Words Hannah Pool
Desmond Tutu describes it as “a home from home”. Zimbabwean filmmaker Farai Sevenzo calls it a "milestone” of the African liberation struggle. Over its 47-year history, London’s Africa Centre has played an important role in the UK’s relationship with Africa.
In March of this year, news of the trustees' decision to sell a 125-year leasehold for the building came to light, prompting the launch of the Save the Africa Centre (STAC) campaign. Now, after more than six months of campaigning, fans of the Africa Centre expect a decision imminently.
Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, the iconic building was acquired by the Catholic church in the 1960s and has since become a valuable resource for Africans, friends of Africa and the African diaspora.
Notable Africans such as Wole Soyinka, Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and Nigerian playwright Femi Osofisan have all joined the campaign to save the Africa Centre. An online petition has been signed by more than 4,000 supporters of the campaign, while award-winning architect David Adjay and Hadeel Ibrahimof the Mo Ibrahim Foundationhave put together an alternative proposal to the trust's plans to sell the building.
As fans of the Africa Centre await news of its fate, ARISE spoke to Dele Fatunla of the Save The Africa Centre campaign to find out whether they feel they’ve done enough to secure its survival:
Where are we with STAC campaign?
We’ve been told that the trustees will announce whether they intend to move forward with the proposal or pursue their original plans by the middle of October. However, so far we’ve not heard from them.
If the Africa Centre is simply moving, why does it need to be 'saved'?
The Africa Centre is not simply moving. The campaign was triggered precisely because a then-trustee was well aware that little to no plans had been put in place by the board for where the charity would continue its operations after a sale – and felt duty bound to make the wider African community aware of that. We sincerely believe that that lack of plans places the charity in great danger of closing down for good – it was this belief that inspired the campaign.
The STAC debate is quite heated, why?
When something like this comes up, which matters to people, the discussion is bound to be passionate. People care about the Africa Centre deeply and after almost 50 years at 38 King Street, it would be worrying if there wasn’t a vigorous debate about where the charity should be.
Why does the Africa Centre matter?
It’s one of the only physical places in London with a tangible link to the history of Africa and Africans in the UK – so much so that the AU [African Union] has named it a place of historic significance for the role it played in the liberation struggle. There are also now many millions more Africans in London and people interested in Africa now than at any time in the past. The question isn’t “why does the Africa Centre matter” but “can the UK and its African Diaspora really afford not to maintain this historic and much-loved connection to the continent?”
What are your memories of the Africa Centre?
My personal memories of the Africa Centre is of a building that is very much alive, vibrant and a place where I meet friends, go to discuss, engage and debate with people about Africa and its respective countries. I first discovered the Africa Centre when I was in University and was amazed to find a place that reminded me so much of home.
Dele Fatunla will be speaking at London's Rich Mix on October 22, alongside rising film-maker Rungano Nyoni.
Below, Desmond Tutu explains why the Africa center matters: