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AFRICA UTOPIA RETURNS TO SOUTHBANK CENTRE WITH COMEDY, PERFORMANCE, TALKS, FASHION AND MUSIC 31 August – 4 September 2016 Southbank Centre www.southbankcentre.co.uk/africautopia
Mandela Trilogy presented by Cape Town Opera and Wales Millennium Centre. Credit John Snelling.
Africa Utopia returns for a fourth time to Southbank Centre to explore what can be learnt and celebrated from modern Africa and the African diaspora. The festival investigates the arts and culture of one of the world's most dynamic and fastchanging continents and looks at how Africa can lead the way in thinking about society, community, technology, fashion, gender, faith and activism.
This year’s festival features some of the greatest artists from the African diaspora and the continent itself across music, comedy, fashion and performance. Highlights include:
Adura Onashile’s Expensive Sh*t, an afrobeatfilled theatre piece exploring female empowerment, moving between the toilet space of a Glasgow club and the toilets of Fela Kuti’s Shrine club in 80s Nigeria (1,3 & 4 September)
A rooftop garden concert by Tuareg musicians Terakaft known for their loping desert blues (1 September)
The Presidents of Laughrica, a showcase of the best comedians in the African diaspora including Daliso Chaponda, Dana Alexander and Athena Kugblenu (2 September)
Mandela Trilogy, a musical tribute about the life of Nelson Mandela presented by worldrenowned Cape Town Opera (31 August 3 September)
The return of Chineke! Orchestra, Britain's first professional orchestra made up entirely of black and minority ethnic musicians marking their first this concert as Southbank Centre Associate Orchestra, featuring Sheku KeannehMason 2016 BBC Young Musician performing on the RFH for the first time (4 September)
Dance collaboration Project O present their duet O:Unplugged investigating embedded racism and sexism for black and mixed race women in the UK (2 September)
A spoken word and music performance Amsterdam which follows Chanje as she is seduced by the Dutch city (4 September)
An Africa Utopia Club Night presented by legendary Senegalese musician Baaba Maal, featuring a special set by Rita Ray and DJ Johan Hugo, one half of AfroWestern band The Very Best (3 September)
Further free music concerts from soulful singersongwriters Tawiah and Asya Satti (2 August)
Fashion Undressed with MasterCard presents its first strand at Africa Utopia featuring talks on contemporary African fashion, a look at natural hair and beauty with Afro Hair MeetUp, a focus on black masculinity and dandyism with Ekow Eshun, a People’s Catwalk and Africa Squad Catwalk Show featuring dancers, voguers and key collections from Africa and the diaspora.
Alongside the highlights there will be a plethora of free activity across site from a Black History Walk along the Thames that explores British Civil Rights and black heroes of the past to African Yoga on the Southbank Centre’s Roof Garden, or even a class in cooking some of Africa’s greatest dishes at the Africa Utopia Cook Off. A programme of talks, panel debates and workshops will once again underpin the weekend (34 September) at Africa Utopia tackling issues such as faith and spirituality in the African
identity, African masculinity, the challenging of patriarchy as well as afrohair workshops and a discussion with Maame Adjei, lead actress of the hit Ghanaian web series An African City dubbed the African Sex And the City. Jude Kelly, Artistic Director, Southbank Centre, said “Africa and its diaspora continue to have a resounding impact across the globe. I’m proud that our festival Africa Utopia celebrates the continent's rich cultural contribution to the world. By tackling the burning cultural issues through humour, music or debate, this festival has become a beacon for fresh ideas, discovery and a wholehearted celebration of the immense influence of the African continent.” # ENDS # FULL EVENT LISTINGS BELOW Tickets will go on sale to Southbank Centre members on July 5 and to everyone else on July 6. www.southbankcentre.co.uk / 0844 847 9910 For further press information please contact: Louise Gilbert, [email protected], 020 7921 0780 Sasha Haughan, [email protected], 020 7921 0992 For press Images see here: https://goo.gl/XaUMRe WEDNESDAY 31ST AUGUST #HowToFixNigeria: DISMANTLING PATRIARCHY Wednesday 31 August, 6:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Hosted by awardwinning producer and broadcaster Oya Media Funmi Iyanda The Royal African Society presents a special Africa Utopia edition of their popular #HowToFixNigeria panel series. With a panel of expert speakers, this edition looks at gender inequality in Nigeria and highlights how women, and men, are fighting sexism and oppression in Africa’s most populous country. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/howtofixnigeria1001829 TOMORROW’S WARRIORS: JAZZ SALON Wednesday 31 August, 7:00pm, Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace Cafe, Free Explore musical utopias with Southbank Centre favourites, Tomorrow's Warriors.This uplifting evening of music is led by the Jazz Salon House Band, featuring Gary Crosby. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/jazzsalonbytomorrowswarriors1001838 MANDELA TRILOGY
Wednesday 31st August Saturday 3rd September, 7:30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £1560 Presented by Cape Town Opera & Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera bring the story of Nelson Mandela, one of the world's most iconic figures to the stage in an epic musical tribute. Following his story from tribal initiation rites on the banks of the Mbashe River to his incarceration and final liberation from Robben Island, this celebration of Mandela’s life is a spectacular portrait of a man who touched hearts and minds around the world. Presented in three parts, by a cast of over 60 performers including three different incarnations of Mandela, the contrasting phases of his journey are recreated through strikingly divergent styles of music including the swinginfluenced songs of Sophiatown, contemporary opera forms and Xhosa folk music which grounds the production in the sounds and culture of South Africa. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/mandelatrilogy93929 THURSDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER GROOVE BABY: AFRICA UTOPIA Thursday 1st September, 10:30am, Level 5 Function at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £11 Southbank Centre regulars Groove Baby present an Africa Utopia special. Groove Baby concerts give parents and carers with babies or toddlers a chance to get together and enjoy jazz, world and improvised music. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/groovebabypresents01091698600 AFRICA UTOPIA SOCIAL DANCE Thursday 1st September, 2:00pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Everyone, beginners and experienced dancers alike, are invited to learn traditional African dances to the rhythm of African music for this afternoon of dancing. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiasocialdance1001699 EXPENSIVE SH*T Thursday 1st September Sunday 4th September (Excluding Friday), (Saturday and Sunday) 2:30pm & (Thursday and Saturday) 7:45pm, Blue Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ages 12+, £12 Written and directed by Adura Onashile, this bold and powerful production follows the life of Nigerian nightclub toilet attendant Tolu and her relationship to the women around her. Featuring the music and dance of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat genre, the story moves between a club toilet in present day Glasgow and legendary Shrine Club in 80s and 90s Lagos. Performed by an all female cast, Expensive Sh*t interrogates the power dynamics of the male gaze with one woman’s struggle to have control over her own life. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/Expensivesh*t
MEET THE AUTHOR: LEILA ABOULELA Thursday 1st September, 7:00pm, Sunley Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Age 16+, Free but ticketed Scottish Book Award and Caine Prize winner Leila Aboulela will read from and discuss her new novel The Kindness of Enemies. Moving between present day Scotland and the court of Tsar, this is a story of love, betrayal, reconciliation and war. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/meettheauthorleilaaboulel98107 TERAKAFT Thursday 1st September, 7:30pm, Roof Garden on Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, £15 Hear a genuine desert rock band, sculpted by the searing air and shifting sands of the Sahara. Terakaft’s name means ‘caravan’ in Tamasheq, and its musicians’ wild electric guitar riffs and pulsing Tuareg percussion appear to follow the rise and fall of endless Saharan dunes. The band’s music evokes the desert in all its cruelty and beauty, drawing on both Tuareg tradition and the popular music of today’s Tamasheq youth. Established in 2001, Terakaft have since released several albums and toured around the world, building a reputation as a mesmerising live act. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/terakraft98587 FRIDAY 2ND AUGUST THE AFRICAN FOOD AND DRINK TAKEOVER Friday 2nd September Sunday 4th September, 12pm6pm, Southbank Centre Square Following the savoury success of last year's event, Pop Up Africa returns with their popular streetfood market. In celebration of Africa and its many robust cuisines, Southbank Centre Square is transformed into a bustling streetfood market with over 35 vendors of authentic African cuisine, representing countries from across the continent. Visitors are invited to tuck in to some of the most colourful and varied cuisines on earth and learn how to make the dishes yourself with live cooking demos. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/theafricanfoodanddrinktakeover1001674 FRIDAY LUNCH: ASYA SATTI Friday 2nd September, 1:00pm, Central Bar at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Drawing from her African and Middle Eastern heritage, Satti’s music flows between blues and soul in alternating languages creating a kaleidoscopic world of music. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/asyasatti1001700 FRIDAY TONIC: TAWIAH Friday 2nd September, 6:00pm, Central Bar at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Singersongwriter and DJ Tawiah brings her unprocessed and uncompromising sound to Friday Tonic. The vestiges of Tawiah’s early vocal training in church contrast subtly against the distinctive South London accent that has helped to place her firmly at the vanguard of a diverse yet notably British
alternative soul movement in recent years. Her much celebrated debut EP Jodi’s Bedroom and her two year world tour with Mark Ronson supporting Jay Z helped to affirm her reputation as a prodigious live performer. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/tawiah1001823 AFRO DANCE XPLOSION 2016: THE RHYTHMS SHOWCASE Friday 2nd September, 7:00pm, Blue Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £10 A performance by dancers of the African diaspora, brought together by London’s Afro Dance Xplosion. The Rhythms Showcase have brought together an array of international artists for a sense of the scope of African and African inspired dance and choreography. This performance features Merlin Nyakam of Cameroon, Dr C. Kemal Nance of the USA, Chantal Loïal of Guadaloupe, who specialises in dance from the Congo; and London choreographers David Blake, Verona Patterson and Kenrick Sandy. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/afrodancexplosion201698118 O: UNPLUGGED Friday 2nd September, 8:00pm, Weston Roof Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £10 Specially adapted for Southbank Centre and featuring live musicians, Project O rework their first duet O into O: Unplugged. A physical unfolding and enactment of difference, O:Unplugged is a powerful performance which sees two women dance their way through a labyrinth of histories, fantasies and assumptions. Drawn from the dancers’ own experiences, conversations and reflections, it is a duet about being black, mixed race and female that addresses both uncomfortable everyday occurrences and the deep seated bedrock of racism and sexism in the UK. PRESIDENTS OF LAUGHRICA Friday 2nd September, 9:00pm, Level 5 Function Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Age 18+, £8 The Presidents of Laughrica showcases the best comedians of the diaspora as they address the issues facing Africa and the world through the disarming power of laughter. The line up includes Daliso Chaponda (Johannesburg Comedy Festival, ITV’s Comedy Basement), Dana Alexander, Ola The Comedian and Athena Kugblenu. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/presidentsoflaughrica98579 MANDELA TRILOGY Wednesday 31st August Saturday 3rd September, 7:30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £1560 Presented by Cape Town Opera & Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera bring the story of Nelson Mandela, one of the world's most iconic figures to the stage in an epic musical tribute. Following his story from tribal initiation rites on the banks of the Mbashe River to his incarceration and final liberation from Robben Island, this celebration of Mandela’s life is a spectacular portrait of a man who touched hearts and minds around the world. Presented in three parts, by a cast of over 60 performers including three different incarnations of
Mandela, the contrasting phases of his journey are recreated through strikingly divergent styles of music including the swinginfluenced songs of Sophiatown, contemporary opera forms and Xhosa folk music which grounds the production in the sounds and culture of South Africa. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/mandelatrilogy93929 SATURDAY 3RD AUGUST AFRICA UTOPIA: WEEKEND PASS Saturday 3rd September, 11:00am 4:30pm, Various locations across the Southbank Centre site, Available to wristband holders, £25 A twoday exploration of how Africa can help to solve the world's problems, the Africa Utopia weekend pass includes a programme of talks, panels, workshops and debates throughout the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Saturday’s programmes looks at how Africa is leading the way in thinking about activism, the arts and fashion, with speakers including Senegalese multiaward winning singer and activist Baaba Maal, An African City actress Maame Adjei and Professor Pumla Gqola, author of Rape: A South African Crisis. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiaweekendpass98122 THE AFRICAN FOOD AND DRINK TAKEOVER Friday 2nd September Sunday 4th September, 12pm6pm, Southbank Centre Square Following the savoury success of last year's event, Pop Up Africa returns with their popular streetfood market. In celebration of Africa and its many robust cuisines, Southbank Centre Square is transformed into a bustling streetfood market with over 35 vendors of authentic African cuisine, representing countries from across the continent. Visitors are invited to tuck in to some of the most colourful and varied cuisines on earth and learn how to make the dishes yourself with live cooking demos. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/theafricanfoodanddrinktakeover1001674 PRAM JAM: AFRICA UTOPIA Saturday 3rd September, 10:30am, Level 4 Green Bar at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £5 The everpopular Pram Jam is back influenced by African music and movement. Open to everyone of all abilities, the workshop invites children aged five and under and their carers/parents are invited to move, groove and sing along to the wonderful rhythms. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/pramjamafricautopiaunder98168 AN ABC ADVENTURE FOR CHILDREN, WITH SADE FADIPE Saturday 3rd September, 11:00am, Sunley Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ages 47, £5 An alphabetical adventure with Author Sade Fadipe. Fadipe’s character Adannah goes to visit her grandfather in Modakeke, Nigeria. Every letter from A to Z is featured in this Nigerian alphabet book. Written in a bouncy rhyming style, A Fun ABC lets children meet the author, hear her read from her fantastic book and make up some of thier own creative ways to remember the alphabet.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/anabcadventureforchildren98190 BEYOND PRINTS As Part of Fashion Undressed with MasterCard Saturday 3rd September, 1:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Maame Adjei, lead actress of hit Ghanaian based series An African City, dubbed the African Sex in the City opens this session on the future of contemporary African fashion and the many ways designers on the continent and in the diaspora are going beyond the traditional to showcase modern innovative fashion for a global style audience. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/beyondprints1001834 EXPENSIVE SH*T Thursday 1st September Sunday 4th September (Excluding Friday), (Saturday and Sunday) 2:30pm & (Thursday and Saturday) 7:45pm, Blue Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £12 Written and directed by Adura Onashile, this bold and powerful production follows the life of Nigerian nightclub toilet attendant Tolu and her relationship to the women around her. Featuring the music and dance of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat genre, the story moves between a club toilet in present day Glasgow and legendary Shrine Club in 80s and 90s Lagos. Performed by an all female cast, Expensive Sh*t interrogates the power dynamics of the male gaze with one woman’s struggle to have control over her own life. For ages 12+ http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/Expensivesh*t DANCE WORKSHOP Saturday 3rd September, 2:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Learn new moves and dance routines at this dropin workshop. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/danceworkshop1001835 MEET THE AUTHOR: CHIBUNDU ONUZO Saturday 3rd September, 3:00pm, Sunley Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free but ticketed Chibundu Onuzo, columnist for the Guardian and The Telegraph Wonder Women hosts a reading and Q&A of her popular book The Spider King’s Daughter. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/meettheauthorchibunduonuz98103 AFRICA PEOPLE’S CATWALK As part of Fashion Undressed with MasterCard Saturday 3rd September, 3:20pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free
Southbank Centre is searching far and wide for fashion lovers, fashonistas and trendsetters for a very special catwalk. The Africa Utopia People’s Catwalk will showcase how Africa influences contemporary London fashion. Fashion lovers of all ages and of course styles are welcome, for information on how to get involved, email [email protected]. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiapeoplescatwalk1001832 AFRICA SQUAD CATWALK SHOW As part of Fashion Undressed with MasterCard Saturday 3rd September, 4:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free The Africa Squad catwalk accompanied by Chineke! Junior Orchestra featuring dancers, voguers, live music, glamour, style and collections from the continent and African diaspora. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africasquad1001836 REVOLUTIONARY RAP Saturday 3rd September, 5:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Talented new voices in spoken word, poetry and rap come together for a revolutionary performance that will inspire everyone to find their own voice. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/revolutionaryrap1001701 AFRICA UTOPIA PARADE Saturday 3rd September, 6:30pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Join the finale of the Africa Utopia youth project as Southbank Centre’s young carnival makers kick of an evening of music with their vibrant carnival parade. Festival goers aged 1525 can take part email [email protected] for more information. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiaparade1001831 AFRICA UTOPIA CLUBNIGHT Saturday 3rd September, 7:00pm, The Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free An evening of AfroWestern DJs and dancing beside the Thames, presented by legendary Senegalese musician Baaba Maal and featuring DJ Johan Hugo from AfroWestern band The Very Best. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiaclubnight1001841 MANDELA TRILOGY Wednesday 31st August Saturday 3rd September, 7:30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £1560 Presented by Cape Town Opera & Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera bring the story of Nelson Mandela, one of the world's
most iconic figures to the stage in an epic musical tribute. Following his story from tribal initiation rites on the banks of the Mbashe River to his incarceration and final liberation from Robben Island, this celebration of Mandela’s life is a spectacular portrait of a man who touched hearts and minds around the world. Presented in three parts, by a cast of over 60 performers including three different incarnations of Mandela, the contrasting phases of his journey are recreated through strikingly divergent styles of music including the swinginfluenced songs of Sophiatown, contemporary opera forms and Xhosa folk music which grounds the production in the sounds and culture of South Africa. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/mandelatrilogy93929 SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST AFRICA UTOPIA: WEEKEND PASS Sunday 4th September, 11:00am 5:00pm, Various locations across the Southbank Centre site, Available to wristband holders, £25 A twoday exploration of how Africa can help to solve the world's problems, the Africa Utopia weekend pass includes a programme of talks, panels, workshops and debates throughout the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. For the final day of the festival, the day begins with the Africa Utopia newspaper review for a snapshot of the biggest Africarelated headlines and stories. Followed by talks and debates packed with art and ideas from across Africa and the diaspora that challenge stereotypes and are changing the world. Speakers include author of Refilwe: An African Retelling of Rapunzel Zukiswa Wanner, Black History Walks founder Tony Warner and Egyptian rapper El Deeb. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiaweekendpass98122 THE AFRICAN FOOD AND DRINK TAKEOVER Friday 2nd September Sunday 4th September, 12pm6pm, Southbank Centre Square Following the savoury success of last year's event, Pop Up Africa returns with their popular streetfood market. In celebration of Africa and its many robust cuisines, Southbank Centre Square is transformed into a bustling streetfood market with over 35 vendors of authentic African cuisine, representing countries from across the continent. Visitors are invited to tuck in to some of the most colourful and varied cuisines on earth and learn how to make the dishes yourself with live cooking demos. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/theafricanfoodanddrinktakeover1001674 AFRIKAN YOGA Sunday 4th September, 10:30am, Roof Garden on Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Free Led by experienced teachers Lenea Herew and Pablo Imani, Afrikan Yoga uses rhythmic movements to help warm up the body in order to perform postures. The practice focuses on body and breath awareness, the development of flexibility, mobility strength and endurance, uniting the body, mind and spirit for health and wellbeing. Participants must bring their own yoga mat to the session. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/afrikanyoga1001825 CHINEKE PASSENGER SEAT
Sunday 4th September, 12:00pm, Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Africa Utopia welcomes Chineke! Junior Orchestra, for a special performance where audiences can take a passenger seat right in the middle of the action, seeing and hearing the orchestra play all around them. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/passengerseats1001824 BLACK HISTORY WALK Sunday 4th September, 1:00pm, Meeting at Central Bar at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free but ticketed An exciting, interactive tour of London's African and Caribbean history along the riverside. This engagement walk will cover ancient architecture, Black heroes of World Wars I and II, British Civil Rights, inventors, Apartheid, gentrification and much more. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/blackhistorywalk98672 AFRICA UTOPIA COOK OFF Sunday 4th September, 1:00pm, Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free A special interactive cooking event showcasing great dishes from a across the content. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/africautopiacookoff1001826 AFRO DANCE XPLOSION: AFRO HOUSE DANCE CLASS Sunday 4th September, 23pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free London based dancer and teacher Sheila Attah leads Afro House dance class where she will transport you to Africa with her afro sounds and vivacious energy. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/afrohousedanceworkshop1001703 EXPENSIVE SH*T Thursday 1st September Sunday 4th September (Excluding Friday), 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Blue Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £12 Written and directed by Adura Onashile, this bold and powerful production follows the life of Nigerian nightclub toilet attendant Tolu and her relationship to the women around her. Featuring the music and dance of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat genre, the story moves between a club toilet in present day Glasgow and legendary Shrine Club in 80s and 90s Lagos. Performed by an all female cast, Expensive Sh*t interrogates the power dynamics of the male gaze with one woman’s struggle to have control over her own life. For ages 12+ CAPE TOWN OPERA CHORUS BIG SING Sunday 4th September, 4:00pm, Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Cape Town Opera Chorus and South African singer Joyce Moholoagae present a South African sing along for all ages. Featuring songs from the Cape Town Opera’s Mandela Trilogy alongside contemporary and traditional songs, all singers with all abilities are invited to join the Big Sing.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/capetownoperachorusbigsing1001827 AFRO DANCE XPLOSION: UMFUNDALAI DANCE WORKSHOP Sunday 4th September, 3:00pm, The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Join Kemal Nance, Ph. D. (Kibom), master teacher of the Umfundalai technique of contemporary African dance in a one dance hour workshop in the Clore Ballroom. Umfundalai is a contemporary African dance technique that incorporates the movement vocabularies of dance traditions throughout the African Diaspora including the continent of Africa as well as the Americas. Umfundalai was developed to explore the “essence” of Africaninformed movement and the ways in which it empowers contemporary choreography. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/umfundalaidanceworkshop1001702 AMSTERDAM Sunday 4th September, 5:15pm, Blue Room at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £10 This powerful play follows the story of Chanje, seduced by the attraction of Amsterdam and the charms of a Surinamese man she met on holiday. Combining spoken word, physicality and music, Amsterdam is a truly 21st century play about love and lust. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/amsterdam98649 ANTIQUITIES HUNT WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN Sunday 4th September, 1:00pm, Sunley Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ages 911, £5 An antiques hunt led by Mary Ononokpono, illustrator and author of Talulah The Time Traveller. With Ononokpono’s direction, children aged 911 are invited to try to find the missing objects sought by an unsettling museum curator known as The Archivist. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/antiquitieshuntworkshopfor98195 CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA Sunday 4th September, 6:30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £9£38 Chineke! Orchestra returns featuring newly announced BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016, cellist Sheku KannehMason. Britain's first professional orchestra made up entirely of black and minority ethnic musicians, Chineke! performs works from the classical canon alongside composers who are less often heard. Sibelius' Finlandia features the nostalgic theme of a hymn identical to Biafra's 1967 national anthem, The suite from the opera L'Amant anonyme was written by the 18thcentury Black composer Chevalier de SaintGeorges who, as a virtuoso violinist, led the orchestra in Paris for whom Haydn wrote his Paris Symphonies. Making his Royal Festival Hall debut, Sheku KannehMason performs Haydn's 'Cello Concerto in C Major'. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/chinekeorchestra96321 NOTES TO EDITORS
About Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 21 acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as The Saison Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. For further information please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk. Southbank Centre is carrying out vital restoration work on the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room to make the buildings fit for future generations to enjoy, more information can be found here: letthelightin.southbankcentre.co.uk
