Given the sheer number of events that are now proliferating around Africa Day (May 27^th), it is quite gratifying that this commemoration of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU is increasingly being recognised as an opportunity for reflective and dignified programming in line with the ethos of Pan-Africanism. I was delighted to attend a number of events through the month at The Africa Centre, as well as with other partners, that celebrated Africa authentically and unapologetically. At all of these, I found myself reflecting on how as Africans we express our dignity.

At The Africa Centre, every programme we curate, every artist we host and every conversation we convene is grounded in a singular intention to uphold and celebrate African dignity. As a 60-year-old cultural institution, we recognise the imperative of our radical foundations to develop a dignified shared future for all people of African descent.

To walk with dignity is not to seek approval or pity, but to claim our rightful place in the world with clarity, pride and purpose. In a global climate where African stories are too often filtered through foreign (‘mainstream’) lenses, our work is about reclaiming space through culture, connection and creativity. A large part of this act of radical reclamation is the need for re-education and decolonisation.

On a recent trip to Uganda, I was struck by how often local guides described lakes, mountains and rivers as having been “discovered” by Europeans. These were sites long held sacred by their own local communities; places with names, histories and meanings that predate colonial intrusion by several centuries, at the very least. That repeated word discovered was a quiet but stark reminder of how colonial narratives persist in everyday speech. How can a river be discovered when people have lived beside it for generations and took the so-called explorers there?

This is why decolonisation remains at the heart of The Africa Centre’s work. We are not simply celebrating culture, we are correcting the record. We are challenging inherited stories and received nonsense and restoring African knowledge systems to their rightful, place at the centre of our identity-making project. We believe that dignity begins with truth, a truth that must be told in our own voices.

Few thinkers understood this better than the late, great Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the revered Kenyan writer and intellectual whose legacy continues to shape African thought globally. Through his fearless advocacy for African languages, Ngũgĩ taught us that language is not neutral but a powerful site of contestation for us to make meaning of ourselves.

To choose to write in Gikuyu instead of English, to affirm African languages as vehicles of literature and intellect, was in itself an act of profound dignity. Ngugi reminded us that we cannot claim freedom if we still borrow the words of our oppressors to describe ourselves and tell our own stories. Ngũgĩ, who was a staple friend and guest at The Africa Centre in the 1970s and 80s, left us with a plethora of work that remain a guiding light in our mission to centre African perspectives. May he rest in love, peace and power.

Last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House for a high-level diplomatic engagement with President Donald Trump. Of course, Trump seized the opportunity to spring a typical ‘gotcha!’ moment, riddled with inaccuracies. While the initial impulse I had was frustration about the lack of stronger pushback by Pres. Ramaphosa on the fallacies in Trump’s ‘presentation’, on further reflection, I realised that what resonated beyond the drama was his calm, grounded and proud presence. Moments like these reflect another key point we should all champion: that dignity is not performance, but posture. It is about being seen, on our own terms, without compromise.

Last month, we also hosted the UK launch of the UK-Kenya Season 2025. As UK delivery partners with the British Council Kenya, we have now in the throes of finalised an exciting programme of events. Please see the link here. The season kicked off with the exhibition, In Transit Under Another Sky, curated by Rosie Olang and Mirembe, which draws on these same themes of agency and dignity. It reframes African migration not as loss or escape, but as an intentional act of survival and reinvention. This is dignity as a form of quiet resistance.

From the sacred Yoruba teachings of Ifá, we can draw further strength and affirmation: "Bi a ba ni ki a j’ogun ogo, a gbọdọ kọ́kọ́ j’ogun ìwà." ("If we are to inherit honour, we must first inherit character.")
(Odu Ifá: Otura Meji)

In Ifá cosmology, dignity (iyi) does not come from external validation. It flows from within, from living a life of good character, deep self-awareness and spiritual alignment.

This aligns fully with our work at The Africa Centre: to promote dignity for Africans that does not depend on others to define it but is rooted in values and self-knowledge. It means that we know and share that our rivers did not need discovery, our names have their beauty, and we stand unapologetically in our dignity, just because we always have. 

Standing at the source of the Nile in Jinja, I marvelled at the humble yet powerful spot in the middle of Lake Victoria (another name that needs to go!), where bubbling water oozed out of a hole in the earth to unleash over 6,000 km of power called the River Nile. I realised that this is who we all are: oozing bubbles of power from unknown hidden African depths to flood plains, feed lands and be a source of joy, power and identity for multitudes. Let us keep building a world that starts from within, with a dignity radiating out from our individual and collective places of power.

Happy June!

Olu.

Proverb of the Month: "When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you." (translated from Yoruba).

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FROM OUR FRIENDS

Reclaiming Cocoa + Director Q&A

"Reclaiming Cocoa" uncovers the inequities of Ghana’s cocoa industry, tracing its colonial roots and exposing modern exploitation. From farms to Swiss chocolate shelves, it reveals hidden truths while spotlighting Ghanaian innovators reclaiming value locally. A powerful call for justice, resilience, and a future where cocoa benefits those who grow it.

The film reveals the bitter human realities that hide behind the sweetness of almost every bar: In a poignant look at family life, we meet the Narteys, a multigenerational farming family whose children work the fields instead of going to school. As a Swiss chocolate giant boasts ethical practices, we go undercover to expose a system rife with exploitation and deception. Middlemen confess to mislabelling beans and manipulating scales, unveiling deep cracks in the traceability and sustainability promised by the industry.

Showing this Saturday, the 21st of June, 2 pm at the Phoenix Studios. More Information here

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54.60 AFRICA
Conceived and directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr

54.60 Africa is a vibrant, pan-African theatrical journey blending music, dance, myth, and storytelling. Inspired by Femi Elufowoju Jr’s quest to visit all 54 African countries before turning 60, the show follows eleven friends given seven days to prove Africa’s worth to the world. Featuring a dynamic 11-strong cast and live music from The Ganda Boys, it explores identity, legacy, and celebration. This epic production marks the triumphant return of Femi Elufowoju Jr Ensemble to Arcola Theatre after the success of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr with a stellar creative team, 54.60 Africa is a bold celebration of African resilience, power, and potential across borders and generations.

Venue: Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL

Dates + times: 14 June – 12 July 2025; Mon – Sat at 19:30 + Saturday matinees t 15:00

Captioned Performance: Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Relaxed Performance: Saturday, 28 June 2025 (15:00 matinee) 

Box office: www.arcolatheatre.com

Tickets: from £15 - £39 / £12 - £32 (previews)

Pay what you can Tuesdays (limited allocation available in person from 6 pm)