American icon headlines women’s festival, sitarist to perform; while we also take a look at free & community initiatives taking place after today…
ANOUSKHA SHANKAR is among one of several high profile women who will be marking International Women’s Day at one of the largest events ever organised for today – at The Royal Albert Hall in London and launching a one-off Women of the World (WOW) event.
Starting from 7pm, it is a celebration to mark fifteen years of WOW – Women of the World (festival).
Headliner Angela Davis will make a keynote address and among the guests will be one time pop star and now activist Annie Lennox; comedian and broadcaster Sandi Torsvig; black composer and musician Errollyn Wallen; actor, broadcaster and disability rights campaigner Liz Carr; and Rizzle Kicks music star Jordan Stephens.
The event is hosted by Jude Kelly, who founded WOW.
Davis is all set to take to the floor to address the audience on love in activism, hope and healing and talk about her love of blues music and her dreams going forward.
Shankar will perform and is expected to play tracks her from latest album, which will only be out next week officially – it is called, ‘Chapter III: We Return to Light’.
On her Instagram post (see below), about this, she told her 400K+ followers, that it was the culmination of a two year journey and she has composed a short haiku to encapsulate her feelings and has launched a special trilogy edition of her work ahead of the new album release.
Shankar is also the creative guest director this year of Brighton Festival (May 3-26) and has curated a number of leading South Asian artists to perform at the festival – we will be previewing in more depth early next month.
Wallen has been working with 150-strong choir which span the ages of eight to 80 years old to unveil a new track marking WOW’s 15 years.
Lennox will talk about her work at The Circle, a global feminist charity she founded.
Composer Isobel Waller-Bridge is also releasing a new track and organists Anna Lapwood and Rachel Mahon are also performing.
WOW 15 year celebration evening, 7pm Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Doors open from 5pm
Tickets: https://tickets.royalalberthall.com/syos/performance/91527
Identity, immigration, voting and being seen are on the agenda
THIS SUNDAY (March 9) Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association are coming together to discuss, share and thrill!
There are panel discussions about identity, ESEA immigration and among the speakers are Anna Chan, founder of the Asian Leadership Collective.
Shout Out UK, an organisation promoting political participation delves into voting and making your voice heard and an inclusive democracy appears under threat.
“Let’s learn, connect and empower each other! See you there” say the organisers.
It’s free but you should register before attending (see link below).
Sunday, March 9 – 1pm-5pm Pelican House Event Space, 144 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E1 5QJRegistration – here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/identity-unbound-an-international-womens-day-celebration-with-seeawa-tickets-1241797221919
Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/2003410923458363/
See also(general & national): womensgrid – https://www.womensgrid.org.uk/?cat=2462
All women line-up at regular salon meet
THERE’S AN all women line-up at Moongate Mix – which regularly brings British east and southeast Asian creatives together to talk about representation, visibility and professional growth as a creative.
It’s on Monday (March 10) and entitled Legacy and Belonging; among the contributors looking at the question of do we belong and what is our legacy? (In the British east and south east Asian context), are Daisy J Hung, diversity specialist, Jenny Lau, multidisciplinary writer and community organiser, Dr Anna Sulan Masing, writer and academic; Moi Tran, lecturer and multidisciplinary artist; and moderating is screenwriter and activist Bec Boey.
Moongate Mix, Monday, March 10 7pm at Omninbus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common Northside London SW4 0QW
Tickets (£5/£3 concessions) – https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/moongate-mix-2/
Holi and IWD joint celebration and market place
MARKING both the Indian festival of Holi and IWD through a market place is The Gurka Centre next Saturday (March 15).
There are a number of stalls which will be marking IWD and showcasing South Asian inspired products – from sewing and handmade clothing to jewellery and food to keep everyone going.
There are a programme of activities and events from 12.45pm – including Human Bingo and from 3.30pm, there will be Holi Celebrations and a concert, from 5pm extending for a couple of hours.
South Asian Marketplace and International Women’s Day Celebration, Saturday, March 15, organised by The Gurka Centre at Tudor Park Sports and Leisure, Function Hall Browell’s Lane, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 3EF.
More info/tickets: (From £6.13) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-asian-marketplace-international-womens-day-holi-festival-tickets-1257174064469
Celebrating women’s voices in annual keynote event
FOSTERING dialogue and activism, legendary women’s group Southall Black Sisters (SBS) present Voices of Resistance: Celebrating Black Feminist Trailblazers.
Writer and activist Rahila Gupta joins journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown to talk about censorship and navigating current political challenges.
This is part of SBS’s Community Engagement Programme and is an annual event with key black feminists discussing challenges and sharing insights on feminist activism and social justice.
SBS Voices of Resistance: Celebrating Black Feminist Trailblazers, Sunday, March 23, 4.30pm Gunnersbury Park, Museum, Popes Lane, London W5 4NH.
Tickets/info:
https://www.visitgunnersbury.org/what-s-on/special-events/voices-of-resistance-celebrating-black-feminist-trailblazers/
Previous articles on editions of WOW from www.asianculturevulture.com
Anoushka Shankar recent Instagram post about new album release
