About Us
The Charity
The Africa Centre is constituted as a charity and company limited by guarantee. It was formed in 1961 and the dedicated building was opened in 1964 following refurbishment.
Governance
The Africa Centre is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association and regulated by the Charity Commission and guided by its own charitable objects. It has a limited membership Association which is managed and directed by a Council of Management, the members of which are both Trustees and Company Directors. Members are appointed from the Association membership and give their time and expertise voluntarily to the Charity. There are presently 29 Association members of which 15 sit on the Council of Management as Trustees. The Council meets typically once every 3 months. An Association AGM is held once a year of all members to accept the audited accounts and declare plans for the subsequent year.
The Trustees (and Directors) are:
Oliver Tunde Andrews – Chair
Mrs Bimpe Nkontchou – Joint Vice Chair
Kaye Whiteman – Joint Vice Chair
Mark Artivor – Trustee
Audrey Brown – Trustee
Wayne G. Callender – Trustee
Steve Cameron – Trustee
Dr Djibril Diallo – Trustee (corresponding)
Godson Egbo – Trustee
Annette Fisher – Trustee
Dr Ben Jabuni – Trustee
Oba Nsugbe QC – Trustee
Akin Olukiran – Trustee
Mark Thomas – Trustee
Carroll Thompson – Trustee
Dr. Patrick Wilmot – Trustee
Full biographies can be seen at Who We Are
Patrons
The present patrons are:
Madiba Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa, Grand Patron Emeritus
Lord Boateng of Akyim in the Republic of Ghana and Wembley in the London Borough of Brent
Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, senior UN diplomat
Sir Frank Kennedy, former chair of the Africa Centre, 1999-2001
HE Emeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha
Committees
A number of committees have been set up to take advantage of the range of skills found amongst the Trustees, to be able to process the work involved in the Africa Centre’s development period in the last few years and to form an efficient way of reporting back to the Council of Management.
Presently there are 6 committees:
Project Development Committee – Wayne Callender, Chair
Programming Committee – Carroll Thompson, Chair
Finance and Administration Committee – Mark Thomas, Chair
Nominations Committee – Kaye Whiteman, Chair
There is also a Vision and Governance working group, chaired by Bimpe Nkontchou, working on the future plans for the Africa Centre charity and its facilities.
The Africa Centre has already undergone a period of major improvement and change. With the help of the Arts Council England and other benefactors together with the increase of earned income, scaling back costs and efficient management the charity’s financial status is now solvent. The Africa Centre does not receive regular funding from the ACE or any other Government agency but it has re-established a growing programme of cultural, social and educational events.
Staffing
Cultural development consultancy, Business of Culture, are the appointed interim managers piloting the Africa Centre through its transitionary phase. Business of Culture staff oversee the day to day operations and support and advice on the overall development of the Africa Centre as instructed by the Council of Management.
Business of Culture
Business of Culture Ltd.
6 Paddington Street
London W1U 5QG
T: +44 (0)20 7224 5680
F: +44 (0)20 7224 5681
E: info@businessofculture.com
The Africa Centre
38 King Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 8JT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7836 1973
Fax: + 44(0)20 7836 1975