July 1, 2023 (edition 40)

BUSINESS Füd Energy About: Philip founded Füd after struggling for many years with chronic fatigue due to Sickle Cell Anaemia - the UK’s most common hereditary disorder. Disillusioned by high sugar and artificially sweetened energy drinks, he decided to create something better. So on a Sunday afternoon in the summer of 2015, Philip (in his pyjamas) started the journey by Googling “food technologists in London” There's a whole lot of goodness crammed inside our cans- let’s dive a little deeper into all the benefits of Füd.... First things first caffeine. Our blend of natural caffeine contains guarana, an ancient Amazonian berry prized for its energy boosting credentials and anti-oxidant properties. It's an excellent source of caffeine, and helps you to maintain focus and mental energy. Perfect for a hard study session, or as a pre-workout. Next up, B-Vitamins. As well as promoting healthy skin and hair, Vitamin B5 helps the body maintain muscle function and a healthy digestive system as well as converting food into energy. B6 plays an important role in mood regulation, and helps the brain maintain mental performance. And finally, B12- an especially important one for Vegans to be taking, as it is not readily available in a plant-based diet. B12 helps with brain function and to boost energy levels. And finally, Electrolytes. Electrolytes can help benefit the fitness-focused among us, by helping the body to replenish the water, electrolytes and energy lost throughout exercise when we sweat. If you've been hitting the Joe Wicks, or been sweating it out with some HIIT, Füd is a great way to refresh post-workout. Industry: Food & Drink Location: Online Website: https://drinkfud.com/ Moss London About: Here at Moss London, we use the finest quality Gold Moss to create our gels which are wildcrafted and organic. The moss we use is responsibly sourced and harvested along the rocky coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. We only use natural, organic society approved products in our gels. They do not contain any preservatives and are made using natural spring water. For this reason we recommend that the gels are consumed within 3 weeks and kept refrigerated and sealed. Industry: Food & Drink, Health & Welfare Location: Online Website: https://www.mossldn.co.uk/ The D.O.R Beauty Edit About: I am D.O.R and I’m committed to uplifting, supporting and empowering women both as entrepreneurs and as consumers. A lifelong passion for beauty and wellbeing products, a career as an international makeup artist and my entrepreneurial spirit have led to The D.O.R Edit where I share some of my beauty and wellbeing choices ... .which I hope will add value to your life too. When you spend here you are supporting and empowering a female entrepreneur. The brands that we represent are united by the fact that they have been born out of a personal beauty or wellbeing need or experience and the founders behind them all have a personal story to tell. Love that. All of the brands that we stock are brands that I love to use and many are personal favourites Industry: Beauty Location: Online Website: https://thedorbeautyedit.com/ Mento Flowers and Coffee About: Mento is an independent florist adjacent to Finsbury Park Station. We offer flowers and gifts and also have Marley Coffee from Jamaica and a selection of homemade vegan and non vegan cakes. Industry: Food & Drink Location: 11 Stroud Green Road London N4 2DQ UK Website: https://mento.business.site EVENTS The UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference 2023 CATEGORY: BUSINESS COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: July 13, 2023 TO: July 13, 2023 TYPE: CONFERENCE VENUE: Natwest Conference Centre Black Owned Hackney Market CATEGORY: MARKET COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: July 28, 2023 TO: July 28, 2023 VENUE: Bohemia Place Markets Bournemouth Reggae Weekender CATEGORY: MUSIC COUNTRY: UK City: Boscombe FROM: July 29, 2023 TO: July 30, 2023 VENUE: Kings Park The Bournemouth Reggae Weekender is a music festival that takes place in Boscombe, UK from July 29 to July 30, 2023. The event is a two-day celebration of reggae music and culture featuring various artists from the UK and beyond. Lux Afrique Polo Day CATEGORY: SPORT COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: July 29, 2023 TO: July 29, 2023 VENUE: Hurtwood Park Polo Club Enjoy the thrill of African Polo Players, African Food and Music from across Africa. Come and enjoy some of the culinary talent that Africa and its diaspora have to offer. whilst sipping on champagne. Beneathea’s Place CATEGORY: THEATRE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 27, 2023 TO: July 4, 2023 VENUE: Young Vic The play's storyline is centered around Beneathea Younger, a young woman who is seeking to discover her African heritage. The play explores the themes of identity, family, and culture, as Beneathea navigates through her journey of self-discovery. A Strange Loop CATEGORY: THEATRE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 17, 2023 TO: September 9, 2023 VENUE: Barbican A Strange Loop tells the story of Usher, a black, queer writer who is struggling to write a musical about a black, queer writer who is struggling to write a musical. The show explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the creative process, making it a thought-provoking and engaging experience for audiences of all background. The show has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many praising its innovative storytelling, powerful performances, and catchy music. It is a production that is not to be missed, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who see it. Tambo & Bones CATEGORY: THEATRE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: June 16, 2023 TO: July 15, 2023 VENUE: Stratford East Theatre The play is a musical drama that revolves around the lives of two African American vaudeville performers, Tambo and Bones, who rose to fame during the Jim Crow era in the United States. The story follows their struggle for acceptance in the face of racial segregation and the challenges they faced as performers of color during their time. Sip 'N Stroke - Sip and Paint Party CATEGORY: ART, MUSIC COUNTRY: UK City: Birmingham, London FROM: July 22, 2023 TO: July 22, 2023 VENUE: The Joiner on Worship Creative sip and painting session with a twist... Unleash your creativity, cocktail in one hand, paintbrush in the other, Hip Hop + R&B in the loudspeakers. Black Unity Bike Ride CATEGORY: SPORT COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: August 5, 2023 TO: August 5, 2023 VENUE: Leyton Sports Ground BUBR provides a safe space where cyclists and riders from diverse backgrounds can feel welcomed and also inspired to get active and remain so. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre CATEGORY: DANCE COUNTRY: UK City: London FROM: September 5, 2023 TO: September 16, 2023 VENUE: Sadlers Well's Theatre Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, a world-renowned dance company, is coming to Sadlers Well's Theatre in London from September 5, 2023 to September 16, 2023. The company, which was founded by Alvin Ailey in 1958, is known for its fusion of modern dance, ballet, jazz, and African dance techniques. The show promises to be a breathtaking display of athleticism, grace, and artistry that is not to be missed. BOOKS The Three Of Us Author: Ore Agbaje-Williams Published: May 11, 2023 Rating Amazon: 3.6 Rating on Goodreads: 3.1 WH Date: July 1, 2023 A nice house, a carefree life, a doting husband, a best friend who never leaves your side. What more could you ask for? There's just one problem: your husband and best friend love you, but they hate each other. Set over a single day, husband, wife and best friend Temi toe the lines of compromise and betrayal. Told in three parts, three people's lives, and their visions of themselves and one another begin to slowly unravel, until a startling discovery throws everyone's integrity into question. The Binding Room Author: Nadine Matheson Published: July 7, 2022 Rating Amazon: 4.5 Rating on Goodreads: 4.2 WH Date: July 1, 2023 The Serial Crimes Unit are called in to investigate when a local pastor is found stabbed to death. As DI Henley assesses the crime scene, she discovers a hidden door that conceals a room set up for torture – and bound to the bed in the middle of the room is the body of a man. When another body is found, also tied down, Henley realises there's someone out there torturing innocent people and leaving them for dead. But why? There's nothing that connects the victims. They didn't know each other. Their paths never crossed. But someone has targeted them, and it's up to Henley and the SCU to stop them before they find another binding room… The King is Dead Author: Benjamin Dean Published: July 7, 2023 Rating Amazon: 4.4 WH Date: July 1, 2023 James has been a prince all his life, and since he was born, he’s been thrust into the spotlight as the first Black heir to the throne. But when his father dies unexpectedly, James is crowned king at the tender age of seventeen, and his life irrevocably changes. When James’ boyfriend suddenly goes missing, threatening envelopes appear in the palace, and gossip and scandals that only he knows are leaked to the public. As the anonymous informant continues to expose every last skeleton in the royal closet, James realises even those in his inner circle can’t be trusted.

PODCASTS/RADIO The British Blacktrepreneur Podcast Country: UK Description: Welcome to 'The British Blacktrepreneur' My name is Jason Lazarus This podcast aims to promote black businesses in the UK, educate entrepreneurs on all things business, and inspire you on your entrepreneurial journey. Growing up, business was just foreign to me, I knew nothing about it, I was taught that being a consumer and working a job was the only way to really succeed in life. My West African would preach ‘Education, Education, Education’ which I hated at the time but have grown to app … Source: Podcast

The Day After TNB Country: UK Description: THE DAY AFTER (TDA) is ’the home of popular culture’. The first of its kind; TDA is a UK based daily show emerging from within Black British culture dedicated to bringing you original, fresh up-to-date content. Unfiltered, undiluted and with no holds barred! Prepare to be entertained by a fearless, engaging cohesive lineup of hosts; Margs, Emman, Yusuff, Esther and Gina, who promise to deliver the most creative freshest take yet on The Culture’s news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment. Source: Podcast The Kanye Story Country: UK Description: Mobeen Azhar investigates the rise and fall of Kanye West, with the help of guests who've been close to the rapper and journalists who've followed every step of his career. Source: BBC Sounds

FILM/TV The Perfect Find Cast: Gabrielle Union • https://local.black/gina-torres/ • Janet Hubert • La La Anthony • https://local.black/numa-perrier/ • https://local.black/aisha-hinds/ • Keith Powers. Medium: TV Story: After a high-profile firing, Jenna’s fashion career comeback hits a snag when she falls for a charming, much younger coworker — who happens to be her boss’s son. As sparks fly, Jenna must decide if she’ll risk it all on a secret romance. Type: Drama WH Edition: July 1, 2023 When: June 14, 2023 Where: Netflix Surrounded Cast: Letitia Wright • Michael Kenneth Williams. Medium: Film Story: After her stagecoach is ambushed, a woman is tasked with holding a dangerous outlaw captive and must survive the day when the bandit’s gang tries to free him. Type: Drama When: June 16, 2023 Where: General Release They Cloned Tyrone Cast: John Bodega, Jamie Foxx, Keifer Sutherland Medium: Film Story: A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper. Type: Thriller When: July 14, 2023 Where: Netflix Black and Welsh Medium: TV Story: When film-maker Liana Stewart was growing up in Butetown, Cardiff, there were very few black and Welsh role models on TV. She has long wanted to make a film that brings together people from across Wales to share their experiences of what it means to be black and Welsh. Now she has done just that. Weaving together a collection of engaging stories, she meets people from Newport in the south to Snowdonia in the north, and from a 19-year-old model storming to international runway success to a 92-year-old whose arrival in Wales predates the Empire Windrush. The film features actors, comedians, leading business figures, influencers and heroes of their community. Phillip Henry tells how he came to be, what he believes, the only Rastafarian beekeeper in Wales. Musician Eadyth Crawford conveys her pride in being black and Welsh. Leroy Brito recalls his happy childhood in the diverse community of Butetown, and the strange experience of visiting friends wanting to feel his blonde afro. Alexandria Riley, star of The Tuckers, reveals her highs and lows starting out as an actor who hid her Newport accent, to the joy of her first leading role. Type: Documentary Where: BBC Iplayer Jungle Cast: Poundz, RA, Nadia A’Rubea Medium: TV Story: UK rap culture brings you a crime drama like nothing you've seen before. In a near-future London, two young men try to better themselves, but are forced to face the consequences of their actions. Type: Drama When: September 30, 2022 Where: Amazon Prime WHO is WHO? Pegasus Opera About: Pegasus Opera Company provides opportunities for artists from African and Asian heritage, promoting opera among people of all ages in underserved and culturally diverse communities to expand their cultural horizons.https://pegasusoperacompany.org/about/ Industry: Entertainment, Music Location: London Website: https://pegasusoperacompany.org/ Kené Umeasiegbu Background: Kené is currently Campaigns Director at Tesco, where he leads the company's public and stakeholder engagement on key societal issues including climate change, food waste, plastics and food sourcing. Kené is an experienced sustainability leader. In addition to the UK, he has worked in Brazil, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Nigeria; championing the positive role that private enterprise and effective public policy can play in addressing inequality. His career has offered him the opportunity to work within or with major firms to drive impact towards a more just and sustainable world. Industry: Retail Resides: UK Nnenna Ilomechina Background: Nnenna continues to be a trailblazer from being the lone woman graduate in her Computer and Electrical Engineering class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, to thriving in a male-dominated restructuring market, and now being the most senior Black Partner in her division today. She currently runs Accenture’s UK & Ireland Strategy Portfolio for the Telecoms, Media & Tech Industry, working with large clients to orchestrate and deliver transformational outcomes such as revenue growth, innovation and operational efficiency. A proud LBS MBA alumna, Nnenna is passionate about mentoring and developing opportunities for diverse talent. She leads several inclusive-focused initiatives for Accenture’s UK’s Strategy and Consulting Practice, and is on the development committee for Music Masters a not-for profit championing diversity and inclusion in music education. Industry: Consultancy Resides: UK TOP 10 FOR JULY 1. Go to the Black UK Entrepreneurs Conference on July 13th. 2. See School Girls or the African Mean Girls play at the Lyric Theatre. It ends on July 15th. 3. Sign up for a Sip N'Stroke class. Creative sip and painting session with a twist... Unleash your creativity, cocktail in one hand, paintbrush in the other, Hip Hop + R&B in the loudspeakers. 4. Watch Africa Uncovered with Afua Hirsch as she tours Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, to meet some of the continent's most creative young people. 5. Book dinner at Stork African Restaurant in Mayfair. A 5-star experience. 6. Book tickets for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company at Sadlers Wells in September. 7. Watch the film Chevalier about the polymath Joseph Bologne, former slave, violinist, master fencer, composer. 8. Visit Black Owned Hackney Market on July 28. 9. Buy Sweet, Soulful Baking by master baker Barbara Brennan owner of Bad Ass Cakes. 10. Enjoy Sunday lunch at the Prince of Peckham.