly Parkin, Tim Wells, with Pete Lemer’s Piano, Annie Whitehead’s trombone — all the the backdrop of the William Blake Klezmatrix Band, plus special guests.

Location: Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Cost: £10 – £12 Time: 7.30pm Info: www.richmix.org.uk

Time: 8.00pm – 11.00pm Cost: £6 Location: Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SE2 1JG Info: brixart@ freenetname.co.uk

We both laugh. ‘Yeah, because a black man’s car is his QUEEN,’I joke.

‘Uh-huh,’ Jacquie agrees, nodding. ‘But black men are so fine. If you’re going to go out with a white guy who, let’s face it, should be called PINK rather than white, and who would no doubt let his dog, if he had one, sleep in his bed… you’d never see a black man doing THAT…yuck…then there’d better be some advantage to it. I just don’t get it with these guys who ask for a woman’s number and then don’t bother calling. Why ask in the first place?’ Jacquie yells, wincing. ‘Do they really need to score a woman’s phone number just to feel like a man? Bloody hell.’ She puts her chin in her hand.

‘Men are such weaklings. And Greg is clearly the biggest weakling of them all. Forget about him, Sarah. There are more fish in the sea.’I listen to Jacquie’s tirade against poor Greg and begin to feel a little guilty.

‘Well, he didn’t exactly ask me for my phone number.’

‘What do you mean he didn’t exactly ask for your number?’

Jacquie peers at me and moves a little closer. ‘Sarah? Sarah, tell me that you didn’t ask him for his number.’ I cut Jacquie off and explain that of course I didn’t ask for his number.

That would have been far too bold.

‘I simply suggested we exchange numbers, that’s all.’

‘You did WHAT?’ Jacquie screams, jumping up, throwing her hands in the air. People look round.

Well it’s not like I’ve decided to become a lesbian. No need to overreact.

Is Jacquie overreacting? Is it OK for women to ask men for their phone numbers? Check it out in Singleholic, the book! www.singleholic.com.

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY Cost: Free with museum admission, £5 for annual ticket Venue: Museum of London Docklands, 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL Info: 020 7001 9844 or www. museumindocklands.org.uk

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Dec Safeguarding London’s Children

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Jan London Ice Sculpting Festival

Now in its second year, the London Ice Sculpting Festival moves from the West End to its new home next to the Canary Wharf Ice Rink. Teams of acclaimed sculptors from around the globe will carve large blocks of ice into stunning works of art and all against the clock. Why not book a Master Class where you can “have-a-go” at sculpting small blocks of ice yourself?

Time: 11.00am - 8.00pm Cost: Free Location: Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB Info: londonicesculptingfestival.co.uk

05 Dec

What a Wonderful World

Before anything new is made it must be dreamed. So hop on a sleeper train with us for a trip to the Sea of Tranquillity, where a new day is made every night. What do you want in tomorrow’s world? Snowballs and flamingos perhaps? Take a journey through time and explore creation with this highly imaginative and interactive new show from early years specialists Lyngo Theatre.

Time: 11.00am and 2.00pm Cost: £5 Venue: Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 Info: 020 7709 8900 or www.halfmoon.org.uk

Christmas Science Show Join us for a Horniman

revival — a special Christmas event for families. This fun interactive show will investigate the seasonal science behind Christmas. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Time: 11.45am, 1.30pm and 3.00pm Cost: Free Venue: Gallery Square Horniman Museum & Gardens 100, Rd Forest Hill SE23 3PQ Info: 020 8699 1872 or enquiry@horniman.ac.uk

06

Dec ‘Something About Mary’ to Raise Funds for the Mary Seacole statue

Join the a serious roster of British performers, and award-winning Playvybz.com radio, at a special charity night raising funds for the Mary Seacole Memorial

Statue Appeal.

On stage will be the Queens of Lovers Rock Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Paulette Tajah, Winsome and Lorna G; X factor’s Rachel Hylton with Peter Hunningale; Light of the World; MOBO-winning YolanDa Brown; Curtis Walker; Felicity Ethnic; Donna Spence; Glenda Jaxson; Wayne Rollins and more...

Location: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 Time: 7.30pm – 11.00pm Cost: £15 – £20 Info: www. o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk

Vocaleyes

Explore a different subject each month in our gallery tours for visually impaired visitors in the Millwall, Blackwall & Cubitt Town areas Time: 3:00pm - 3:30pm

Students Of the Masters Extra

A series of seminars designed to promote various aspects of African arts and culture Plus a live performance from Lyrical Healer. Class one will ask why is it that whenever we see depictions of Africa, the media always seems to present a negative image? Is mass starvation really all there is to Africa, or is there a greater side that we don’t get to see?

Class two will be focussing on the Spiritual Sciences of our ancestors. Learn about the African origins of many of the spiritual disciplines that connected you with the forces of nature. Class three will look at these modern times of economic crisis, and how the time for reparation is even more relevant now that ever. You will learn why the great Marcus

12

Dec The Zing Thing — Talent Contest

The Zing Thing - Do you have it in you??? Talent Search for all nationalities for Singers, Dancers, Actor and Entertainers in association with Talking Lens Productions, are seeking fresh talent to promote in the next British Bollywood film “Quick Slip Me A Bride” directed

by Raza Mallal. You will be required to attend an open casting and perform your peice as an individual or a group for no longer than 3 minutes. On the day you will be asked to perform your act live infront of 3 judges, and if you are lucky and the judged feel you have The Zing Thing you will then be shortlisted and invited back to the grand finale.

Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm Cost: Free Venue: Tiffinbites, 23 Russia Row, Off Gresham Street, EC2V 7PG Info: www.zeetv.co.uk

Black History Event

Organised by the First Fruits Saturday School this Black History Events will provide historical accounts of successful local and international achievements. The events aims to educate, collate, provide a true account of the culture, arts, music, people, colourful life, spiritual being, successful people and role models for our community. Emphasis on respecting our elders, culture, family, past, present and future.

Time: 1.00pm Cost: £3 Venue: First Fruits Saturday School, 265 Brownhill Road Catford SE6 1AE Info: 0771 8144163 or 01767 683101 or firstfruitssaturdayschool.com

13 Dec

Carnival Helmet Mask

Design impressive carnival headwear inspired by the Sowo Mask and worn by the Mende people of Sierra Leone, with artist Ray Mahabir of Sunshine International Arts. You will learn more about this wooden helmet mask, worn by female leaders at a girl’s initiation ceremony and the Sande secret society masquerade. Poro, the male equivalent and the most important of the secret societies, governs the entire native population and its code of laws. Make links with Carnival today and African festivals and ceremonies of the past and visit the Theatre and Performance galleries for a talk and observation of costumes and headdresses, made for theatre but using carnival design techniques.

Time: 11.00–16.30 Cost: Free (includes materials) Venue: Art Studio, Sackler Centre Info: 020 7942 2211

15

Dec The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts: Indian Miniatures

Learn how to draw and paint in this most seductive and elusive style. Inspired by the Maharaja exhibition and under the guidance of Indian miniaturist Hayley Brown you will use timehonoured techniques including outlining, colour filling and miniature shading and develop your own piece of work in several stages. Demonstrations and a visit to the exhibition as well as an introduction to the history of Indian miniature painting will complement the practical element of the course.

Suitable for beginners but some painting experience would be helpful.

Time: 18.30-21.00 Cost: £230 (includes materials) Venue: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL Info: 02079422000 or www.vam.ac.uk

31 Dec

New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2009

The annual display of fireworks at London Eye where people gather every year front of Thames to celebrate the occasion with family and friends. The firework display is about 1 hour long and there will be 10 minutes of explosive time with an extreme noise around London. Without a doubt if you can see the London Eye meaning you would be able to see the firworks very much clear in fact it is visible from most of London. The best views are from Victoria Embankment, the South Bank, and Westminster and Waterloo bridges.

Time: 11:59pm Cost: Free Venue: London Eye, Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1 7PB Info: 02074374370

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Jan Fresh Training

Don’t know your LinkedIn from your Twitter? Wondering how Facebook and MySpace can support you in recruiting volunteers or communicating with members? Then help is at hand through a half day seminar that will provide an introduction to working with social networks, aimed at volunteer support service workers who are thinking of or just starting to use these networks for volunteer recruitment and communication with their peers or members.

Time: 10.45-18.00 Coat: TBC Venue: Royal Institute of British Architects Info: events@ volunteeringengland.org

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Jan Sounds Like...

A sound… where does it come from? Is it loud? Is it quiet? Can you catch it? Why not let go and catch another one… Meet a traveller who is on a different kind of journey — collecting sounds. Perhaps you can help him? Listen to the symphony and contribute your own sounds to the soundscape created in

front of you during Tam Tam Theatre’s engaging new show.

For ages 4-9 years running time is 40 minutes.

Time: 11.00am and 2.00pm Cost: £5 Venue: Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 Info: 020 7709 8900 or admin@halfmoon.org.uk

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Jan Staying Power: Photographing Black British Identity ‘Staying Power - The story of Black British Identity 19501990s’ is a Heritage Lottery funded project that will allow the V&A to collect around 25-35 photographs reflecting Black British identity between 1950 and 1990. On this practical photography course you will work with photographer Eddie Otchere to explore some themes of this project. Practical sessions will arise from discussion about the nature of documentary photography and ways to approach photographing Black British identity today and will include opportunities to photograph in the V&A and out and about in London.

Participants must provide their own digital SLR camera.

Time: 10.30-17.00 Cost: £30 Venue: Digital Studio, Sackler Centre Info: 020 7942 2211

30 Jan

SPIN

Whirling, twirling, twisting tales reeling rhythm, giddy rhymes playful poems pirouette listen as we spin some sounds Apples & Snakes return to Half Moon with their formidable word wizards in a performance especially for this age group.

An engaging and interactive show, revealing everything that poetry is and can be. For age0073 3-5 years.

Running time is 40 minutes.

Time: 11.00am and 2.00pm Cost: £5 Venue: Half Moon Young People’s Theatre 43 White Horse Road, E1 Info: 020 7709 8900 or admin@ halfmoon.org.uk

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Exchange ideas and information at the Safeguarding London’s Children conference with representatives from local and central government, social care, education, health, police and the third sector. The London Safeguarding Children Board is a joint initiative by: London Councils, NHS London, Metropolitan Police Service, London Directors of Children’s Services, Chairs of London LSCBs, and London Probation Service.

Time: 9:00am - 4:30pm Cost: Delegates £150, Voluntary sector organisations £100 Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, Broad Sanctuary SW1P 3EE Info: Ian Dean 020 7934 9714 or ian.dean@londoncouncils. gov.uk

Garvey encouraged Africans all over the world to make a link back to their homeland, if we are to ever move forward as a people.

Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm Cost: £7 Venue: Centerprise, 136-138 Kingsland High Street Dalston, E8 2NS Info: 078 8867 7447

FAITH

FAITH 21 – 24 Dec

London Community Gospel Choir

tradition, their unique style also spans soul, R’n’B, Swing-beat, and is delivered with irresistible energy and choreography. Testimony to LCGC’s sound are the artists that it has sung or recorded with: The late great James Brown, Madonna, Sting, Elton John, George Michael, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, P. Diddy, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Westlife, Tina Turner and even Gorillaz. Energetic, inspiring and spirit-filled… however you choose to describe the sound and vision of The London Community Gospel Choir one things for certain, the LCGC Chrismas Special will be unforgetable!

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Cost: £18 Time: 7.00pm Info: www.jazzcafe.co.uk

01 Dec

Barak Christian Minitries Fundraising concert featuring the Gospel Music Workshop Choir, praise and worship, prize winning raffle and refreshments.

Time: 6.00pm Cost: £9 Venue: Brighton Road Baptist Church, 215 Brighton Road South Croydon CR2 6EJ Info: 07952085091

03 Dec

Can Faith add Value to Development Organisations?

This workshop will discuss changing donor attitudes to faith-based organisations in Europe. It highlights the potential comparative advantages of FBOs in development. Participants will explore the different choices in how faith can make a difference to an organisation’s programme work, its internal organisational behaviour and its external relationships. Participants will

also discuss how to integrate faith in FBOs in an inclusive and respectful way, highlighting any ongoing questions and dilemmas.

Time: TBC Cost: £200.00 Venue: London Info: info@intrac.org

05 Dec

Gospel Music Awards Ceremony The G.M.A’s 2009 is the first annual Gospel Music Awards Ceremony in the UK. The Gospel Music Awards UK is by no means a competition but an evening of appreciation and recognition of some of our best talented and hard working Christian musicians. The format of the event will include an Awards show, a Concert and After Party.

Time: 7.00pm Cost: £20 Venue: London Hilton Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, W2 1JU Info: 07852 198 558 or 07958 064 731

The Iqbal Sessions A day long seminar exploring the thought of Muhammad Iqbal; he is significant as he established a universal and unapologetic Muslim position through poetry and prose across three languages: English, Farsi and Urdu. Addressing philosophical, political and spiritual challenges, he has been described as the “best articulated Muslim response to Modernity that the Islamic world has produced in the 20th century.”

Time: 10:30am Cost: TBC Venue: King’s College London Lecture Theatre 2C Strand Campus, WC2R 2LS Info: fuad@imase.org

Regents Park Mosque Bazaar The choices will be endless and the Centre will be filled with an array of Islamic clothing, perfumes and oils, jewellery & accessories, health & beauty, books, fashion, sweets & candyfloss! If your company

17 Dec

Christian Connections Christmas Party It’s sure to be a good night out, so put your dancing shoes on and prepare for some fun with icebreakers including Lock and Key so you will get to meet people, disco and dancing, cash Bar, nibbles, prizes and the chance to meet other CC members and guests Time: TBC Cost: £17.50 Venue: The Minories, 64-73 Minories, EC3 N1JL Info: www.eventsforchristians. co.uk

London Community Gospel Choir The celebrated Community Gospel Choir perform a preChristmas concert. LCGC will be returning to Blackheath for a Christmas Gospel Concert!

Just what you need to get you into the Christmas Spirit!

Controversial, Professional, Energetic, Inspiring and Spiritfilled! Whatever adjective you may choose to describe the sound and vision of the London Community Gospel Choir, there ‘ain’t no stopping them now’ they will continue to go where angels fear to tread.

Time: 7.00pm Cost: £17 concessions £15 Venue: Blackheath Concert Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE23 Info: 0208 463 0100 or www.blackheathhalls.com

08 Dec

Soul Inspired

Keynote entertainment presents live Gospel, Soul, Jazz, great Caribbean cuisine, Rhum cocktails and entertainment.

Time: 7.00pm Cost: Free Venue: Cottons, 70 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell Info: keynoteentertainment@ hotmail.co.uk

09 Dec Guvna B

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLEMSTERS LTD and BLACK GRAPE PRODUCTIONS LTD Twenty years of age, two independent releases, features on a MOBO award winning album and number one on the

MySpace charts for Gospel & Christian rap for the most part of the last two years…meet Guvna B. UK Gospel’s premier artist at the moment, Guvna B, performs an intimate gig at the Jazz Café. Witness Guvna B with full live Band, special guest collaborations and loads of audience interaction.

Location: Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG Time: 7.00pm Cost: £12.50 Info: www.jazzcafe. co.uk; www.guvnab.com

12-26 Jan

Building Apart? Unity and Division in Western Church Architecture Different understandings of the church & different approaches to worship have shaped very different Christian buildings in the last 500 years. This course explores relationships between the churches of the reformation and the Catholic Church through the evolving spaces created for worship. Looking at a series of key churches we will trace the theological and spiritual journey apart... and closer together.

Time: 8.00pm

Cost: £24 Venue: Chapter House St Albans Centre for Christian Studies Sumpter Yard, St Albans, AL1 1BY Info: info@ christianstudies.org.uk

13 December

Brent Interfaith Youth Event A round table discussion of young people from several world religions, on the theme of ‘Faith in Transmission’, and looking at further cooperative work on this.

Time: 3.00pm Cost: Free Venue: 125 Salusbury Road, NW6 6RG Info: info@ londoninterfaith.org.uk

15 Dec

Exploring the Relationship The Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism in Britain Project is hosting a one-day conference for scholars, ministers and the interested public. The conference will consider the ways in which Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism have expressed themselves in the social and historical conditions of Britain Time: TBC

Cost: £10 Venue: King’s College Chapel Info: efbproject@stir.ac.uk

31 Dec

KICC – Watchnight Service The KICC church presents its end of year global watch night service - the rise of the eagles.

Join thousands of London’s biggest New Year’s Eve event and receive the hope, joy, peace and anointing you need to soar on wings like eagles.

Kirk Franklin as well as other renowned gospel artists will perform Time: 8.00pm Cost: Free Location: The Excel London Docklands, 2 Festoon Way E16 1JP Info: 02085250000 or www. kicc.org.uk

24 Jan

Multi Faith Event

A multi faith event for members of the public to commemorate the Holocaust and other genocides.

Time: 2:00pm Cost: TBC Venue: Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, N17 8NU Info: 020 8489 2585 or ursula. stone@haringey.gov.uk

Midnight Mass at St Paul’s Cathedral The candlelight mass is a traditionally festive affair, with religious songs in the majestic splendour of Christopher Wren’s 17th-century cathedral. St Paul’s Cathedral also a very popular place to experience the more traditional side of Christmas and many view St Paul’s as the spiritual home of Great Britain.

Time: 11:30pm Cost: Free Venue: St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD Info: 02072364128

25 Dec

Islam: A complete Way of Life Speakers include Rafiq Sufi, Murtaza Khan and many others.

Topics covered are Examine Your Life!, Overcoming Trial and Tribulations, Love and Its Limits, Marriage: A Form of Ibadah.

There will also be a Muslim Women Day and a General Islam/Current Affairs Day. Time: After Maghrib Cost: Free Venue: Inspire Youth Hall, 313-319 Katherine Road East Ham E7 8PJ Info: 07903388875 or inspireyouthproject@ hotmail.com

27 Jan

Holocaust Memorial Day Speakers will be Kay Andrews, National Outreach Co-ordinator of the Holocaust Education Development Programme at the Institute of Education, London and students and teachers from local schools who have studied the Holocaust and will discuss their experiences of Holocaust education.

Time: 2:30pm Cost: TBC Venue: Kingston Guildhall, Queen Anne Suite, High Street Info: 020 8274 1200 or edith. jayne@blueyonder.co.uk

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From the soundtrack of The Lion King, to X-Factor performances, to Wayne Rooney’s recent wedding – London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) are the nation’s favourite choir! If any evidence is needed of the power and beauty of the human voice, LCGC provides it. LCGC is a collective of the finest voices in the country. Although rooted in the glorious gospel

provides products and services catering for the Muslim Community then join us at this fun filled family event.

Time: 11.00am Cost: Free Venue: Regents Park Mosque, 146 Park Road NW8 7RG Info: 0845 6522483 or bazaar@ businessease.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEALTH & WELLBEING

07930546245

Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum Keynote Seminar: Obesity 2009

01-06 Dec

With its season-ending status on the ATP Champions Tour, the Aegon Masters Tennis is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments on British soil. The qualification criteria for this event ensures a competitive and high quality Singles field, whilst you can expect to see all your favourites playing in the Doubles tournament.

Cost: From £18.50 Venue: Kensington Gore London, SW7 Info: 020 8233 5854

01 Dec

Boxercise Classes

Boxercise is an all round fitness workout, based on boxing skills and drills including skipping, conditioning and pad work (a great stress buster!) all levels welcome, adult men and women every Tuesday.

Time: 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm Cost: £5 Venue: Caterham High School, Info: 079 5711 6452 or mkcflex@hotmail.com

02 Dec

urbanTENNIS

Tennis coaching programme for young people aged 10 to 19 years of age, every Saturday in Lewisham. Coaching services are practical, professional and safe. They can be tailored to suit individual needs and/or groups.

Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm Cost: Free Venue: Ladywell Fields Info: 07738 386060 or urbanfitnessuk@yahoo.co.uk

03 Dec

Bachata class style @ arch197

Salsa Lessons - Bachata &

Merengue style from Dominican Republic and Caribbean flavour every Thursday Time: 8.00pm Cost: £7 Venue: ARCH197 Dance Studio Chiswick Arch197 Prebend Gardens Chiswick & Hammersmith W6 0X Info: 02089878788 or

04

Jan Making a splash in Northolt

Ealing Council has joined the Mayor of London’s PlaySport London: Make a Splash scheme helping people learn to swim.

The pool has been installed exclusively for learning-to-swim lessons. The pool will be open

17

Jan African and Caribbean Dance Course

Start your new year with fitness, energy, health, creativity, wellbeing..Learn traditional dance of Africa & the Caribbean on this lively 10 week course. No experience necessary, beginners welcome, we teach you all you need to know in a relaxed and social atmosphere.

This course also improves fitness and flexibility. Classes take place on Sundays and are accompanied by live drumming.

Time: 1.45pm-3pm. Cost: TBC Venue: Horniman Museum & Gardens 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ Info: www.nzingadance.org.uk

06

Dec Perivale 5

A small friendly five mile two-lap race through Perivale Park and the surrounding roads. Bring the kids along too for the three kilometre fun run at 11.15am.

Organised by Ealing Southall & Middlesex Athletics Club, which welcomes runners, jumpers and throwers of all ages and abilities.

Time: 10.00am Cost: Free Venue: Perivale Park Athletics Track, Stockdove Way, Perivale UB6 8TJ Info: 020 8810 9903

10

Dec Shaolin Temple UK

Kung fu taught by a genuine 34th generation Shaolin fighting monk is the main attraction here.

Time: TBC Cost: Annual membership is

06

Dec Zumba with Bianca

Zumba is a spicy, hot, hip swivelling workout where African, Caribbean and Latin dance moves are combined with aerobics/fitness. It is a ‘fun and easy to do’ workout where one does not need to be a dancer to Zumba and you can burn up to 1000 calories in a Zumba class!

Time: 7.00 - 8.00pm Cost: £5 Venue: Ladywell Leisure Centre, 261 Lewisham High Street Lewisham SE13 6NJ Info: 07818415975 or www. zumbawithbianca.com

£100 plus £85 per month or try a class for £8 Venue: Shaolin Temple UK, 207a Junction Rd, N19 Info: 020 7687 8333

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Dec Health and Healing

Kingsley Hall will be turned into a haven of comlementary health and healing. There will be opportunities to get a massage, reflexology session, see a herbalist and homeopath.

Also exercise sessions available in Yoga and kettlebell training.

Arts and crafts and drumming for children and street dance performance. Jewellery and health products on sale. It’s an absolute must stress buster before Christmas!

Time: 11.00am Cost: Free, donations accepted Venue: Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, E3 3HJ Info: 07501 468193 or beatricenicholson@ googlemail.com

15 Dec

Food Safety Innovative Training

A masterclass to enhance your knowledge and training

techniques. This workshop is accredited with 5 hours and 30 minutes of CIEH CPD points.

Time: TBC Cost: £345.00 Venue: 15 Hatfields, Chadwick Court, SE1 8DJ Info: 020 7928 6006

16 Dec

African Contemporary Dance Class

Chisenhale Dance Space has teamed up with Vocab Dance to deliver challenging, intense, dynamic, fun and fast paced classes in African Contemporary Dance. Learn Vocab Dance’s movement vocabulary; an eclectic and exhilarating style that blends contemporary dance techniques Afro-Jazz dance and physical expression.

Time: 7.30pm - 9.00pm Cost: £5 Venue: Chisenhale Dance Space, 64 - 84 Chisenhale Road, Bow, E3 5QZ Info: 020 8981 6617 or lauren@ chisenhaledancespace.co.uk

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Dec New Street Dance Class

Chisenhale will be offering a new and exciting street dance class for 7-11 year olds. This weekly session will combine

Street Dance with elements of Hip Hop and Creativity in a fun, lively and energetic after school class.

Time: 5.30pm - 6.30pm Cost: £36 (£24 concessions) per term or £3.50 for a taster session Venue: Chisenhale Dance Space, 64 - 84 Chisenhale Road, E3 5QZ Info: 020 8981 6617 or www. chisenhaledancespace.co.uk

22

Dec Chinese Kung Fu & Tai-Chi

Learn Chinese Kung Fu, Chinese Kick Boxing & Tai Chi. Excellent for kids from 4 to the older generation lessons by the Chinese Wushu Culture Academy Time: 5.30 - 8.30pm Cost: £6 Members, £8 Non Members Venue: Downham Leisure Centre, 7 - 9 Moorside Road Downham BR1 5EP Info: 07825 220 861 or info@cwcacademy.org.uk

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Jan The Diet & Fitness Show

With so many diet and exercise regimes out there, it can be confusing to find the best one for you. Experts at the London

Diet & Fitness Show 2010 will help you to learn more about nutrition and exercise, giving your mind and your body the chance to improve. This year will be interactive and fun with free cookery classes, nutritional discussions, life coaching, boot camps and even belly dancing to make exercise exciting!

Time: 10.00am – 6.00pm Cost: £12 Venue: Olympia Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 HUX Info: 01787 224040

26

Jan From ‘Sick-Note’ to ‘Fit-Note’

Tackling Sickness Absenteeism in the workplace discussions will start with panel sessions and open floor discussions and debates with the panel as well as networking lunch and reception. This event is suitable for HR Professionals, Health & Safety Managers, Small Business Owners, Social Workers and Legal Advisers Time: 10:15am Cost: TBC Venue: One Birdcage Walk, Westminster Info: 0845 606 1535

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Jan Commissioning for Health & Wellbeing

Learn how to tackle causes of mental health problems and exchange ideas with peers to apply best practice working in your local community.

Time: 8.30am Cost: TBC Venue: Greater London House, Hampstead Road, NW1 7EJ Info: 020 7728 5299 or www.hsjmhcommissioning.com

30

Jan Arsenal vs Manchester United

Arsenal have a Premier League football fixture against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium Time: 3pm Cost: TBC Venue: Avenell Road Highbury Info: 0207 619 5000

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The Aegon Masters Tennis

With a greater awareness of role of diet and obesity on cancer, heart disease and diabetes, this seminar will examine what more can be done to prevent illness through the promotion of healthy diet and weight control. It follows on from the Government’s Change4Life campaign, which calls on national, regional and local partners from within government, health care, the media and the commercial and voluntary sectors, to help in tackling obesity; and research from released in February from the World Cancer Research Fund report.

Cost: £190 Venue: Waterstones, Piccadilly, London Info: info@westminster foodandnutritionforum.co.uk

for lessons until mid-December, before the new and improved Northolt Leisure Centre opens in January.

Time: TBC Cost: £4-£5.

Venue: Greenwood Primary School, Wood End Way, Northolt Info: bookings@ makeasplashlondon.org

Dear Counsellor Mike I’m a 29 year old woman and I work as an admin assistant for an engineering company. I have been there for nearly two years and feel that my manager bullies me. We never really hit it off and I feel she has always criticised my work and on various occasions makes me do it again. I feel stupid. I feel I can’t approach her because she will make me feel so small in front of others. She comes across as an intelligent character who thinks she is always right. She monitors everything I do, and when I talk to colleagues, she comes round and checks to see if I am working. My confidence has hit an all time low and I’m making more mistakes because I feel so anxious that I will get it wrong. I don’t want to be there anymore. Please can you help?

Nicola

Dear Counsellor Mike

Dear Nicola You are not stupid!! Let me tell you that now. Bullying can have a serious negative affect on an individual no matter what age they are. It can make you withdraw and questions your abilities as a person. Firstly, I would recommend that you keep a diary and note all incidents that occur between you and your manager that make you feel threatened. I would then approach the HR department and discuss where you stand. If you have the courage, you could calmly challenge her when she makes you feel uncomfortable and see what her response is. Remember to make note of this. If the bullying is affecting your self esteem and you really can’t bear it, then it might be time for you to ask yourself where you want to go in life and focus more on the things that you are good at. Your confidence will start to grow again.

Mike

You sound as if you area sociable person and have lots of friends.

I am 30 years old and I have not experienced a relationship before. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I have lots of friends and socialise a lot. I do meet men, but they are either after one thing or I am just not attracted to them! My friends can’t understand why I haven’t met anyone as they think I am bubbly and lots of fun to be with. Then of course I get hassle from my family asking me “When are you going to get married?” This really gets on my nerves. I don’t know what to do?

Molly Dear Molly

HEALTH & WELLBEING

The new you start’s now!

Words: Winsome “Lyrical Healer" Duncan

Poet and inspirational speaker Lyrical Healer serves up positive words of encouragement and inspiration that are guaranteed to warm you up this festive season.

Let the new you start today, not next year!

Do you think you might feel under pressure from friends and family who seem to question and discuss you being single?

Meeting someone happens naturally and if you go out looking for it, you might not necessarily like what you find. Have you tried not thinking and stressing about it too much? Maybe it’s a psychological underlying problem that is treating your esteem and men are reading into that and running a mile. Learn to relax and put your best foot forward and if necessary, seek professional help in the way of a counsellor of life coach.

Gook Luck Mike

If you are in a relationship and have a question for Counsellor Mike to answer, email: mike@theinstituteofwellbeing.com. To see all our Private Therapies and Personal Development Programmes - visit: www.theinstituteofwellbeing.com or call 0700 2222 700 for more information.

Mike Kelly is the CEO and Founder of the Institute of Wellbeing, which promotes total well-being and healthy living through a range of lifestyle & personal development programmes, Private Therapies, Multimedia and Creative Arts - for all people at all stages of life.

As we rapidly approach a New Year, log fires are being lit, mince pies are on the stove and mulled wine permeates the air. As you conclude 2009 upon reflection, ask yourself “have I achieved everything I set out to do this year?” Generally many people tend to fall short and stumble within the first month of their New Year resolutions, even with the best intentions in mind you are left with feelings of guilt, remorse and failure.

Interestingly, the majority of people associate the New Year with major life choices like losing weight, stopping smoking or buying a home. I dare you to think outside the perimeters of your old mindset and realise today that you have the ability to make a new decision at any turning point in your life’s journey.

In the distance I hear the familiar song of “A New Year, A New Me” please change the record - it’s scratched and does not serve you!

Challenge this perception right now and start today by making the necessary adjustments that will impact and improve your daily life. Take massive action towards your goals, desires and aspirations by charting your progress daily. It will take time, discipline, effort and energy so be sure to encourage yourself along the way.

Set goals Writing down your goals is a great way to solidify ideas and you’re more likely to succeed as you can refer back to your list. Start by brain storming several of your goals and then select the top three you would like to develop. Be specific in your goal writing, for example if you say “I want to lose weight” this statement is too general instead write “I would like to lose seven pounds in 30 days”. This way you can identify when you are getting closer to your goal.

Deadlines Deadlines are instrumental in your goal setting because it gives you something to strive for. Set a timeframe for when you want to complete yours goals and make your deadlines realistic, otherwise you will not stick to them. If you plan to spring clean your home, week one you can clear out your paperwork, week two do some internal cleaning, week three give items of clothing, toys and electrical goods that you no longer use to charity and so on until you have a tidy clean home.

Strategic planning Plan your success; write down how are you going to achieve your next goal and celebrate each incremental attainment along the way. If you do not reward yourself eventually you could become

resentful and all your hard work goes to waste because you feel defeated. It is indeed the old chestnut that comes to mind: “If you fail to plan you plan to fail”.

In Conclusion Changing your mental state is similar to the glass of life from which you drink, is your glass half empty or half full? Half empty drinkers tend to look at the negatives in every situation because that way they will not be disappointed — what kind of way is that to live your life? Half full drinkers make the best out of challenging situations and focus on solutions and problem solving.

A minute shift in your attitude can cause dynamic transformation within your life. Internal growth is always painful when we are gravitating to something new and depart from our comfort a zone, which is why a positive mental attitude is imperative during this process. Be courageous and believe that you deserve to live an optimum life, finally if you do go off track I want you to remember a setback is preparing you for a comeback!

Remember failure is an opportunity to learn what not to do!

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

FOOD Papine Jerk

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7924 2288 Address: 8 Lavender Road, London, SW11 2UG

Restaurant of the month

Planet Caribbean

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7924 2288 Address: 8 Lavender Road, London, SW11 2UG

Presidential Suya Restaurant

Cuisine: Caribbean 020 7708 4491 162-164 Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5TY

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Rastarant

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7437 7770 Address: Portland Road, London, SE25 4PP

Windies Cove Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8305 2500 Address: 135-137 Trafalgar Road, London, SE10 9TX

Savannah Jerk

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8677 1771 Address: 187 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZB

Spice 2000 805 Restaurant

Cuisine: African Tel: 020 7639 0808 Address: 805-807 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1NX

Ace Fusion Restaurant

Cuisine: Caribbean Restaurant Address: 110 St John’s Hill, Battersea, London, SW11 1SJ

Biravenaas

Cuisine: Indian Tel: 020 8695 8625 Address: Sandhurst Road, London, SE6 1DL

Blessed West Indian

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7274 4110 Address: 203 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8RZ

Carmen’s Rose

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8684 3311 Address: 79 Whitehorse Road, London, CR0 2JJ

Coco Caribbean Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7833 3332 Address: 70 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QP

Chef Colin Brown

Cuisine: Jamican Sea Food Address: 2 Yabsley StreetPoplar, E14 9RG, UK

Cottons

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7833 3332 Address: 70 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 4QP

Curry Garden

Cuisine: Indian Tel: 020 8852 5090 Address: 133 Burnt Ash Road, London, SE12 8RA

Everest Inn

Cuisine: Indian Address: 881-883 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1NL

Flakes

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7582 4222 Address: 152 Newington Butts, Kennington, London SE11 4RN God Bless Restaurant

Island Buka

Cuisine: African Tel: 020 8692 8397 Address: 160-162 Deptford High Street, London, SE8 3PQ

Jam Rock

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8240 1085 Address: 9-11 Woodville Road, London, CR7 8LH

Jerk City

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7287 2878 Address: 189 Wardour St, London, W1F 8ZD

Jolly J African Restaurant

Cuisine: African Tel: 020 8297 6606 Address: 221 Lee High Road, London, SE13 5PQ

Mehak

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8244 4770 Address: 34 Sangley Road, London, SE6 2JT

The Lane

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7377 1797 Address: 12 Osborn Street, London, E1 6TE

The Waterfall Caribbean Cuisine: Caribbean Address: 2 Colman House, High Street Penge,Greater London SE20 7EX

Tomi’s Kitchen

Cuisine: African Tel: 020 8297 8794 Address: 126 Deptford High Street, London, SE8 4NS

Troy Bar & Restaurant

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7739 6695 Address: 10 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch, London, N1 6NG

Cuisine: Caribbean

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Gurkha’s Inn

Majestic Restaurant

Yum Yum Restaurant & Take Away

Cuisine: Indian Tel: 020 8293 5464 Address: 17 Colomb Street, London, SE10 9HA

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 7274 6676 330A Coldharbour Lane, London SW9

Humming Bird

Omrith

Veraswamy Restaurant

Tel: 020 7635 9185 Address: 18A Peckham Rye, London, SE15 4JR

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8683 1664 Address: 23 Brigstock Road, London, CR7 7JJ

Cuisine: Indian Tel: 020 8662 5679 Address: 104B Forest Hill Road, London, SE22 0RS

Cuisine: Caribbean Tel: 020 8299 3962 Address: 312 Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 5NQ Cuisine: Indian Tel: 020 7734 1401 Address: 99-101 Regents St, London, W1B

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Don’t Call Me Florence

The Story of Mary Seacole

By Cherrelle

Glave

Obama: The Intangible Dream The Story of Barack Obama’s journey to the White House By

Life In Colour magazine will now also be distributed in the first week of every month from London’s tube stations.

You can also pick up Life in Colour magazine from: Hackney Empire Bullion Room Theatre - 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ | Toynbee Studios - 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6AB | Playhouse Theatre - Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5DE | Ambassadors Theatre - West Street, London WC2H 9ND | Stratford Circus, Stratford Circus - Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX | Arcola Theatre - 27 Arcola St, London, E8 2DJ | The Drill Hall, The Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street, London, WC1E 7EX | Broadway Theatre - Catford, London, SE6 4RU | Broadway Theatre, Broadway Theatre, the BROADWAY, Barking, IG11 7LS | Fairfield Halls Croydon - Park Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1DG | Centerprise Bookshop -136-138 Kingsland High Street, London, E8 2NS | Hackney Council - London Borough of Hackney, Town Hall, Mare Street, London E8 1EA | The Albany - Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG | Barbican Centre Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS | Yaa Asantewaa Art & Community Centre -1 Chippenham Mews, Chippenham Road, London, W9 2AN | The Tricycle Theatre - 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR | Brixton Academy - 211 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SL | Oval House Theatre - 52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW | Idea Store Canary Wharf - Churchill Place London E14 5RB | Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street E8 1EA | Arcola Theatre, 27 Arcola St - London, E8 2DJ | The Lexi Cinema Cinema - Chamberlayne Road London NW10 3JU | Ritzy Cinema - Coldharbour Lane London SW2 1JG

Also available from selected Hair Salons, Barber Shops, Restaurants, Takeaways, Nightclubs, Libraries and at Event Venues

Listing availabe online at www.lifeincolour.uk.com

Directed by

Cherrelle Glave

Vernon Douglas

Black Heroes of our Times present two exciting theatrical pieces created for young people aged 13—17 years celebrating Barack Obama’s fascinating journey to becoming the first Black President of the United States of America and Mary Seacole’s feisty quest to heal the sick and needy during the First World War. Black Heroes of Our Time are excited to offer these two 20 minute theatre productions to schools, colleges, youth and community groups which promises to entertain, educate and promote an interest in the achievements of Black Heroes past and present.

Find Your Own Way & Calling for Change by Cherrelle Glave and Directed by Vernon Douglas is available for bookings to come to your school, club or centre during school time or in the evening.

In addition to this, teachers, facilitators and educators can also book the actor/tutors to lead a drama session with your class or group.

This performance and the additional Black Heroes of Our Time drama workshop is created to compliment the Black Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource pack: a fun practical teachers hand book aimed at schools and educators who want to offer young people the opportunity to learn about African history and modern Black heroes and is also available to purchase.

Black Heroes of Our Time

8

POLITICS & LAW

is an exciting informative, publication highlighting the achievements of people of African descent. Published

by Seven Media this unique Glossy A4 historical book promotes the achievements of people of colour particularly focusing on trail blazers and noted people who are the first in their field to have made recognisable achievements within government, the arts, business, industry and community sectors.

Black Heroes of Our Time

POLITICS & LAW

Baroness Valerie Amos

One of Britain’s First Black Female Recorders

B: 1954 - Georgetown, Guyana Baroness Valerie Amos was created a life peer in 1997.

She is a British Labour Party politician and life peer, formerly serving as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. When she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development on 12 May 2003, following the resignation of Clare Short, she became the first black woman to sit in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. A distinctive element of Baroness Amos’ political career is that she has never actually been elected to any public office as every office held has been

B: 1957

an unelected appointment. Following positions in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services in local government in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Camden and Hackney, she became Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission 1989–94. After resigning from the cabinet, Baroness Amos took up a directorship with Travant Capital, a Nigerian private equity fund launched in 2007 and is involved with the 2012 Olympic Committee.

Barrister Constance Briscoe was one of six children born to two Jamaicans who settled in the UK in the 1950s. Briscoe studied Law at the University of Newcastle, financing her studies through various weekend and holiday jobs including working at a hospice with the terminally ill. After completing her MA at the University of Warwick she was called to the Bar in 1983, and became a Recorder, a part time

judge in 1996 - one of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Briscoe’s legal practice focuses on criminal law and fraud, principally defending. She is also known for her books ‘Ugly’ and ‘Beyond Ugly’ in which she recounts tales of abuse as a child and she often talks about her experiences publicly.

Baroness Scotland

The First Black Female Attorney General

Dame Linda Dobbs

B: 1955 - Commonwealth of Dominica In 1999, Scotland was appointed Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She was responsible for introducing the Bill to ratify the International Criminal Court in the United Kingdom.

She also set up a panel of British-based lawyers who provided pro bono services to UK nationals imprisoned overseas. In 2001 she became Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor’s Department, and was made a member of the Privy Council. Scotland was a contender for a

The First Black Judge Appointed To the High Courts of Justice

cabinet position at a time when Tony Blair is reported to have considered appointing her Leader of the House of Lords. In 2003, Lady Scotland of Asthal, as she is also known, was made Minister of State for the Criminal Justice system and Law Reform at the Home Office. On 28 June 2007, Baroness Scotland was appointed Attorney General by the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. She is the first woman to hold the office since its foundation in 1315.

B: 1951 Dobbs’ mother was from Sierra Leone, and her father was an English lawyer who became a High Court judge in Sierra Leone. She studied Linguistic and Regional Studies (Russian and Law) at the University of Surrey, graduating with a BSc in 1976. She received an LLM from the London School of Economics, and a PhD for research on criminology and penology in the Soviet Union. Dame Linda Penelope Dobbs was the first non-white person to be assigned as judge of the High Court of justice of England and Wales. She was appointed a High Court Judge in September

Bernard Grant MP

One of Britain’s First Black MPs

B: 1944 - Georgetown, Guyana

2004. She received a DBE, and was assigned Queen Bench Division, the Administrative Court, and the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. At the time of the appointment, Dobbs said: “It is a great honour to have been invited by the Lord Chancellor to become a High Court Judge… I am confident, nevertheless, that I am the first of many to come”.

She has subsequently been appointed as Chairman of the Magisterial Committee of the Judicial Studies Board.

D: 2000

Bernard Grant was one of many West Indians who took up the British government’s invitation to the colonies to move to the UK for blue-collar employment in 1963. He was for a period a member of the Socialist Labour League.

He quickly became a trade union official, and moved into politics, becoming a Labour councilor in the London Borough of Haringey in 1978. As council leader during the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985, in which a policeman, PC Blakelock, was killed, he was thrown into the public eye, when he was widely quoted as saying “The police got

a bloody good hiding”. Grant claimed had been taken out of context, but offered an apology to the family of PC Blakelock. The controversy did not prevent him from becoming MP for Tottenham in the 1987 election, one of only three black MPs at the time. As an MP he backed demands for black sections in the Labour and was recognised as a staunch voice against Police racism. In September 2007 in Tottenham, London, Haringey Council opened the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in his name.

Dawn Butler MP The first Black Female Minister in the House of Commons

B: 1969- London, UK

Colin Powell

First African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

B: 1937 - New York City, California, USA Colin Luther Powell, KCB, MSC, is an American statesman and retired as a four-star general in the United States Army. He was well known for his tremendous popularity among the American people.

He was the first African American appointed to the position of 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush. During his time within the military, Powell also served as National Security Advisor, as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holding the latter position during the Gulf War. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs

of Staff. Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004.

The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell’s successor. In 2007, Powell donated the maximum amount to John McCain’s campaign with his name listed as a possible running mate in 2008 for Republican nominee McCain’s presidential election bid however, on October 19, 2008, Powell declared his backing of Barack Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing “his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign’ additionally referring to Obama as a “transformational figure.”

Dawn Petula Butler is a British Labour politician, Member of Parliament for Brent South and an Assistant Chief Whip for Gordon Brown’s government.

She worked as a GMB Union Officer, including time as a national race and equality officer. She was also an advisor to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone on employment and social issues. She is the first Black female minister in the House of Commons. She was born in London into a large family of Jamaican immigrant parentage with a sister and four brothers.

She has said, “It is important to me that government is reflective of our diverse community and ordinary hard working individuals are given the opportunity to have their voices heard.” Interest in youth services has continued as one of her main interests in Parliament.

On 24 October 2006 she was appointed Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs, and she is an Honorary Vice President of the British Youth Council. After Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, on 27 June 2007, Butler was made one of the Labour Party’s six Vice Chairs, with particular responsibility for Youth issues. on

She was appointed to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons shortly after her election, and has also served on standing committees (notably on the Violent Crime Reduction Bill 2006). In November 2007 she was appointed to the Children & Families Select Committee. Earlier (in November 2005), she had been promoted to Parliamentary Private Secretary to the health minister Jane Kennedy, but decided to stand down from this post in early 2006. On 6 November 2007, Butler was chosen to second the Queen’s Speech.

Her voting record shows she has largely been loyal to the government. She was promoted to Assistant Whip on 12 September 2008.

A Seven

0 Editi

2009 - 201

is a fantastic educational tool for teachers in schools, colleges, youth workers and other educationalist with pages and pages of facts and figures detailing the lives and achievements of Black people that have often gone undocumented.

Black Heroes of Our Time

is particularly accessible to young people as it celebrates not only the African American achievers like Martin Luther King and Alice Walker but also home grown talent like Bill Morris and Kwame Kwei-Armah highlighting rappers, entrepreneurs and community activists.

The whole family as well as educationalist will find this important publication invaluable during Black History Month and throughout the year and as an inspiration to all especially young people.

For added value we have available a seperate teachers resource crammed pack with exercises and activities to help you get the best out of Black

9

Constance Briscoe

The First Black Female Cabinet Minister and Joint First Black Woman Peer

Heroes of Our Time.

Black Heroes of Our Time - The book - £25

is already fast becoming an essential addition to all the family.

Black Heroes of Our Time -The book and Teachers Resource Pack- £95 is a ‘must have’ feature in all teachers’ and educationalists toolkit.

To Order Now or for more information about Black Heroes of our Time contact: info@level7media.co.uk Tel: Seven Media 0207 005 0590 www.level7media.co.uk/heroes

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