African Liberation Week

*African Liberation Week runs from Saturday 19th May to Saturday 26th May. The African Caribbean Network has a number of events to mark this week.

Sat 19th is the day of our AGM which will be followed by a storytelling performance and screening of an African film. At night we have a reggae night courtesy of UR Kreativity. Tuesday 22nd May we have a business seminar aimed mainly at young Africans but EVERYONE is welcome regardless of age or nationality. Friday 25th May is Africa Day (or African Liberation Day) and the African Caribbean Centre is the setting for a follow up meeting to the reception hosted by Nicola Sturgeon MSP at Edinburgh Castle last year to mark the UN International Year of People of African Descent. Saturday 26th May we have the official opening of The Nile, our coffee shop and the monthly African Market at a time tbc. And finally, at night on 26th May, we have a Liberation themed open mic night. Details for all of these are in the postings below.

*So, what is African Liberation Day (or week as we've made it)? 

African Liberation Day was founded in 1958 when Kwame Nkrumah convened the 1st Conference of Independent States in Accra as the celebration of the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.

Today African Liberation Day is a permanent mass institution in the world-wide Pan-African movement. As an institution, it is stronger today because the masses of African people are stronger and in the diaspora are finding ways to express this freedom in diversity and integration – celebrating the priceless African heritage and giving voice to the diaspora contribution to Africa’s development.

Announcing terrific speakers for our AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the African Caribbean Network will be held on Saturday 19th May at our Centre at 66 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QH starting with some networking opportunities at 3.30pm.


Glasgow MSP Bob Doris, a good friend to the African Caribbean Network will formally open the AGM and oversee the elections of the new Board.


We are delighted to announce that the wonderful Professor Geoff Palmer (pictured above) will be giving the keynote address. He will be followed, we are also delighted to say, by Ms Mukami McCrum MBE who works for the Scottish Government's 'Gender Equality & Violence Against Women Team'. Anyone who has an interest in the work of the African Caribbean Network is very welcome to attend and all fully paid up members are allowed to nominate new office bearers and vote. See the posts below for the follow on entertainment - we really are making a day of it!


Timings of the AGM:


3.30pm Arrivals, refreshments, registration


4pm Networking, business and social enterprise groups, entertainment


5pm Opening remarks - Bob Doris MSP and welcome from Chairman Chimezie Umeh


5.30pm Keynote Speech - Professor Geoff Palmer


5.45pm Formal AGM


6.30pm - Guest speaker - Ms Mukami McCrum MBE


6.45pm - "The 1.4 million reasons" - Chimezie Umeh


7pm - Vote of thanks - Anne McLaughlin


7.05pm - Storytelling by Toto Tales


7.45pm - Screening of "Flame" - Africa in Motion


9.45pm - Reggae Dub Night - UR Kreativity & Broon Original

Tyi Wara - a theatrical storytelling production for aged 8 +

We are very excited to announce that following our AGM on Saturday 19th May, as part of African Liberation Week, Toto Tales will perform their theatrical storytelling production Tyi Wara.

Tyi Wara is a mythical hero, who descends to the earth to

reveal the secrets of environmentalism: how to prepare the

land, how to ensure everybody works together and how to

pass the secrets of agriculture on through generations.

In a unique fusion of physical storytelling, contemporary

dance and live music, Tyi Wara (pronounced Tee Wara) is the

latest production in a long line of award-winning shows by

Edinburgh’s premier theatre company of African origin, Toto

Tales.

Through the compelling use of live traditional African

instruments like the kora, drum and balafon, Toto Tales

weaves traditional storytelling with African contemporary

styles to create an energetic and vibrant theatrical experience

that explores the issues of social collaboration, the importance

of work and respect for the earth.

Tyi Wara starts at 7pm on Saturday 19th May at the African Caribbean Centre, 66 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QH. All welcome and it's free entry. 

Free Screening of FLAME, a powerful film about female freedom fighters in Zimbabwe

Award-winning feature film Flame, directed by Ingrid Sinclair, is a powerful tribute to female freedom fighters in Zimbabwe's War of Liberation from 1975 to 1980. A stunning portrait of multi-dimensional African women, the film was also highly controversial in its retelling of the war and its representation of the sexual exploitation of female combatants by their male comrades. Following the lives of two friends Florence and Nyasha as they leave their homes to join the freedom fighters and assume new names LIBERTY and FLAME, it became the first Zimbabwean feature to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival, where it was highly acclaimed.


Flame will be shown by Africa in Motion at the African Caribbean Centre as part of our week of events to mark African Liberation Week. The centre is at 66 Osborne St, Glasgow, G1 5QH at 7.45pm on Saturday 19th May. All welcome.

Sat 19th May - Reggae Dub Night featuring Essex Boy Charlie P

Get yourself down to Glasgow's best kept secret, the African Caribbean Centre in the heart of the Merchant City for a brilliant reggae dub night on Saturday 19th May. All the way from Essex we are bringing Charlie P who will give you the night of your life! Donation of £6 or £5 if you're a student.

Are you interested in business or social enterprises?

Tuesday 22nd May, 5.30pm

As part of African Liberation Week, The African Caribbean Network is hosting a seminar aimed at anyone looking to set up a social enterprise or small business. Everyone is welcome but the event is primarily aimed at young African and Caribbean entrepreneurs.

CEMVO will give a workshop on setting up and running a social enterprise.

Business Gateway will focus on small businesses.

And RNIB will talk about the charity sector.

Also exhibiting will be So We Stand, African Climate Change Centre & The Ethnic Survivors Forum who will pay for the refreshments.

Come along, meet other like minded people and find out what support you can get to achieve your aims.

Refreshments and networking 5.30pm, presentations and question session from 6pm to 8.30pm.

UN International Year for People of African Descent 2011 - follow up meeting

Friday 25th May - Africa Day


You are invited to a follow up meeting - an outcome of the successful reception hosted by the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP at Edinburgh Castle on 14th December 2011. The meeting is to address key issues flagged up by the UN and other bodies in relation to the experiences of people of African descent in diaspora and the various pieces of feedback received from people who attended this event. Everyone who has an interest is welcome from 6pm to 8pm.

Sat 26th May - Liberation is the theme for this Open Mic night

Following hot on the heels of the mega successful open mic nights on St Andrew's Day last year and Burns' Night this year, we present to you our Open Mic Night to mark Africa Day the previous day and African Liberation Week. So we invite you to come and watch and we invite those who can perform to come and do their thing. All we ask is that your poem, song or performance has a connection to 'liberation'.

Saturday 26th May from 7.30pm

We are licensed till 2am but under 18s welcome till 11pm

Entry £3

Book your performance slot by emailing accglasgow@gmail.com

Photos below of just some of the performers on previous nights. More photos can be found at this link and more information on the event itself can be found at this one.

Everyone welcome!

Vocalist Unoma Okudo

Rapper and Comedian Sean Reid

Singing Marley's Redemption Song Nicole Cameron

8 year old Toniann Christie

Graham Campbell's Jamaican Patois version of Tam O'Shanter went down a storm