I am Dean Okai, I am 42 years old and originally from South London. I grew up on two housing estates in South London until I moved out of my Mother’s house at 18. Young Men don’t necessarily make the best decisions and me moving back to New Cross to be around certain friends wasn’t the smartest.

Within a couple of years I can say that I was surrounded by petty criminals on the establishing rungs of the ladder. Yet regardless of the environments and circumstances I found myself, I always knew exactly who I was going to be and where I was going to be. I had that same spirit in school, when I would hear teachers tell me I couldn’t do this or that.

There was never a stage in my life when I would base what I was capable of, based on other peoples limitations. Everybody you come across that is threatened by your confidence will try to convince you out of your position, by selling you fear and doubt. Don’t buy it, there is something innate in your spirit that knows your path and destiny.

Having established that at my core I was always a big brother and an entrepreneur, I made a decision that no matter how many businesses I had that went down and how much I lost a by product, that I would never sit still and continue evolving and sharpening my pencil with regards to mastering business processes and acumen.

In the year 2000, I lost two phone shops in South London after three burglaries that left me with £260 in my pocket. My MO was always to get a job for six months and take advantage of all of the resources around me to re-establish myself and save the stake money to bet on myself again. I’d make myself as small as possible and save until I reached my number and then leave for another Dean Okai adventure.

You will find a common thread with many entrepreneurs in that we have had many incarnations to give us 10,000 hours of practice, to master our environment within the business landscape. There is nothing easy about being in business, because as business people we are choosing to be problem solvers. When you look at the matrix of challenges in front of you such as a shrinking economy, new technology that reduces your customer base, marketing that has become more streamlined to attract niche markets, all whilst paying the commercial land lord, who is raising the rent.

Did I mention that you have to do all of this and manage the dynamic of personalities within our companies and manage Family life at the same time. Having a job is not practice for running a business. This upsets many people with jobs, who have aspirations to get off the plantation and become architects of their own destiny. You need to just do it. Do your research, surround yourself with expertise, emerce yourself in the industry you want to enter and be aware that you have a number of transferrable skills.

Because of my experience I have always been aware that I had a number of transferrable skills, which is why I never listened to anyone else about the limitations of my capabilities. I was encouraged to get a job and work for someone else from my earliest memories, this is how we first betray our children, which is why I home school my son and enable him to be an entrepreneur.

Getting around to my current business, Suits Direct on Camden High Street, which was only an opportunistic means to an ends to provide a daily income, whilst pursuing everything else that I do. It provides me with choices that enable me to advocate on the ‘Transition of the Black Pound’ projects, raise and spend time with my son to guarantee that he will permanently be his own boss. As Black people we need to practice self preservation that serves our Families and our collective interests first.

As Men we are obligated to pay the rent and feed our Families, whilst climbing the ladder to fulfil our dreams. Being an entrepreneur is the perfect way to do that, which is why I advocate for teaching our children to be financially literate and run their own businesses. From the age of 9 I always wanted to work for myself, inspite of the fact that my Mother always encouraged me to get a proper job. My son will never know the pressures of those conflicting interests and be happy to follow the desires of his heart.

Dean Okai

The City of London came alive on Saturday the 30^th of may, as heavyweight champion,  Anthony Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko at The National stadium in Wembley in a thrilling bout filled with colour, action and drama

Joshua has achieved 19 stoppages in 19 contests in his four year career and he managed to finish off his counterpart in the 11^th round.

Although winning did not come easy , the triumph of this young man continues to unfold gracefully

Excerpts from the transcript “A Kaleidoscope of Efik migration to the UK” presented at the Black History Month at the House of Parliament on 27/10/2016 by Richard Duke

“If history were taught in the form of stories it would never be forgotten”
Rudyard Kipling

•A little background into this presentation is that it’s part of my unpublished research work titled “The Slave Kings of Calabar, Liverpool and London”.

•As part of the Black History Month we should be able to update our knowledge about events that shaped our destiny. Many of the stories about Black History have been from a Westerners perspective but over the past decades (with the availability of digitally archived resources) Black historians have been able to tell their own story. Koomla Dumor the late BBC Africa reporter once said in a TEDx talk that “if the hunted fails to tell its own story, the story will always glorify the hunter”. This is the story of the migration of the Efik people of Calabar to the UK. 1767. Hold the thought there.

•How many of us here have never been to Africa before? Awesome!
Calabar is a coastal city in West Africa and was the capital of pre-colonial Nigeria. It was also a major slave trading port. Around 2 million out of the 10 million slaves shipped out from West Africa came from the region of Calabar (1/5th). Anyone from Jamaica in the house? In Jamaica there is a Calabar High School, I learnt it’s the best school in Jamaica. It’s named after a place called Calabar in Jamaica where ex-slaves from Calabar settled and named the place after their origin.

•If I am able to provide a short narrative about how one of the earliest African ethnic groups pioneered the migration of Africans to UK would that be a good use of our time?

•Black History Month gives us the opportunity to learn the stories of those we may not have known much about until now. So, in the
interest of deepening our well of historical knowledge, let me share with you a brief narrative about the migration of Africans from the Efik tribe of Calabar to the UK.

•The migration of Efik people to the UK had been in various waves. The first set of migrants were children of Efik Chiefs brought to the UK in the 18th century by various British slave trade ship captains as part of commercial trade arrangements to train the children in U.K. schools for a couple of years.

•The next wave of migration to the U.K. by the Efiks was in the 19th century. Lots of children of the middle class and elite in Calabar migrated to the UK in large numbers by ship from Calabar and Apapa ports. Most of them went in pursuit of education and many of them settled in U.K. without returning back. According to the shipping records archived by Ancestry.co.uk, there were over 800 travellers by sea from Calabar port to Liverpool and Bristol between 1835 and 1935, 90% were Efik migrants.

•The final wave of Efik migration took place in the 1950’s-1960’s by lots of educated Efik young adults who were looking for the next step in higher education and out of resilience took the 21 day trip by sea on the Elder Dempster ship to Liverpool.

•In 1767 seven Captains of English vessels ( 3 from Liverpool 3 from Bristol and 1 from London) berthed their ships at the shores of Old Calabar in West Africa and massacred 450 Efik people in order to double-cross their slave business partner. They also took away 500 slaves on discount and kidnapped 3 family members of the slave trading Chief.

In 1767 these 3 Efik princes were taken on a long journey through 3 different continents and finally landed in the UK, against their will. The story has been recently captured in the book ‘The Two Princes of Calabar’ by Professor Randy Sparks.

•If you don’t learn from history, history will end up teaching you a lesson. The lessons of history are not about blood, sweat and tears, it’s about learning the lessons and not allowing history to repeat itself on your watch.

•On our watch the history of migration to the UK is repeating itself again. Migrants from Africa are taking the perilous journey from Northern Africa to Europe by sea on a daily basis and are also dying at sea on a daily basis. No one in the media is talking about it, it’s our responsibility to highlight the self-enforced plight of our brothers who may never make it by sea.

•It’s time to reflect and ask ourselves if we have done enough to be part of the solution rather than complain about the problem.

•History is a social mirror which we use to project the image of the past into the future. If you don’t like what you are seeing in the mirror, as a change agent, you can realign the spectrum and impose your societal ideas.

•Conclusion:
I like playing Chess since I was 6 years old. On the Chess board, the white player always moves first. The white player always has the advantage. On a balance of probability, the White player should always win a game of chess. The White player controls the game. For the black chess player to win, they need to be more strategic and have positional awareness. The odds are stacked against them.

When you are a black player on a chess board, black is black. In the mind of the public policy makers in United Kingdom there is no Black African or Black Caribbean. To them you are just an IC3, a black crime statistic.

However, when they want to divide us, they will bring out education statistics and state that Black Africans perform better at schools than Black Caribbeans.

•You can’t compete with someone who is always one step ahead of you but you can position yourself to take advantage of your opponents situation and turn things around.

•Black History Month is always a good time to reflect and see how many pieces you have left on the chess board.

•Don’t pressurise your children by telling them that they have to work twice as hard as their white counterparts in order to get to where they are. That’s what our parents used to tell us.

•When it’s their move on the chess board teach them how to strategise, position themselves dominate their environment.

•Because when a people don’t learn the lessons from history, history has a way of teaching people lessons. May the Black History Month teach you a positive lesson and thank you very much for listening.

All roads lead to Slough this Sunday the 30^{th h} of April , as an amazing initiative called “Panzvimbo” will be organizing the very best in Entertainment featuring  Bridget Gavanga at The Slough Cricket Club, Upton Court Road, Slough, SL3 7 LT    For more info, contact  07766716490

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Come and Network and be part of a colourful day, Come and have fun, party and let your head down as the warm season of summer unfolds

The future is filled with many great beginnings, Our vision is to promote community cohesion among Southern  Africans, the best is yet to come

Nox is simply an African Urban Contemporary Artist, Born Enock Guni better known as Nox on the 6th of September 1983; He grew up in the ghetto of Kuwadzana, Harare Zimbabwe, and Attended Kuwadzana 2 Primary School from 1990. In 1997 he enrolled at Ellis Robins High School in Malbereign, till 2000.

In the year 2001, he enrolled for A- Level at Morgan High School in Braeside/Arcadia where he started his music career in 2002. He was doing Economics, MOB and Geo and was one of the top students and came up with 12 points.

In 2003, Nox enrolled with Midlands State University for a Bcomm Honors Degree in marketing which he completed with flying colors in 2007. By October 2011, Nox had released many hit songs from his 6 albums and some of the hit songs are Iwe Maria, Nguva Ichauya, Chigutiro, Ruvarangu/Juliet, Kunerima, Washanduka, Ndinoshuwa, Kudakwashe, Iwe Rudo, Garandichauya, Wandinoda, Tanakirana, Ini Ndada, Andipengesa, Wenera and Fona.

He has performed with almost everyone in Zimbabwe, and has done duets with a lot of people including Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso. He has now become popular across the globe. Early Life Born in a family of 6 and now based in Midrand, South Africa. With 9 successful albums to his name since 2002, singer, songwriter, performer, founder/owner/CEO of Ice n Roes…..Africa, here is the future of African Urban Contemporary Music! Career In 2002 he participated in a reality ZTV show called Superstar. In 2003 whilst studying for his Marketing Degree at the Midlands States University he joined the Shape Zimbabwe project where he was spotted by Roy and Royce and he released his first hit radio single “Iwe Maria” In 2004 Nox released his first album titled “Wandipengesa” In 2005 under Chigutiro Stable he penned Chigutiro anthem together with Blush for Chigutiro Compilation 2. He also wrote songs for Diana Samkange and Nyasha on that album In 2006 Nox released his second studio album titled “Rhythm and Blues” where the song “Nguva Ichauya” featuring Cindy reached number 1 on Power FM’s top 100 in 2007.

In 2007 Nox joined forces with Tawanda Mugodhi and Trevor Dongo and they formed Afrounik and released an album titled “Uniqueness” which had a gospel hit song called Musipo. In 2008 Nox relocated to South Africa and released his third studio album titled “Chapter 3” which had a chat topping song titled “Ndinoshuwa” featuring Leonard Mapfumo. In 2009 Nox released his fourth album titled “Music Love and Me” which had “Garandichauya which was number 1 on Zimnet Radio Top 50. The album was used on various World Cup SA 2010 stadiums and had big names from all over Africa including 2 Face, P Square, Jozi, Nameless and others. The same song was also picked by MNET for their reality show, BIG BROTHER AFRICA ALL STARS and they played it several times in the House including Nox’s other Songs.

In 2010 Nox released his fifth album titled “Zim’s Finest: Tisu tine Yese” with hits such as “Ini” In the same year Nox invited his fellow Urban Grover’s for shows dubbed Urban Loving Concert in SA that saw Sniper, Trevor, Roki, Tawanda Mugodhi and Cindy performing. Ndada Tanakirana and Andipengesa, In 2011 Nox released his 6th album called: Classic Love Songs which had great love songs like Fona which featured Decibel and Trinta, Ngatisanyadzise ft Cindy, Vasikana Vanoda, Tsime Rerudo and 5 more. In 2012 Nox under his new Record Label and Studio released his most successful album Ice n Roses which carried the single Ndinonyara which stayed on Power fm weekly top 10, number 1 position for 63 days. The song Ndinonyara was voted number 4 on Radio Zimbabwe top 100, number 11 on Power FM top 100 In the same year Nox did the Zim Ndinonyara Invasion Tour which saw him performing in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Mutare, Zvishavane and Plum tree.

He also performed at a high profile Delta and HIFA Lion Lager Beer Festival supporting Psquare He also performed at the Gtel Face of Zimbabwe He released his first video to be accepted on Channel O titled “I love you” Nox toured UK 8 times and Australia performing in London, Leicester, Manchester Coventry, Birmingham, Luton, Dunstable, Leeds, Liverpool, Chester, Slough, Melbourne and most recently China. He won the ZIMAA UK Most Touring Artist of the year award In 2013 Nox visited Jairos Jiri School where he donated soaps and snacks and spend the day entertaining them. In 2013 Nox released his eighth album titled “8th Wonder” with a single Riding Solo topping Zifm charts and a potential song for the whole African market being on number 25 on the top 40 African Songs competing for the top spot. Nox ultimate goal is to take the International Music industry by storm and for his music to be available on all parts of the Globe, and he aspires to be at the top like his musical icons Craig David, Joe Thomas and R Kelly. In 2015 Nox released his Ninth album titled “Road to Africa’s Best” with Hits like “Number 1,” “Chandakatadza Chii,” “Gumbo Mudoro ft Jah Prayzah,” “Ndibatsirei,” “Angelina ft Okoye Swag,” “Fake” and “How Does it Feel?” 2016 will see the release of is Tenth Project titled “Africa’s Best”

The plight of the girl child.

In Nigeria, an estimated 23 percent of women aged 15-19 years have begun childbearing, of which 17 percent have had their first child and 5 percent are pregnant with their first child. Also, 32 percent of teenagers in rural areas have begun childbearing, as opposed to 10 percent in the urban areas of Nigeria (DHS).

Let’s all lend our voice and speak against this.
Your widows mite will be greatly appreciated to see this become a success.
See flyer for more details..

In contact lists of people the world over, tons of Omolaras exist. In music though, and possibly in your heart (once you hear her songs) there is really only one. Expansive in taste and skill, Omolara is the consummate artist. Clichés be damned: she really does sing like an angel.

While that is often enough to charm, she accompanies her vocal talent with astute lyricism. More than just a talented singer, Omolara is an accomplished songwriter. She put out her first single “Be Like Yours” in 2009.

Since then, she has been very busy sharing her lyrical artistry and adding polish to music for Nigeria’s premium talents. In the recent past, she has written smash hits for, amongst others, Asa, Darey, Bez and Praiz. An enviable songwriting CV also includes credits for projects with the likes of Cobhams Asuquo, Timi Dakolo and Chidinma Ekile.

Blessed with a rousing, unique voice and crisp musical sensibilities, Omolara’s music is sure to make you feel and remember

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

MY SERVICES IN 2017 AND BEYOND- CONTACT ME TODAY

CONTACT ME TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY SERVICES, ALSO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES ON A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA ONLINE NETWORK

HULL JAZZ FESTIVAL

25TH SUMMER EDITION – 11 – 15 JULY 2017

2017’s a big year for Hull Jazz Festival. As well as taking part in the year-long celebrations for Hull UK City of Culture 2017, we’re celebrating our 25^th birthday this November with a special 10-day edition of the festival.

Summer Edition – 11 – 15 July

The 25^th Summer Edition of Hull Jazz Festival runs from 11 – 15 July at venues across the city. It continues our tradition of programming some of the freshest names in UK jazz alongside internationally-renowned artists, whilst also providing a platform for local and regional jazz talent.

We open on Tuesday 11^th July with Snake Davis and his Classic Sax Solos show. A big favourite with Hull audiences, Snake brings his band to Hull Truck to perform some of the best-loved sax solos from the last 50 years.

Wednesday 12^th July sees a long overdue reunion show by one of Hull’s most popular jazz bands. 25 years after their meteoric reign as the North’s top swing outfit, Ain’t Misbehavin’ take us on a joyful romp through 1930s dance sounds, inspired by the Hot Club de France.

Across town at Fruït on the 12th we’ve got a double bill of local Hull talent with festival favourites Bud Sugar and Chiedu Oraka.

On Thursday 13th July, Hull Truck hosts a show with New York sax titan Donny McCaslin and his quartet, the band behind the music on David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. Blending influences from jazz, electronica and the rock music he listened to growing up, McCaslin’s the new face of jazz fusion.

Fans of Jazz Manouche are in for a treat on Friday 14^th July as we welcome Sébastien Giniaux Trio (France) and The Grimaldi Quartet (UK), two young ensembles at the forefront of the modern gypsy jazz scene.

Also on Friday 14th, across town at Kardomah94 and in assocation with Hulljazz, we have a special performance of trombonist Paul Taylor‘s Jazz in Hull: People and Places suite.

On Saturday 15^th July we present two of the UK’s most exciting new jazz acts alongside a special performance by two giants of the UK jazz and soul scenes.

With influences from jazz, hip-hop, Afrobeat and South African Township, all-female septet Nérija are blazing a trail for women in jazz. And fiery saxophone-drum duo Binker & Moses, winner of UK Jazz Act of the Year at the 2016 Jazz FM Awards, have already developed a fiercely loyal following for their hypnotic live shows.

On Saturday evening, we’re delighted to welcome back Courtney Pine CBE with Black Notes From the Deep, a brand new project that sees him collaborate with UK soul legend Omar. The two friends will be performing original material together for the first time alongside Courtney’s band.

Tickets for all of the above shows are now on sale from Hull Truck Theatre and Hull Box Office (for the shows at Fruït and Kardomah94). Click on the individual events below for full details.

Festival Ticket Offers:

Saturday Saver – see all 3 Hull Truck shows for £35 (students and under-26s £12)

Festival Saver – See 3 Hull Truck shows for the price of 2 (cheapest ticket free)

These Saver ticket offers can’t be bought via the Hull Truck website, please call the Hull Truck box office on 01482 323638 to book.

Winter Edition – 11 – 18 November

Our official 25th birthday celebrations get underway in November with an extended 9-day festival.

Headlining, we’re very excited to announce that guitarist Pat Metheny is making a special visit to Hull City Hall on Saturday 11 November as part of his world tour and to celebarate Hull 2017 UK City of Culture and Hull Jazz Festival’s 25th anniversary.

Performing with a stellar quartet featuring Gwilym Simcock on piano, the exceptional Linda Oh on bass and long-time sidekick Antonio Sanchez on drums, Metheny will perform music from across his extraordinary career. Early booking advised!

On Saturday 18 November, as the culmination of The Jazz Ticket, we present a special performance of A Journey with the Giants of Jazz, performed by the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, directed by Peter Edwards.  A new piece by Peter Edwards, commisioned by Turner Sims as part of the PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial, the work celebrates six giants of the jazz world who were born in 1917. The show will start with performances of works by the six jazz giants, performed by young people from Hull and East Riding schools.

The Huddersfield Carnival is organised by Huddersfield African Caribbean Cultural Trust (HACCT) with support from the Huddersfield community and sponsors.

The overall aim of the Trust is to advance, promote, encourage and develop appreciation of and participation in African & Caribbean culture. Including carnival, street arts, African/Caribbean traditions, music and crafts in particular. But not exclusively through the provision of arts workshops, activities and events throughout the year and by the promotion and organisation of an annual carnival in Huddersfield in the interest of social welfare with the object of improving the condition of life of the local inhabitants.

To achieve this, the Trust works in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of cultural and artistic activities.

Huddersfield African Caribbean Cultural Trust organises Huddersfield Carnival, a two-day programme of events held annually during the second weekend in July.

The organisation facilitates a year-round programme of participatory cultural activities rooted in the Caribbean tradition, with schools, young people and families which feed’s and sustains Carnival Weekend.

In terms of the number of participants and audience, a conservative estimate suggests that over 40,000 people attend the Huddersfield Carnival each year. Therefore represents a significant event in the town’s cultural calendar and provides a substantial boost to the local economy.

Address: 5-7 Station Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 1LS

Phone: 01484 536542
Email:  carnivaladmin@btconnect.com
Youtube: Huddersfield Carnival
Facebook: Huddersfield Carnival
Instagram: #Huddersfield Carnival
Twitter: @HuddersfieldCarnival