December 2019
December!! finally we can put up our Christmas decorations without feeling the fear of being judged like we did in November!
If all you want for Christmas is something other than Mariah Carey being played in every bar and club - as fabulous as she is -then this party line-up is for you!
For Africans across the globe, no Christmas spread without one or more of the following: jollof rice, kahk, fufu, calulu, mufete, shitoh, chapati, ugali.
First of all, Ghana celebrates its 'year of the return' , an initiative by the Ghanaian government to encourage more engagement and investment from the African diaspora whilst also celebrating the African spirit and a so you already know this will be the place to be. The biggest Afrobeats beach party is coming to Accra (Labadi Beach) in the form of AfroNation , Solange is also showing Accra some love!
For the rest of us, the below Ghanaian bauble is as close to Ghana as we are getting this year!
If you are more likely to be stuck closer to shore - London more specifically - we have a pretty neat line-up for you.
So (ho ho ho) these are our December highlights!
Jazz Cafe Presents: Mamadou Diabate + Diabel Cissokho + Sourakata Koite
4th December
Experience not one, not two but THREE musical legends Mamadou Diabate, Diabel Cissokho and Sourakata Koite who have become masters in traditional African instruments. The Jazz celebrates one of West Africa’s most enduring musical legacies in the story telling and playing of the 21-string instrument, the kora, and the melodic percussive keys of the balafon. If you have never experienced traditional African instruments live, you do not want to miss this.
The Africa Centre Christmas Market
6th - 7th December
The Africa Centre is hosting its very own Christmas Market, housing all things festive. There will be several vendors on show ranging from art, fashion, music and literature. If you have little ones, there will also be activities to keep them engaged.
Dana Thomas presents Fashionopolis
11th December
If you are keen on exploring the world of fashion and its future relationship with sustainability, this is one event you definitely do not want to miss.
Author and Journalist, Dana Thomas discusses her book "The price of fast fashion - the future of our clothes", investigating the consequences of fast fashion not only on our environment but the socio-economic and textile industries and sub-industries as a whole.
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Jazz and Jollof
20th December
Jazz and Jollof. Life really is beautiful this time of the year.
Dance your winter boots off with live music from jazz, blues and soul singer Helen McDonald and musician Jessua Ladybyrds with some jollof rice and traditional west African cuisine. If that isn't enough, there will be some mince pies and rum cake to wash it all down.
Superhoot presents Koroheko and Muthnik
21st December
Funk, soul and afrobeats are the order of this night of electric party vibes! For lovers of soca and afro-latin vibes, you'll also not be left out. DJ Mattana will be on the ones and twos, spinning party vibes to spice up the constant play of Christmas songs.
Moussa Dembele comes from a family of artists and artisans and has travelled extensively in the world so this will definitely be a December night to remember.
Crossing the River: Photography exhibition
- til 23rd December
Crossing the river - African women on the front line against maternal mortality.
This month-long exhibition aims to highlight the high mortality rate in childbirth for sub-Saharan African women, bringing together women from Uganda, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Mozambique. Discussing the 'authentic struggle for life' in motherhood, this exhibition aims to explore how and why these risks occur.
We stopped at the 23rd because we know:
1. some of you haven't done your Christmas shopping so the 24th is for you
2. It has been a really long decade and some time to reflect and plan for the decade ahead.
Here's to a beautiful end to what has been a ride of a decade.