Africa Centre

Africa Centre The Africa Centre promotes Africa's cultural and social diversity, showcasing dynamic cultural events for its diaspora and all Africaphiles.

For over 50 years the organisation has been the spirit and soul of African culture for those visiting from abroad. The Africa Centre is a London-based charity that celebrates the diversity of Africa and its diaspora. It serves its communities by providing spaces for experiencing African culture and heritage, enterprise, and exchange of ideas. The organisation aims to promote Africa-inspired though

t and innovation through art, culture, entrepreneurship, and innovation. With an original remit to foster non-governmental relations between newly independent Africa and Britain, The Africa Centre’s mission is to educate, connect, and advocate for Africa and its global diaspora, creating a home away from home for Africans in the UK and a warm and welcoming space for anyone with an interest in Africa

Founded in 1964, The Africa Centre’s remit has been to bring Africa’s cultural diversity to the fore and to promote greater awareness about political and socio-economic developments affecting the continent and its diaspora. It was initially based on King Street, Covent Garden for 50 years before relocating to Southwark, London, where it recently launched its new flagship building. The Africa Centre’s new home is a former 1960s office block that has been beautifully transformed into a new home for contemporary African culture and heritage. It houses a pan-African restaurant on the ground floor, a bar on the first, an art gallery on the second, and a temporary event space on the third floor. The third and fourth floors will be fully completed in a later second phase after the required funds have been raised.

From palm wine bars to dancefloors across the diaspora 🌍✨Join British-Nigerian DJ & archivist Dare Balogun as he traces ...
09/06/2026

From palm wine bars to dancefloors across the diaspora 🌍✨

Join British-Nigerian DJ & archivist Dare Balogun as he traces the journey of African rhythm through highlife and beyond. Expect a soulful blend of sounds that connect generations, rooted in history, driven by feeling.

This is more than music. It’s memory, movement, and pure joy.

🍷 Palm wine available
🎶 Come ready to listen, learn, and dance

CulturalVibes

An evening of stories, reflection, and powerful conversation 🌊📚✨Excited to join journalist and presenter Audrey Brown fo...
07/05/2026

An evening of stories, reflection, and powerful conversation 🌊📚✨

Excited to join journalist and presenter Audrey Brown for a discussion on At Sea — a novel exploring ambition, prejudice, principle, and the consequences of our choices.

📍 The Africa Centre, London
🗓️ 5 June 2026
⏰ 6PM – 8PM

Looking forward to sharing this story and connecting with readers. 💫

Join us Today for Dr King Smade’s London Marathon afterparty to celebrate and fundraise!Dr. SMADE is running to fundrais...
26/04/2026

Join us Today for Dr King Smade’s London Marathon afterparty to celebrate and fundraise!

Dr. SMADE is running to fundraise for The Africa Centre, to keep alive the UK’s leading African institution, and now it is time to celebrate in style 🌍🏅

Expect great music, good vibes, and plenty of well deserved drinks as we come together to cheer, share stories from the day, and show some love for an amazing achievement!

🎧 🎶 We have 8 fantastic DJs bringing us incedible vibes and infectious beats throughout the day:

MDKAY, BOSSIIE, JADA JADE, The Businessman, DJShakespeare, TRIPL3B, CHIZZ NANA, Slim Kule, and Meesha!

We also have a raffle with lots of fantastic prizes!

Whether you followed every mile or are just here to celebrate the cause, this night is all about support, community, and a job well done 🏃🎊

Bring your energy, your cheers, and your dancing shoes and let’s make it a time to remember 🎉

Donation Link in Bio and you also donate
via: www.africacentre.org.uk

🏃🏾‍♀️✨ Join the Cheer Squad at the London Marathon! ✨🏃🏾‍♂️We’re coming together for an exciting and meaningful moment as...
23/04/2026

🏃🏾‍♀️✨ Join the Cheer Squad at the London Marathon! ✨🏃🏾‍♂️

We’re coming together for an exciting and meaningful moment as we support our amazing runner, Dr. SMADE! 💪🏾🔥

Catch us at the first water station (2.6 miles in) as we bring the energy, the noise, and the love — those early miles matter, and your support can make all the difference! 📣🌍

🎉 What to expect:
• High vibes & powerful community energy
• A chance to be part of something special
• An unforgettable marathon experience

📣 What to bring:
• Your loudest cheers
• Signs, African flags & banners
• Positive energy & comfy outdoor wear

Let’s show up strong and make it count — every cheer matters! 🙌🏾🔥

🔗 Check the link in bio for full details & to join us!

The miles don’t stop at the finish line 🏁After the London Marathon, we celebrate with purpose at The Africa Centre 🌍🎉Dr....
23/04/2026

The miles don’t stop at the finish line 🏁
After the London Marathon, we celebrate with purpose at The Africa Centre 🌍🎉

Dr. SMADE ran to fundraise and support one of the UK’s leading African institutions ❤️
Now it’s time to come together—celebrate the achievement, share the energy, and give back.

Expect incredible music, unreal vibes, and a powerful sense of community 🎧🔥

* raffle prizes to be won 🎁

Whether you ran, cheered, or just want to support the cause… this night is for YOU 🏃🎊

🎟️ Tickets — link in bio
📍 66 Great Suffolk St, London
📅 26 April

Step into the sound, story, and soul of Black British music 🎶Join us at The Africa Centre for the launch of Escaping Bab...
22/04/2026

Step into the sound, story, and soul of Black British music 🎶

Join us at The Africa Centre for the launch of Escaping Babylon: An Intimate History of Black British Music by Jesse Bernard — a powerful exploration of how 30 years of Black music has reshaped Britain.

From jungle and hip-hop to grime and UK trap, this is a journey through culture, creativity, and community.

In conversation with Zakia Sewell + DJ set by Jamie Joy to carry the vibe through the night.

📍 The Africa Centre, London
📅 21 May 2026
⏰ 7–9PM

Tap the link in bio to secure your spot.

UKMusic Culture TheAfricaCentre

Join us for a Capoeira class at The Africa Centre, facilitated by Capoeira Angola Kanaga, where you will learn the funda...
21/04/2026

Join us for a Capoeira class at The Africa Centre, facilitated by Capoeira Angola Kanaga, where you will learn the fundamentals of Capoeira.

An Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music, and cultural expression, originating from the struggles of enslaved Africans in Brazil. All levels welcome!

Tickets | £18 (link in bio)

Honored to share that The Africa Centre has been recognised at the Civic Trust Awards as a Highly Commended project.This...
20/04/2026

Honored to share that The Africa Centre has been recognised at the Civic Trust Awards as a Highly Commended project.

This milestone is a testament to our vision of creating a dynamic, inclusive space that celebrates African and diaspora culture, community, and connection. We are proud of what this space represents—and of everyone who has helped bring it to life.

As we celebrate this achievement, we are also reminded that spaces like this need ongoing support to thrive. If you believe in the importance of keeping The Africa Centre’s doors open for future generations, we invite you to support us.

Please consider making a donation — link in bio.

Together, we can sustain and grow a home for culture, creativity, and community. 🌍✨

Hey London! Come and join us this Sunday for our One Day Run Club! 💥Are you ready to build hype for our London Marathon ...
17/04/2026

Hey London! Come and join us this Sunday for our One Day Run Club! 💥

Are you ready to build hype for our London Marathon Fundraiser next week?! Our marathon hero Dr. King SMADE wants your support 🏃✨

Tickets available on our Eventbrite, link in bio

A Tribute to Margaret Busby CBE — Icon of the Africa CentreLast night, the Africa Centre had the profound honour of cele...
28/03/2026

A Tribute to Margaret Busby CBE — Icon of the Africa Centre

Last night, the Africa Centre had the profound honour of celebrating one of the most extraordinary figures in our cultural life: Margaret Busby CBE.
As Margaret launched her new book ‘Part of the Story’ at The Africa Centre among us, it felt entirely fitting that this moment took place here. Like Margaret herself, The Africa Centre has always stood as a home for African voices, ideas, and stories.

Margaret’s career has intertwined with the Centre’s for over 6 decades and it was with immense pride that we presented Margaret with our Icon of the Africa Centre award. This recognition barely scratches the surface of what she means to us and to generations of writers, readers and thinkers across the African diaspora. She became Britain’s youngest and first Black woman publisher when she co-founded Allison & Busby in the 1960s, and her landmark anthologies Daughters of Africa and New Daughters of Africa remain two of the most important works in our literary canon.

But more than her titles and accolades, what moves us most is her spirit: the quiet, unwavering conviction that African stories matter, that they must be told, and that the people telling them deserve a champion in their corner. Margaret has been that champion for over half a century. Moreover, Margaret is one of the most beautiful souls whose very presence elevates the spirit of any space she occupies.

It is interesting that one of the pieces in the book is an essay on her relationship with Wole Soyinka. Wole Soyinka was recognised as an icon of The Africa Centre on his 90th birthday 2 years ago. Margaret and Wole met at The Africa Centre in the 1970s.

Last night was a celebration of a remarkable book (a selected collection of her writing over 5 decades), a remarkable woman, and a remarkable friendship between Margaret and this Centre. We are grateful, we are inspired, and we are proud to call her our own.

Thank you, Margaret. Stay Wonderful!

‘We are privileged to ever interact with those who bear the burden of our admiration’ - Margaret Busby, pg 319 Part of the Story

Address

66-68 Suffolk Street
London
SE10BL

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+442080046436

Website

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