Tselane’s Song

Celebrating African stories and a range of traditional and contemporary African dance Tselane’s Song is a beautiful, uplifting and funny show reflecting traditional and contemporary life in Soweto; dance, storytelling, songs and live music combine to create a show like you’ve never seen before, from Soweto’s freshest children’s theatre company.

The story is set in a rural village where storytelling and superstition are strong. The children listen to a cautionary tale from Gogo (Tselane’s Grandmother), then the story comes to life. They meet a talking monkey, a dishonest lion and the mighty thunder giant Godumodu (Hodumodu).Tselane and Mfene, the talking monkey, set out to rescue their friend Myubuyiseni from Godumodu, playing tricks on people along their way.

Tselane’s Song was created as a co-production between Action Transport and Vulavulani Theatre Company. Begun in Summer 2003 the production was led by Vulavulani, who developed the play to celebrate South African oral stories and traditional dance, as well as contemporary dance reflecting life as lived now in Soweto.

The first UK tour of Tselane’s Song in Summer 2004 sold out in under a week and included performances at Chester Gateway Theatre and the Spark Children’s Theatre Festival, Leicester. This remarkable play makes its debut at artsdepot this autumn, book now before the tickets sell out!

Suitable for youngsters 3-8 years, Tselane’s Song on Sunday 6 November at 3pm at artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12. 3pm. Adm: £5. Info: 0208 369 5454.

Sun 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Oct
FLAT FEET AND IMPULSES
Series of dance workshops by Movement Angol, which includes dance fitness for men only, afro aerobics for women, African dance fusion and street dance. Venue: St Ann’s Library Hall, Cissbury Road, London N15. 2pm – 3.30pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 489 8775.

Mon 3 – 17 Oct
BLACK WOMEN ACHIEVERS
A storytelling session for children as Rochelle tells relate tales of notable Black women and their achievements. Venue: Children’s Library, Wood Green Central Library High Road, London N22. 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Adm: FREE, invited classes only Info: 0208 489 2780.

Tues 4 & 5 Oct
BLACK WOMEN ACHIEVERS
Rochelle’s storytelling session for children relate tales of notable Black women and their achievements. Venue: Children’s Library, Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, London N8. 9.30am-1-.30am. Adm: FREE, invited classes only. Info: 0208 489 1428. Then on 5 Oct at Highgate Library, Shepherds Hill, London N6. Info: 0208 489 8772.

Tues 4 & 18 Oct
STORIES FROM BLACK HISTORY
Sure Start Storytime for the Under 5s. Venue: Coombes Croft Library, Tottenham High Road, London N17. 2.15pm – 3.15pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 489 8771.

Tues 4,11,18, 26 & 28 Oct
INTRO TO HAND DRUMMING AND PERCUSSION
Have fun learning to play lively multi-part rhythms from the Caribbean, using various drums and percussion. Venue: Midi Music, 77 Watson¹s Street, Deptford, London SE8. 7pm-9pm & 4p -5pm. Adm: £4.50. Info: 0208 694 1409.

Thurs 6 Oct
BLACK WOMEN ACHIEVERS
A storytelling session for children by Rochelle. Venue: Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Centre, 1 Phillip Lane, London N15. 9.30am – 10.30am. Adm: FREE, invited classes only. Info: 0208 489 5309.

Fri 7 & 21 Oct
STORIES FROM BLACK HISTORY
Sure Start Story time for the Under 5s. Venue: St Ann’s Library, Cissbury Road, London N15. 2.15pm – 3.15pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 489 8775

Sat 8 – 16 Oct
FAMILY LEARNING WEEK
Come along and enjoy tales from the Caribbean, story telling and music for the under 5s. (8th Oct) at 2pm at Brixton Library, Brixton Oval SW2. Info: 0207 926 1056 (11th).at10.30am at West Norwood Library, Norwood High Street, London SE27. Info: 0207 926 8092. (12th) at 10.45 at South Lambeth Library, 180 South Lambeth Road SW8. Info: 0207 926 0705. (13th)10.30am at Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, London SE5. Info: 0207 926 6073.

Wed 12 Oct
SANDRA AGARD
Local author Sandra Agard tells stories from Black culture. Venue: Children’s Library, Wood Green Central Library, High Road, London N22. 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 489 2776.

Thurs 13 Oct
UNDER FIVES AFRICAN AND CARRIBEAN ACTIVITIES
In partnership with Sure Start Roundwood. Art, craft and fun activities for children plus help and advice for parents and carers.10:30am – 2:30am. Healthy Harlesden will give tips on healthy cooking for under fives. 10:30am –2:30pm. Story telling.11am and 1:30pm. Venue: Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, London NW10. Info: 0208 937 3570.

Fri 14 Oct
STORIES FROM BLACK HISTORY
Sure Start Story time for the Under 5s. Venue: St Ann’s Library, Cissbury Road, London N15. 2.15pm – 3.15pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 489 8775.

Sun 16 Oct
STORIES FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
One of Britain's most experienced storytellers, Sandra Agard, blends her wit and wisdom with the vitality of three young emerging storytellers. Venue: Bob Hope Theatre Bar, Wythfield Road off Eltham Hill, Eltham, London SE9. 7.30pm - 10pm. Adm: £5, conc £3. Info: 0208 467 9183

Tues 18 Oct
STORYTELLING WITH FAUSTIN CHARLES
Trinidadian born Faustin has published several poetry and storybooks for children including The Selfish Crockodile. Invited school class. Venue: Kingsbury Library, Stag Lane, London NW9. 9:30am. Info: 0208 937 3520; Then Town Hall Library, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9. 11am. Info: 0208 937 3500; And Tokyngton Library, Monks Park, Wembley HA9. 1:30pm. Info: 0181 937 3590.

Tues 18 Oct
ANANSE THE SPIDERMAN
Stories and activities to celebrate Black History Month. Venue: Torridon Road Library, Torridon Road, London SE6. 10am - 10:30am. Info: 0208 698 1590.

Wed 19 Oct
UNDER FIVES AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH GIFTY QUAINOO
Come and create music with African instruments and enjoy some singing and dancing with Ghanian-born Gifty. Venue: Barham Park Library, Harrow Road, Sudbury, Middx HAO. 11am. Info: 0208 937 3550.

Wed 19 Oct
TAMARIND TALES
Black writer Verna Wilkins talks to invited classes of children about her life as an author and a publisher. Venue: Children’s Library, Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Centre, 1 Phillip Lane, London N15. 9.30am-10.30am.
Info: 0208 489 5360.

Wed 19 & 20 Oct
NOTHING BUT THE SALT
This dynamic new work celebrates the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March to Dandi. Enter the dimension of storytelling through a pathway of photographs by Tony Eva. Venue: Artsdepot, Studio Theatre, Tally Ho Corner, 5 Nether Street, North Finchley, London N12. Tube: Finchley Central. Adm: £12, conc £10. Info: 0208 369 5454.

Thurs 20 Oct
KAT FRANCOISE
A Rhyme Time special for under 5s with stories and rhymes from Africa and the Caribbean. Venue: Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London NW1. 11am-12noon. Adm: FREE. Info: 0207 974 5633.

Thurs 20 Oct
AN EVENING OF MUSIC & REMEMBRANCE
Celebrates people’s together with music from Christian traditions from around the world. It begins in the church with four choirs singing music from African-American and Gospel tradition to music from Africa. Then in the Multicultural Centre for food, music and a party. Venue: St John’s Evangelical Church and Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon Road, West Hendon, London NW4. Train: Hendon Station.7.30pm – 11pm. Adm: FREE. Info: 0208 202 3794.

Mon 24 Oct
STORYTELLING WITH WINSTON NZINGA
Nzinga is an accomplished African-Caribbean percussionist, dancer, singer and teacher. Venue: Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, London NW10. 3pm. Info: 0208 937 3570; Then Cricklewood Library, 152 Olive Road, London NW2. 1pm. Info: 0208 937 3540.

Tues 25 Oct
ANANCY AND MR DRY BONE
A story, art and craft activity for children with Vee Williams, a practicing artist and photographer. 5 – 7 year olds. Adm: adv booking. Venue: Kensal Rise Library, Bathurst Gardens, London. 1pm. Info: 0208 937 3660; Then Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, London NW10. 3:30pm. Info: 0208 937 3570.

Wed 26 Oct
BROTHA TALK
A group of Manchester based poets take on issues of the day: what things, 'spook' black guys, commitment in relationships, hard work. Venue: Willesden Green Library, 95 High Road, Willesden Green NW10. 7.30pm. Info: 0208 937 3400.

Thurs 27 Oct
UNDER FIVES AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Create music with African instruments, plus singing and dancing with Ghanaian-born Gifty Quainoo. Venue: Town Hall Library, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9. 11am. Info: 0208 937 3500.

Sun 30 Oct
CARIBBEAN STORYTELLING
Patsy Scott brings you stories, dancing and history from Dominica including fascinating facts about bananas and coconuts, Quadrille dancing, songs, stories and lots of participation. All ages. Venue: Artsdepot, Pentland Theatre Foyer, 3rd Floor, Tally Ho Corner, 5 Nether Street, North Finchley, London N12. 4pm-5pm. Adm: FREE – drop in. Info: 0208 369 5454.