I'm soon to be appointed Communications Officer for SMARTlab on a p/t basis, just as soon as HR has completes the hiring process by the end of the month and am looking forward to working with the team again.

I'll also be working on the SMARTfashion team, to be led by Tara Mooney. Watch this space!

The course was a life changing experience and gave me the confidence to work in creative fields outside of my own discipline. It focuses on sharing, exploring and applying new ideas or concepts with a 40 strong student team of other creative experts and external advisors, without being confined by gate keepers.

This is a process of unlearning and re-learning how things could be done differently. The crossover of skills is valuable and in any year could comprise design - fashion, web, interior, space, lighting, branding, graphics, multimedia, animators etc, as well as other disciplines such as dance, marketing, business development to name just a few.

The lovely Geoff Crook, Course Director, explains how this crossover breathes new life into interdisciplinary design and how better futures can be imagined and realised >>

I'm working on putting together a library of useful publications and workshops I have created over the years.

There's more to be uploaded but here are a few articles as a taster, including some trend articles on African fashion and culture, as well as a report on the importance of this, which I wrote in 2005. There are also some SMARTfashion reports and workshop handouts on wearable technology too.

More to come...

Venue // G.34, Arts Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS

Price // Free entry, booking required

The brand will supply a range of African luxury fashion/lifestyle products with a sustainable and Fair-Trade ethos.

FAIR TRADE PRODUCTION SERVICE

Also on offer will be a design and fair-trade production service to those who wish to produce their own-label products. Please contact us for further details...

THE AFRICA CHANNEL AND SKY ENTER INTO CARRIAGE AGREEMENT

OCTOBER 2007

www.theafricachannel.co.uk

The Africa Channel Television Network, Showcasing The Rich And Diverse Perspectives Of Africa’s People Makes International Debut on SKY, Channel 281

LONDON / LOS ANGELES, October, 2007 – The Africa Channel, the U.S.-based television network showcasing the rich and diverse perspectives of Africa’s people, has entered into a distribution agreement with Sky, the leading multi-channel television platform in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  The announcement was made by James Makawa, co-founder and CEO of The Africa Channel.

The Africa Channel, marking its international debut, launched on Monday, August 20th, 2007, on Sky’s Style & Culture Mix, Channel 281 with two weeks of previews to provide viewers the opportunity to sample its programming prior to commencing its regular program schedule on September 3rd.    

The Africa Channel acquired a number of new series and specials spanning multiple genres to premiere in conjunction with its launch on Sky, including the scripted drama “Jacob’s Cross,” the reality performance competition programs “Dance Africa” and “Project Fame Africa,” music series “Urban Massive,” the behind-the-scenes film series “Cinema Moments” and several specials, including a music profile of Nigerian superstar Femi Kuti.  The programs air on The Africa Channel in the U.S. as well. In September the network marked its second anniversary on the air.

Regarding the announcement, Makawa commented, “The Africa Channel delivers a diverse schedule that reflects the extraordinary culture of Africa and we are very pleased to be partnered with Sky on the channel’s exciting launch in the U.K.  Our channel, along with the new programs we’ve acquired for this important milestone, further enhance our commitment to provide our viewers in the U.K. with the best English language programs that the African continent has to offer.”

Primetime dramatic series, “Jacob’s Cross,” starring Hlomla Dandala and Moky Makura, is the epic story of one man’s quest to build the next great African business empire.  In the reality dance competition program “Dance Africa,” contestants are evaluated by five discerning judges assigned to select the most talented Freestyle dancer on the continent.  “Urban Massive” showcases African musicians, as well as food and culture, from a number of African countries.  

From Endemol comes “Project Fame Africa,” an entertainment reality series in which aspiring singers live and train together while competing for a record contract.  “Cinema Moments” explores African cinema’s great directors, including Mweze Ngangura, whose film “Pieces d’ Identities,” tells the incredible tale of an old African king who leaves his homeland in the Congo in search of his wayward daughter in Belgium. The Africa Channel also will air several music specials, one of which features famed Nigerian Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti.  Additional specials include “Umoja,” the internationally-acclaimed, jubilant stage musical celebrating African music.


About The Africa Channel
The premiere of The Africa Channel on September 1, 2005, marked a milestone in U.S. television history.  For the first time, American audiences were able to experience the daily successes, celebrations and challenges of people living throughout Africa, all via a general entertainment network.  The commercially-supported channel is seen on cable systems in Ft. Worth, Texas; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana; and Hampton Roads, Virginia.  The Africa Channel airs the best English-language programming from the continent, including news and information, travel and lifestyle, music, soap operas, talk shows, reality, feature films and special events.  The Africa Channel was founded by longtime television industry executives James Makawa, Jacob Arback and Richard Hammer.  Initial partners include former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and his company, Goodworks International; Weller/Grossman Productions; and National Basketball Association stars Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff.  For more information, please visit www.theafricachannel.com.