Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem 1961-2009

The Members of the Council of Management of the Africa Centre wish to pay particular and heartfelt tribute to Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, member of the Council for the past eight years, who passed away on May 25. Taj, until his move to Africa some two years ago was for many years an active Trustee and stalwart of the Centre, and was instrumental in shaping the turnaround strategy that we continue to endeavour to implement. His exceptional combination of idealism and pragmatism, backed up with his innate wisdom, made an exceptional contribution to the Centre's survival in some of its most difficult times.

We will particularly remember Taj as a scholar and ardent Pan-Africanist, with an unflinching commitment to improving the lot of his people, and who always strove to find solutions to Africa’s problems, and by extension, those of the Africa Centre. We will cherish our time working with him and will greatly miss him. He was the last person we would have expected to leave us suddenly in this way, and his departure is a huge loss. We share the grief and loss with his family and send our heartfelt condolences and pray that his Soul Rest In Perfect Peace.

Oliver Andrews,

Chairman Council of Management

Link to story on BBC website

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Dear Friends,

Welcome to our new Africa Centre website!

The Africa Centre is being renewed to serve its stakeholders better. Since its inaugural launch in 1964, the Centre has played an important role in projecting a positive face of Africa in London, providing a focal point for all forms of cultural and social activities related to Africa through meetings, talks, visual arts exhibitions, cinema, literature, and the performing arts.

As you may be aware, financial difficulties led to the deterioration of the Covent Garden building, ultimately hindering the full and effective use of the facilities and affecting programming. The latter has now been reduced to a minimum and we are currently forging ahead with plans to redevelop the premises and sustain its operations into the future.

The purpose of the present redevelopment is to guarantee a future Africa Centre where the building’s main facilities can effectively serve the Centre’s remit as a topflight contemporary African cultural and creative centre in Europe, whilst at the same time providing income generation that will ensure long-term sustainability. Business of Culture were brought on board to manage the Centre in the interim and to direct and advise on the Development of the Centre and its future organisation. Considerable progress has been made in stabilising the Centre’s operations and finances and in creating a credible foundation to go forward.

Since the redevelopment process started in 2006, we have come a long way. A lot is happening and various project preparation strands are coming to completion. These include the Feasibility Study carried out by a professional team led by Ash Sakula Architects and project managers, Malcolm Reading Consultants; the commercial and business case for the future centre, incorporating the findings of a thoroughly researched cultural demand assessment, carried out by Good Communications and Business of Culture; the fundraising strategy being developed by The Philanthropy Company and the development of a new programming vision for the future Africa Centre. During this transitional period the centre will continue to be involved in small-scale but exciting cultural events that will pave the way forward.

As Chair of the Africa Centre’s Council of Management since 2004, and on behalf of the Trustees, I would like to reiterate our determination that the Centre’s role be continued and enhanced in the future, free from the uncertainties of the past twenty years. We are committed to realising the potential of King Street site, which has been one of the main strengths of the Centre in its forty-year history and, and offers an unrivalled 'shop window' for Africa in central London.

This new website forms an essential part of our series of initiatives intended to incubate the new Africa Centre in people’s minds, and to reflect the dynamism and excitement of the redevelopment process on an ongoing basis. I encourage you to visit the site regularly for updates on progress made, as well as for details of upcoming programming activities and initiatives.

Best Wishes

Oliver Tunde Andrews

Chair