African Forum

African Forum Arts Extravaganza is a platform for artists of African origin or with an affiliation to Africa to showcase and sell their works in Painting, Photography and Textile Design. The exhibition will take place from the 26th to the 28th of November 2009, at the Red Shed Building in High Wycombe's Bucks New University. Access will be free and unlimited daily from 10am to 6pm. An official launch will be marked with a Vernissage on November 26th at 7pm, with refreshments, drinks and music.

African Forum is a Community based Charity launched on November 13th 2007. It aims to bring the Community under the ‘African Tree’ to talk about the future and celebrate African Culture & Arts. Its Chair, Dr. Tonnie Adoh states: “Our mission is to celebrate, liberate, inform, and instil African value systems to our community. Our purpose is the meeting of Africans for discussions on the way forward for the African Communities in Great Britain and our positive influence and impact on the African Nation States.”

May 4th 2009 was the highlight for African Forum: it saw a high attendance to its successfully organised Health Jamboree at the Hilltop Community Centre in High Wycombe. The aim was to create awareness around common African and Caribbean related health issues. Over 250 members of the African and Caribbean community attended and an education drug box had over 120 visits. Sponsors included the NHS, PCT, Chiltern Support & Housing, AfriKan Heartbeat and DAAT.

Another important value for African Forum is to raise cultural awareness, to build community cohesion and build a spirit of strength. According to Dr. Tonnie Adoh, “the advancement, promotion and development of African culture, arts and heritage are crucial”. And one of the initiatives for this point, after a series of events related to Black History Month, is the introduction of the “Arts Extravaganza” exhibition. Participants will include Bucks New University students, Alumni and independent artists.

AF is proud to have, for instance, reknowned Nigerian artist Babatunde Ogunekun as one of its exhibitors. His colourful, abstract and extraordinary representations of the casual things of life will definitely give one the desire to see more.

Dr. Tonnie Adoh calls out for enthusiastic participation: “Come and support these artists by attending the exhibition and by spreading the word on the streets.”

Venue address:
Bucks New University
The Red Shed
Queen Alexandra Road
High Wycombe
Bucks HP11 2JZ
United Kingdom