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Ghanaian-American actress Maame Adjei, who plays Zainab in the hit web series An African City , will be discussing how African designers are pushing boundaries in fashion by challenging stereotypes and moving beyond tradition. Her talk, entitled 'Beyond Prints'  on 3 September, is one of a series of events being staged during the Africa Utopia festival in London’s Southbank Centre from 31 August until 4 September. Maame Adjei © blackmoviesentertainment.com Africa Utopia has been going since 2012 and is a celebration of all things African.  From food to fashion, spirituality to dance and discourse to music, the festival aims to offer something for everyone. There will be in-depth social and political discussions on gender, power and youth culture during the weekend. Why not come along to the one-hour talk from 1pm on Sunday entitled Gender and Power: African Feminisms Today? The slot will include a workshop on African feminism in the diaspora led ...

Traditionally, eating meat has long been viewed as a sign of affluence in many African cultures and the omission of meat from the diet - a sign of poverty. So when Ghana-born Ben Asamani chose to cut out meat, dairy and all meat products, the reaction was predictable. Vegan chef Ben Asamani wants to spread the benefits of veganism to a wider audience ©  MisBeee Writes Initially people thought that at 16 years old, it was a phase he would grow out of but decades later and Asamani has made a business out of veganism, and is keen to spread this way of life to others. Vegans do not eat any meat-based products and animal by-products such as eggs, diary, honey. This also extends to using leather, silk, wool and cosmetics derived from animals. Plant-based foods tend to be low in saturated fat, high in fibre and rich in antioxidants, which can combat against such health risks as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Other reasons for becoming vegan include...

I recently had the pleasure of participating in an International Day event organised by housing association HorizonAmicus in Stockwell, south London at the beginning of August. Flyer from AmicusHorizon The People's Guild of Ghana showcasing goods from Ghana  © MisBeee Writes It was a chance for my friends and I to share our knowledge of Ghanaian culture, fashion and history with others under the People's Guild of Ghana umbrella. But we were not the only ones celebrating our cultural heritage. During the four-hour event, visitors listened to a local South London steel band, South Asian dance performances, and took photos with the Pearly King of Peckham. There was a chance to sample cuisine from the Caribbean, Egypt, and Somalia as well as outstanding capoeira and samba performances from Brasil*(* Brasil spelt the Portuguese way*). MisBeee partying with the Pearly King of Peckham George Major Sophie Ansong of Ama Select surrounded by the...

Cutting-edge jazz music filled the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank in central London for one day only at the end of July, bringing together emerging and more established talent from across Britain. Kokoroko - young Afrobeat Collective performing at Jazz Re:Fest 2016  © MisBeee Writes I am not a fan of jazz but the exposition gave me a new appreciation of the musical form and how diverse it has become. Jazz Re:Fest 2016 is in its fourth year and is the brainchild of Jazz Re:Refreshed duo Justin McKenzie and Adam Moses. Eight live acts performed in total, drawing on influences from West Africa, and using everything from the cello to futuristic piano compilations, all interlaced with DJ interludes. Jazz is one of the musical forms that I can never firmly put my finger on when attempting to come up with a single definition. Its roots are clearly African-American, tied up with America’s often divisive social and political past (and present). It embodi...

Art historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford will visit Ghana in November to mark the centenary of the London-based School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) .  The institution is staging a  series of talks in Britain and further afield,  to celebrate the 100-year academic reputation it has cultivated across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Gus is a London-born writer and broadcaster, who is best known for fronting BBC Four programme 'Lost Kingdoms of Africa'. He told MisBeee in July he was one of a number  of SOAS alumni chosen to participate in talks across different African countries as part of the anniversary. Gus will be visiting Accra and will talk about Ghana’s heritage during the visit, he said during a seminar at the National Portrait Gallery, London.     Historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford speaks to MisBeee at the sidelines of a sculpture discussion at the National Portrait Gallery in July ©  MisBeee Writes...

Think yoga and more often than not images of Indian gurus sat in the lotus position, or lanky leotard-clad females able to touch their head with their toes are not too far behind. But one company is keen to position Black women firmly within that space and has launched of a yoga retreat that caters specifically for women of colour. Yoga for women of colour with Dr Stacie CC Graham founder of Oya Retreats ©  Dan Harley Photography  Founded by certified Hatha yoga instructor Dr Stacie CC Graham in January 2016, OYA Body-Mind-Spirit Retreats aim to create a nurturing space where Black women can meet, share their experiences as women as colour and learn about the ancient philosophy of yoga. The OYA name is derived from the deities or orishas in the traditional Yoruba religion. Oya is one of the many manifestations of God linked to winds and tempests, but also death and rebirth. The OYA Retreats come at a time when many people are struggling to strike t...

Africa Writes 2016 returns! Check out highlights from last year's event here .