David Adjaye on Chris Ofili

The Upper Room 1999-2002 @ Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili’s The Upper Room was first displayed in 2002, to great critical acclaim. This installation, on show in the current exhibition, consists of thirteen works in a chapel-like environment designed by David Adjaye.

Here the award-winning architect speaks about this collaborative experience and his thoughts on the work nearly a decade on.

yOyO

Fed up with the usual r&b, chart gangsta hardness, chavvy clientele and the same songs over & over? Well look no further, as resident hip-hop aficionados Seb Chew & Leo Greenslade continue their much loved yOyO night. The music policy is varied to suit all tastes, with an eclectic mix of everything from 80’s boogie and soul through to to hip hop, r&b, ragga and even a touch of old skool drum n’ bass.

Entry is on guestlist only (see website for details)

MyChoons with Jazzie B

London born-and-bred, Jazzie started the Sound System Soul II Soul at the tender age of 16,  progressing to the near-mythical nights at London’s Africa Centre, before being signed to Virgin Records
 in 1986. Jazzie was awarded two Grammies in 1990, selling nearly 7 million records worldwide.

Four Tops and The Temptations

Motown meets Atlantic Records and The Philadelphia Sound when the legendary Four Tops and The Temptations  are joined by very special guests The Drifters and The Three Degrees for a dazzling at The O2 26 March.

Reggae Roast Warehouse Dance

Roots & Culture  with Necessary Mayhem (who has produced tracks for Beenie Man, Beenie Man) & YT live.  

With Reggae Roast residents Exel & Moodie joined by Joe Lickshot, Ramon Judah providing their usual blend of heavy hitting and deep rooted selections.

Haiti Educational Day / Fundraiser

Screening of the film Poto Milan with Haitian women sharing their stories. Followed by an interactive presentation about:

- Haiti and Somalia: the hidden connection
- How Disney made Haitian women poor
- Female Haitian heroes
- Discrimination against Haitians in the Dominican Republic…

Bring a pen, a pad and be on time!

Acting Up

Comedy duo Ashley J (Eastenders) & Tee-J (CBBC’s Kerching) bring you a live improvised comedy game show,  where YOU the audience take the judge’s seat.

African Fever: Performing Africa in Europe

In 2008, a number of African-themed circuses were touring Europe. African Fever; performing ‘Africa’ in Europe is a collection of photographs from one of those tours, taken by photographer Jessica Kendall. She captured thousands of photos of the artists, who came from six different African countries. Ms. Kendall became intrigued by the differences between the ‘Africanized’ aesthetics of the show, and the life of the performers off-stage.

African Fever; performing ‘Africa’ in Europe is a response to those differences. In the exhibition, images of the circus’s spectacle are displayed side-by-side against ones taken outside of performance, and accompanying each image are simple pieces of text that give a different perspective into the world of the photograph’s subjects.

Jessica Kendall was born in Baltimore in 1977. She spent many years as a performer, and is currently a PhD candidate in the Anthropology and Sociology department at SOAS, University of London.

Pure Nostalgia Part II

A night for the mature ravers with DJ’s Stevie Dundee and The Boogie Bunch playing all the old tunes you know and love to hear: old skool, rare groove,  soul classics and lovers rock.

Over 25’s, ID may be required.

Kizomba semi-final competition and party

For the third year running the International Kizomba Championship is underway throughout Europe. Kizombeiros will be competing to the sounds of kizomba, funana and semba to represent their country at the Final on  7th May 2010 in Lisbon.

This Saturday, UK dancers compete for the chance of representing the UK in the finals. The competition will be followed by a DJ party with DJ To Kosta and guests playing kizomba, semba, funana and other Luso and afro grooves.