2000s
2000
The Centre held one of its most successful annual conferences, entitled “Unfinished Business –Tackling the legacies of slavery and colonialism”. Professor J F Ade Ajayi, Editor of UNESCO General History of Africa, delivered the opening address, “The Unfinished Business: Issues to be addressed”. Other featured speakers were David Lammy, MP; Sam Walker, Director of Black Cultural Archives; and High Commissioners H.E. Ms Sheryl Carolus, from South Africa; H.E. Prince Bola Ajibola, from Nigeria; and H.E. Professor George Kirya, from Uganda.
2001
African Visions was born as the Centre’s annual African Literature Festival, coordinated by Peter Jenkins, and it soon became a prominent feature on the UK literary landscape.
2002
The Africa Centre hosted the presentation of the Caine Prize for African Writing. The selected writers were Amanda Ngozi Adichie from Nigeria; Florent Couoa-Zotti from Benin; Allan Kolski Horwitz from South Africa; Rory Kilalea from Zimbabwe; and the winner Binyanvanga Wainaina from Kenya.
2003 – 2006
As the last Director of the Africa Centre, Adotey Bing inherited three decades of the centre’s dynamic life, with all its various programmes and activities as well as the accumulated financial instability built through the years. Throughout his term as director, Bing’s main concerns were focusing on the new mission of the Centre and securing long term funding so as to permit forward planning and future self-sustainability. In 2003, the Africa Centre received an award from Arts Council towards the Centre’s redevelopment plans. One of the key factors in securing that positive decision was the letter sent on behalf of the Africa Centre to Arts Council England by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union.
In 2006 Oliver Tunde Andrews was appointed Chairman, and since then the future of The Africa Centre – while naturally informed by global economic factors – has been stabilised and while presenting an acclaimed series of cultural events, is also looking positively to new horizons that will forge The Africa Centre as the central focus for all things African – cultural, social and business.
2006 – 2012
The Africa Centre has promoted a cultural programme since 2006, under Business of Culture’s management This has included theatre seasons, visual arts exhibitions and the acclaimed Screening Africa film programme. More recently, in the first 9 months of 2011, The Africa Centre is hosting about 2-4 events per month – including panel discussions focusing on topical issues/current affairs relating to Africa, monthly screenings of Africa films & Q&A; and partnership events with African cultural providers, such as African Theatre with groups including Tiata Fahodzi.
The future is looking positive and exciting, so keep logging in to find out what is on at The Africa Centre.