By Khalifa Hemed
Published June 26, 2022
The Africa Centre, a charity that celebrates contemporary African culture and heritage in the British capital, London, has opened its doors to its patrons and supporters to its new home in Southwark.
The organisation that opened on June 9 says it continues to ‘act as a bold and transformative bridge between the continent, Africans, and friends of Africa all over the world from its base in one of the world’s most international and exciting cities, London’.
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Spread over four floors, phase one of its redevelopment will see an African restaurant and lounge bar on the ground and first floors and spaces for exhibitions, debates and events on the second. Phase two, (to follow), plans a whole floor devoted to education, connecting the UK with Africa via interactive education initiatives teaching African history through the Centre’s digitised archives as well as offering language classes. Meanwhile, the fourth floor will be a business suite offering black businesses and individuals the opportunity to mingle, network, and grow.
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Oba Nsugbe, Board Chair, says, “Over the decades, since its launch in 1964, The Africa Centre played a key role in being a home away from home for the African diaspora. It has been a safe place and key platform for African activists, intellectuals and artists to discuss and drive the African narrative. With time, our mission and purpose have grown and transformed to not only represent the first generation of Africans, but also the second and third generation of Africans and Afro-Caribbeans. In addition, for a more wholesome engagement with the community, the updated Centre goes beyond a focus on Arts and culture to have areas dedicated to Education and Learning and Entrepreneurship.”
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Everything from furniture, decor and paintings to food and drink in the Centre’s restaurant celebrates African culture and lifestyle. Designs by renowned artists and designers including Barthélémy Toguo from Cameroon and Mash T design studio of South Africa grace the halls and rooms of the Centre.
One of the key attractions of the Centre that was unveiled on the opening day is the Malangatana Mural.
“This has special significance as it has ties to our original home in Covent Garden. The mural was originally painted by the iconic Mozambican artist, Malangatana Ngwenya, in 1987. Years later when the Africa Centre relocated, the mural was carefully removed and preserved. It has now been professionally restored and will take pride of place once again in our new home. Part of the unveiling celebrations will involve Malangatana’s family, the Mozambican community in London and other notable figures from the African art space,”says Belvin Tawuya, Chief Marketing Manager of the charity.
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Other notable highlights include, the launch of Tanzanian visual artist Sungi Mlengeya’s solo exhibition; a panel discussion on the impact of Afrobeats in shaping narratives about Africa; and a festival of community-focused activities featuring performances, market stalls, food and entertainment.
Like Malangatana who believed that art should be accessible to everyone and not merely placed in galleries, the organisation says that it, too, ‘aims to be a place for people from a cross-section of the community to meet, learn and celebrate African art and culture’.
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So how did it get to select its location?
Southwark, it says, ‘was chosen for its multicultural character and its proximity to several other iconic cultural institutions such as Tate Modern, the Southbank Centre, The Old and Young Vic theatres, Shakespeare’s Globe and the future site of the V&A East’.
