African London

I want to ask if you know any african percussion teacher near east london. thank you

I am quite surprised that timeout is displaying this kind of information. it was all new and interesting 4 me 2 read. its nice 2 see abit of culture on a monday morning. People may hate me 4 this comment but slavery bores me and i feel that their is so much more 2 black or african history. We must never 4get our past or should i say we will never be made 2 4get it, but we are living in modern times. Our children want modern arts, culture and people 2 relate to and i feel this advertises it, i just hope with all the advertising and the setting up of these events people attend. Thumbs up!!!!

Although I do no agree entirely with Kate's comments, I think her highlighting of the absence of white Africans in the feature feeds into a greater problem here. An anonymous black (seemingly naked or topless at the very least) man in 2008 as the face of "Africa" is a patronising stereotype that is outmoded and, quite frankly, racist. While the feature within the magazine goes to lengths to explore the diversity of Africa within London (which is not what I am criticising and to an extent I believe they have done well within limited copy space), the Time Out staff fall into the obvious and typical Global North attitude of essentialising Africa into one narrow viewpoint. Africa, as far as the cover would have you believe, is all about tribal black people. This is what disappoints me most. Couldn't there be a more imaginative, sensitive, stereotype defying way to represent Africa that steers clear of these distasteful ahistoricised notions as found on the current issue? PS Kate, if you bought the mag you would also notice that in the photographer's feature the biggest space is devoted to Pieter Hugo, a very white and very Afrikaans artist.

Kate disappointing that when African arts and culture is given a mainstream platform a white "african' is wingeing about not being included. If you are African you would feel at home at these events and places because as you know real African's despite a history, which some would argue should make them weary, are the most welcoming people in the world. Be more positive and less selfish this African issue will have make a difference not only to the events/venues included in it but hopefully exposing those who do not know real African culture in a positive and welcoming way.

I have just gone through your latest Africa issue of Time Out and was dissapointed to see that you make no mention whatsoever of the white african in your statistics section when in fact there are hundreds of thousands of us living in London. I am aware that to most uninformed people this is somewhat of an oxymoron but it can no longer be denied that there are millions of people of European descent living in Africa who proudly call themselves African. Indeed many have known no other home and culture! I am a South African living in London for the past three years and am very aware that although I can relate to English culture fine I am very much more at home in Africa where things are far more familiar. I do not apologise for being a white African and resent being made to feel guilty for Apartheid, a time I didn't understand let alone hold any responsiblity for - I was 12 when it ended. The thought of what happened for all those years leaves me sickened to say the least. It would be nice for once to allow to people to face reality and acknowledge the white African, for not all are rabid rascists still looking to oppress.