Africa Centre, London facts for kids
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| Formation | 1964 |
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| Founder | Margaret Feeny |
| Type | Charity |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | 66 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark |
| Location |
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The Africa Centre, London is a special place that celebrates African culture and connects people. It was started in 1964 and has been a hub for many exciting events like art shows, talks, and cultural gatherings. It also had a gallery, meeting rooms, a restaurant, and a bookshop. After many years at its first home in Covent Garden, the Africa Centre moved in 2013. Its new permanent home is now at 66 Great Suffolk Street in Southwark, south London. It is a registered charity, which means it helps people and doesn't make a profit.
Contents
What is the Africa Centre?
The Africa Centre is a vibrant place where people can learn about and experience African cultures. It brings together people from different African countries and those interested in Africa. It's a place for learning, sharing, and having fun!
A Rich History of Culture and Community
How it Started
The Africa Centre first opened its doors in 1964. Kenneth Kaunda, who later became the first president of Zambia, officially opened it. Its first home was a historic building at 38 King Street in Covent Garden. This building was once a banana warehouse and later an auction house. It was given to the people of Africa by the Catholic Church in 1962.
The idea for the centre came from Margaret Feeny in 1961. She wanted to create a neutral place where people from newly independent African countries could meet and connect. It also aimed to keep cultural ties strong between Britain and its former colonies. Plus, it offered a friendly spot for Africans living in London to gather.
A Home Away From Home
Many important people visited the Africa Centre. For example, Archbishop Desmond Tutu often met Thabo Mbeki (who later became president of South Africa) at the centre's bar. Desmond Tutu called it a home for all Africans and those who cared about the continent.
Richard Dowden described it as the place for African leaders, freedom fighters, writers, and artists to speak and debate. You could find everything African there, from Ghanaian food to lively discussions and amazing parties. Sometimes, all these things happened at once on a Saturday night! Bands would play, people would dance, and in the basement, people would talk about big ideas. During the week, there were talks about art, African dance lessons, films, and plays.
The Association for the Teaching of African and Caribbean Literature (ATCAL) held its first meeting there in 1979. They discussed how to teach African and Caribbean literature in schools.
Art and Music at the Centre
The centre often held art exhibitions. In 1983, a famous exhibition called Five Black Women featured artists like Sonia Boyce and Lubaina Himid. It was one of the first important shows to feature black women artists. A large mural by Malangatana Ngwenya that was in the old building is now in the new Africa Centre.
Music was also a big part of the centre's life. In 1975, Wala Danga, a music promoter, started his first club night there. He said the Africa Centre was unique because it was one of the first places where people from different African countries truly mixed. It felt like a second home for many African students.
In the 1970s and 1980s, groups working for social change, like the Anti-Apartheid Movement (which fought against unfair rules in South Africa), also held concerts at the centre. In 1983, the "Limpopo Club" started, hosting famous musicians like Youssou N'Dour and Angélique Kidjo. From 1985 to 1989, Jazzie B brought his Soul II Soul music system, which became very famous.
The Centre's Move
In 2005, a guide book called it a "very lively arts centre" with classes in dance, movement, and literature. It also mentioned The Calabash, London's first African restaurant, and a bookshop that sold books from Africa and beautiful handicrafts.
In 2012, the original building on King Street was sold. Many people, including Desmond Tutu and writer Wole Soyinka, tried to save the centre's first home, but it moved to Great Suffolk Street in Southwark.
In 2018, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp became the director of the Africa Centre. The centre still keeps a connection with Covent Garden by holding an annual Summer Festival there every August since 2013. The Africa Centre officially opened its newly updated headquarters in Southwark in June 2022.
Centre directors
- Margaret Feeny (1964–1978)
- Alastair Niven (1978–1984)
- Nigel Watt (1984–1991)
- Adotey Bing (1992–2006)
- Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp (2018–2020)
- Olu Alake (2023–present)
