Moves To Save London's Africa Centre
Leading African figures are joined by British politicians to save iconic Africa Centre after news of it“secret sale” was leaked.
Some of Africa’s best known figures – including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, philanthropist Mo Ibrahim and global music stars Youssou N’Dour and Angelique Kidjo – are being joined by leading British politicians to save the Africa Centre in Covent Garden from being sold to developers.
Mayor Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and former Africa Minister Baroness Kinnock back the plea to the Trustees of the Centre to “have second thoughts, and to hold an open meeting to discuss a viable future for the Africa Centre”.
News of plans to push through the sale of the Africa Centre was leaked a week ago by a newspaper, sparking a global internet campaign to prevent its imminent closure.
Over 500 people have signed an online petition and hundreds have registered their support for the Centre on Facebook.
Opened 50 years ago by Kenneth Kaunda, the Africa Centre is a gift from the Catholic Church.
Having hosted thousands of cultural events and political meetings, and with a vibrant events programme still in place, the Africa Centre is not only the social, artistic and commercial face of Africa in Britain, it ensures that London remains the place where Africans meet to engage with the world.
The Covent Garden site has been offered for sale in a secret move by the Africa Centre’s Trustees.
Tenants of the building, which includes the Business Council for Africa, have not been informed of the sale, there has been no public discussion of plans for the Centre’s future, and there has been no consultation with the Centre's many supporters about the sale.
In an impassioned plea to the Trustees, Archbishop Desmond Tutu says:
“My message to the Trustees would be – this place is no ordinary building site… I appeal to you please listen to the appeal from the very, very many who have written to you to say ‘have second thoughts, look at other options.
You don’t think that a building can clutch at your heart in the way that that one does… It’s more than just a building. You know, in many ways it embodies the spirit of those who say ‘your continent is not just a catalogue of disasters - your continent is a home, and there’s a great deal of hope for it.
Africa is coming into its own. It’s one of the fastest developing parts of the world, and you want to be able to say: ‘this place was there when we were down - it must be there as we soar the heights!”
Mr Boko Inyundo spokesman for the campaign to save the Africa Centre, stressed that,
“This isn’t sentimental stuff. If the best known African landmark in Britain shuts up shop, then we are sending a message to the continent saying that the UK isn’t interested in Africa. China and India - which are investing so heavily in relations with African countries - must think we have taken leave of our senses.
“We are calling on the Trustees of the Africa Centre to think again. We need an open, honest and transparent process in which we can agree a viable future for the Africa Centre.”