The history of London’s Africa Centre parallels that of modern Africa and is a fascinating study in its own right. The list of people who have interacted with the Centre reads like a who’s who of African talent. We present edited excerpts from the remarkable study by Sheila Ruiz.
London’sAfrica Centre has recently reopened at a brand new building. It was designed by Margaret Feen.y, who assembled a committee made up of Africanists to make the idea of a centre at the service of newly independent Africa a reality. The Centre was officially established as a charity in 1961.
The goal was to bring together all Africans living in Britain, while also creating a bridge that would foster communication and non-governmental links between Africans and Britain.
The building used to house the centre (pictured below) dates back as far as 1776. It was originally an auction room that sold, at different times Boer War artifacts and Benin Bronzes. In its final form, it was a tomato warehouse. In 1962 it was purchased and then converted into the future Africa Centre building, thanks to the help of three willing architects – Lance Wright, Mike Hatrell and Jaime Dealto – who worked and designed to a very tight budget.
The Africa Centre finally opened its doors in November 1964. The official inauguration was presented by Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, then President of Zambia; Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa, the first Black African Cardinal; and Margaret Feeny, the Centre’s first director. The ceremony was attended by many African High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
Margaret Feeny continuously built very good rapport with diplomats, ambassadors and high-profile figures – both African and British – such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the Commonwealth Secretary General, who was one of the members of the initial management committee.
London’s African axis is crucial
The Africa Centre quickly gained a reputation as a vital African axis in London. It provided a platform for African culture, art, and political opinion. The latter was a much-needed exercise given the critical juncture in Africa’s history at the time.
The Centre’s conferences and lectures quickly gained a reputation for being exceptional. In 1968, Eduardo Mondlane, President of FRELIMO, gave a talk as part of a Conference on ‘The Future of the Portuguese Territories in Southern Africa’; Nigerian publisher Peter Enahoro led a conference on the press in Africa in 1969, the renowned Guyanese historian, Walter Rodney, led a conference on ‘Models of Development’ and Africa’s great historian and philosopher, Professor Ali Mazrui, flew over from the University of Michigan in 1975 to engage in the topic of ‘Africa in World Affairs: The next 25 years’.
The Centre was a valuable platform for writers and public figures from South Africa, given the Apartheid situation at that time. In 1971, Dennis Brutus and Cosmo Piterse visited the Centre. Winston Ntshona, John Kani, and Athol Fugard were also there. Ruth First, a political activist, participated in a conference in 1970. Reverend Desmond Tutu was present at the launch in 1973 of a collection writings by South African priests and pastors. Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian Nobel Prize winner author and dramatist, delivered a lecture in 1975.
It was famously chosen to release a statement that Nelson Mandela made in 1980 while he was being held on Robben Island. The statement, smuggled out of prison, said: “Unite! Mobilise! Keep fighting! Between the anvil of united mass action and the hammer of the armed struggle, we shall crush Apartheid!”
A home for African authors
1967 saw the signing of an agreement with Heinemann Publishers that led to the publication of every African Writers Series title at the Centre. These books were often accompanied by readings or appearances by the authors. This included the likes of Christopher Okigbo, Gabriel Okarra, Pat Maddy, Ousmane Sembene, Len Peters, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Alex La Guma, Kwesi Armah, and Dominic Marasho, to mention but a few.
During the 1970s, under the directorship of Alistair Niven, the Centre also became home to the likes of Ben Okri, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Chinua Achebe, Dambudzo Marechera and other eminent African writers, who would spend a good deal of their spare time there, socialising and giving atmosphere to the place.
Flora Nwapa, Jack Mapanje (Malawi), Edward Kamau Brathwaite(Barbados), Nuruddin Farah [Somalia], Barney Simon (South Africa], Bessie Head/South Africa/Botswana], Cosmo Pieterse/South Africa], Stephen Gray (South Africa), Stephen Gray (South Africa), Stephen Gray (South Africa), Ralph de Boissiere (“Trinidad”), James Berry (Jamaica), E.A. Markham (Trinidad), Alechi Amadi (Nigeria), Rosa Guy (NY, USA), Ron Heath (UK), and Athol Fugard (South Africa). Buchi Emecheta, a well-known author, told daytime stories for young children.
The Centre displayed a lot of African literary talent, but that was just one part of the great cultural feast it served up. The Centre was home to many other cultural events, including exhibitions by internationally renowned artists.
One of the most beautiful music ever made in Africa.
The list of bands that performed at the Centre is vast, but some notable names include the following: the Courtney Pine Jazz Quartet; Shirati Jazz; Highlife International; Stella Chiweshe; Bembeya Jazz National, the national band from Guinea-Conakry; Kanda Bongo Man; M’pongo Love; Shikisha; Pat Thomas; Thomas Mapfumo; Bhundu Boys; Remmy Ongala; Angelique Kidjo; Dudu Pukwana; Baaba Maal, who performed at the Centre as part of his first UK tour in 1988; and Diblo Dibala.
Continued success
The Centre’s next directors, Dr AdoteyBing and Nigel Watt, saw it flourish and continue to exhibit Black creativity. It attracted the likes of great artists such as Mia Couto, the ‘Black Plato’ CLR James, Amata Ata Aidoo, Dennis Brutus, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Meshack Asare, Lewis Nkosi, Grace Akello, Jack Mapanje, Aminata Sow Fall, Merle Collins, and Nawal El Saadawi.
It hosted educational programmes and symposiums, dance and music classes, and was also the launch pad for many African-related events like the Caine Prize for African Literature. Africa at the Pictures in 1990, a film festival organised by the Centre and hosted by the National Film Theatre, which featured a season of African films and seminars attended by African film directors including Haile Gerima, Flora M’mbugu-Schelling and Ferid Boughedir. It also hosted its own weekly radio program. Talking AfricaThis site is focused on African news and discussion.
The bar in the basement and the restaurant, which was once the only African-themed establishment, were very well-known across the continent. There was always standing room as top musicians, intellectuals, government ministers, and ordinary people gathered to discuss all aspects of Africa and life.
The time that the Centre was closed during the move to its new home left a deep void in the lives and friendships of Africans in London.
You have been missed by the Africa Centre!
Source: New African Magazine
