UWE Bristol is recognising the value its African staff and students bring to the city with a weeklong showcase of events.
Africa Week – which runs from Monday to Friday next week – aims to highlight the work of Africans in diverse fields in the UK and to challenge, explore and celebrate the heritage, diversity and progress made by Africans both at the University and beyond.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Africa Week, the 2017 Africa Week promises to be an even better programme of events. Staff, students and the local community are invited to come along and enjoy the activities. 
Celebrations began last night with a pre-launch event at Spike Island in collaboration with Ujima Radio.
Guests enjoyed a late opening of the Lubaina Himid Navigation Charts exhibition with live poetry, fashion, dancing and music from top Bristol artists and UWE Bristol students as well as an insight into the excellent film directing career from multi award winning and Oscar-nominated film director Professor Florence Ayisi.
The week’s highlights include a launch event sports day, film screening, educational forum and debate and capping off celebrations with a cultural showcase.
Monday March 27, 6pm-8pm. The Field, Almondsbury Sports & Social Club, Gloucester Rd, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4AF
Africa Week 2017 begins with a charity football match between Africa vs Rest of the World (ROW). In 2016, the Africa team was victorious with a 4-2 win over the ROW. Will it be the same in 2017?
Tuesday March 28, 12:30pm-5pm. Frenchay Campus room 2D67 (booking required)
Film screening of A United Kingdom, a 2016 film telling the story of Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana, who causes an international stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s. Alongside the film, there will be a short engaging play reflecting the African discourse put together by UWE students in collaboration with a Nigerian theatre arts academic from the Bristol community.
Wednesday March 29, 12:30pm-5pm. Frenchay Campus room 2D67 (booking required)
Educational Forum on Cultural Identity featuring keynote speaker, Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE, Managing Director of Ayebia Clarke Publishing Ltd. There will also be seminars delivered by multinational company, General Electric (GE) on cultural diversity and transitioning to the real world and the Aspiring Professionals Hub (APH) delivering a workshop on navigating life in and out of University. The event concludes with a thought provoking panel discussion on the topic of ‘Does your hair matter’.
Thursday March 30, 5.30pm-8:30pm. Glenside Campus (booking required)
Is mental health the next big challenge in Africa?
Come along and listen to speakers from a range of health backgrounds and charity organisations and join in the discussion. Mental health is a major problem globally however in Africa this in many areas remains the “elephant in the room”. This event is aimed at bringing together health professionals from the University, health related sectors and the community to discuss the challenges facing the African continent and the BME community in Bristol and the UK around the topic of mental health.
Friday March 31, 6pm-10pm, UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre (free event)
Experience a taste of Africa as the week’s festivities draw to a close with the Africa Week Celebration and Showcase. Come along and enjoy cultural and creative performances from the UWE Bristol students and guest artists from across the UK.
Africa Week programme director Dr Emmanuel Adukwu said: “The Africa Week programme engages the university community in a way no other activity does, as it brings together a wealth of talent to promote the core message of the importance of inclusivity, opportunity and more importantly diversity of talent. I am extremely proud of the reach of the Africa Week to both Africans and non-Africans at the university and globally.”
Pro vice-chancellor, student experience, Jo Midgley added: “The number of African students studying at the university has seen a steady increase. I am delighted that our African students do equally well back in Africa when they graduate as our own students do in the UK. I hope this is as a result of how welcoming the city of Bristol and UWE can be and recognition of the value those students bring to the city.”
UWE Bristol supports a number of volunteering projects and placement opportunities including Project Zulu and the UWE Global Water Security Project that are making a real difference to communities throughout Africa.
Click here to watch the video of last year’s inaugural Africa Week.
