12th – John Legend (London, O2 Arena)
The silky-voiced crooner is the man of the hour at London’s O2 for one night only. John Legend doesn’t make it to this side of the pond as often as we’d like – so if you’re able to get tickets, it’s well worth heading out to see Luna’s daddy in action.
From £58.72, www.axs.com
Opening 21st – Basquiat: Boom for Real (London, Barbican)
For the first time in the UK, the works of pioneering American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) will be presented in a large-scale exhibition, showcasing collections of over 100. The self-taught artist was inspired from an array of anatomical drawings to bebop jazz, and the expansive collection reveals his relationship to music, text, film and television.
From £10-16, barbican.org.uk, closes 28th January 2018
Opening 21st – Zeraffa Giraffa (London, Little Angel Theatre, and Omnibus Theatre from 25th November)
It’s never too early to get the little ones involved in the theatre; and when it involves a true story about a travelling giraffe, how could you resist? Zeraffa Giraffa tells the little known tale of a giraffe that was captured in Ethiopia by the Pasha of Egypt and given as a gift to the King of France, Louis X in 1827. Recommended for ages four to eight, Sabrina Mahfouz’s puppet-based adaptation is a funny and emotionally engaging production.
From £8, littleangeltheatre.com, closes 4th November 2017; omnibus-clapham.org from 25 Nov til 17 Dec.
30th – The African Market (London, Old Spitalfields Market)
If you’re looking for high quality, handmade African inspired designs, then this is the event for you! From 11am to 6pm, the market provides an original and cultural shopping experience with accessories, jewellery, shoes, arts & crafts, homeware, natural beauty products, books, music and more. The African market raises awareness of local and international charities and funds this by selling goods.
Free entry.
Ongoing – Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power (London, Tate Modern)
Take the time out to visit this remarkable exhibition documenting the rise of African-American artwork from 1963 onwards – the birth of the Black Power movement. With a range of works illustrating the response to
Keep an eye out for ‘Diamond in a Box – William T Williams’: a film by Andy Mundy-Castle, which is a glance at the two studios in the state of New York, where Williams has created his social commentary through abstract art. He describes his sense of purpose graduating from art school in 1965, at the height of social, political issues in urban America which is the beginning of the Black Aesthetic Movement (BAM).
£15, www.tate.org.uk
