Zimbabwe Day 2010

Zimbabwe Independence Day Celebrations

Celebrate Zimbabwe Independency Day on Saturday 17 April 2010. A day earmarked to promote and preserve our heritage and culture while at the same celebrate our independence.

Besides brief address by invited dignitaries, the day will also be punctuated with music and dance and a taste of the Zimbabwean food.

Time: 2pm till 3am

Venue: The Vassall Centre,
             Gill Avenue,
             Fishponds, 
             Bristol
             BS16 2QQ

Directions to the Vassall Centre

By Bus
Buses No. 5 and No. 5A stop outside the Vassall Centre.

By Train
Bristol Parkway is the nearest railway station. There are taxis available at this station. Ask for the Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds.
For wheelchair accessible taxis, please phone the Vassall Centre in advance for more information.

By Car
Leave the M4 at junction 19 onto the M32. Leave the M32 at junction 1, turning left onto the A4174 Ring Road sign-posted for Kingswood. Go straight on at the traffic-light controlled junction, move to the right lane at the roundabout, take the second exit into Bromley Heath Road (A4017 for Downend) At the second set of traffic lights, approach in the right lane and go straight on into Overndale Road. At the double mini-roundabout, turn into Frenchay Road and third left into Gill Avenue. The Vassall Centre is on the right immediately after the mini-roundabout on Gill Avenue.

By Car from Central Bristol
Take the Fishponds Road. Turn left at the first turning after Manor Road has joined at an acute angle. Follow this road past the shops for a few metres and then turn left into Vassall Road, before the Co-Op. This road bends sharply to the right and then becomes Gill Avenue. The Vassall Centre is immediately on your left.

By Bike
The Bristol to Bath cycle track (railway path) runs parallel with Fishponds Road. As you proceed from Bristol towards Bath, take the Fishponds exit off the cycle track (close to the fish sculpture) behind the Morrisons Superstore, cycle along New Station Road, turn right into Fishponds Road, second left into Straits Parade, second left into Vassall Road, then proceed towards the right hand bend in the road where it changes into Gill Avenue.  The Vassall Centre is just past the bend on the left hand side.

Supporters & sponsors

The event is supported by AfrikaEye; African Voices Forum; Zimbabwe Community Group; International Organisation for Migration; Sign Post & Right Direkshon Limited; The Two Way Street; Zimba FC

Tides of Gold at Bristol's Watershed Cinema Friday 21 August, 8pm

Afrika Eye and Africa Voices Forum in association with Bristol Zimbabwe Association are presenting the UK premiere of  Tides of Gold at Bristol's Watershed Cinema at 8pm on Friday 21st August.

This award-winning film tells the story of Southern Africa's Monomatapa empire, which traded gold and ivory with India and China 800 years ago. After the screening there will be a question and answer session with the filmmakers as well as a panel of African historians, including Webber Ndoro the Director of the World Heritage Sites for Africa. 

Webber will be answering questions by videophone on the big screen from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Zimbabwe Day during Refugee week 2009

Friday 19 June 2009, The Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Paul’s, BS2 8SA 

12 noon until 12 midnight FREE 

PROGRAMME                  

12 noon – 2pm  Lunch  Delicious Zimbabwean food available for £5 a plate

2.30 – 4.30 pm    Gumboot dancing class with Cecilia NdlovuA fun workshop of this traditional dance style, developed by South African miners as a means of communication. Suitable for everybody who can jump up and down!

4.45 – 6. 00pm   Avant premier - a new film by Ingrid Sinclair

Amai Rose –  A Portrait of a Zimbabwean woman.Tenacity and courage are needed to bring up a family and educate them in Zimbabwe today. Amai Rosie a rural woman turned cross border trader is now working in Joberg to support her family in Harare. This observational documentary reveals Mai Rosie’s thoughts and feelings about life, love and child rearing.  

6.00 – 6.30pm        Food

7.30pm – 9.00pm    Talk Zimbabwe: Discussion about the current situation

The Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe: Key challenges & ways forward

Dr Tawanda Alex Magaisa, Political Analyst and Law Lecturer, Kent University

UK Border Agency’s immigration and asylum policy towards Zimbabweans

Gizella Hughes, Area Manager, Immigration Advisory Service Bristol

9.00 –   Made in Malawi - Pax Nindi's migration from Zimbabwe

10pm – 12     midnight Music and DancingTo traditional Zimbabwean music with Cecilia Ndlovu

For further information Contact us on: bristolzimbabweassociation@yahoo.co.uk or 079 19894 900

Tatenda Siyabonga Thank you ALL for your valuable support! PLSE come ALONG!

Speakers’ profiles

Dr Alex Magaisa is a senior lecturer at the Kent Law School. Prior to joining KLS, he worked for the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the financial services regulator in Jersey. His research interests lie mainly in financial services regulation, law of corporate groups and the effects of IP Laws on developing countries. Alex takes a keen interest on legal and political issues pertaining to Zimbabwe and Africa generally. He writes for the Zimbabwe Independent, New Zimbabwe.com among other publications and websites.

Pax Nindi: Zimbabwean born Pax Nindi was Senior Combined Arts Officer at Arts Council England until June 2006. He initiated and directed the three-day On Route International Carnival Conferences, designed and managed the Carnivalnet website, developed the Arts Council National Carnival Arts Strategy, produced and edited the On Route carnival book and initiated International Carnival Fellowships in Brazil, Trinidad, Germany, Italy and Miami. Pax is currently Director of Combined Arts Services with roles including Artistic Director, of St Paul's Carnival, Bristol and Vice-President of the World Carnival Commission in Canada.

Gizella Hughes, Area Manager, Immigration Advisory Service (Bristol)IAS offer advice, information and legal advice on immigration and asylum issues, and representation at immigration appeals and tribunals.http://www.iasuk.org/contact-us/bristol.aspx

Film synopsis

Amai Rose- Directed by Ingrid Sinclair

Amai Rosie is a Zimbabwean woman in her late 40’s. Her story is not one of resistance, but proceeds from a clear analysis of strengths, the ability to set appropriate goals, and imaginative tactical planning. Her sharp sense of humour, easy laugh and generous communication skills belie an intense focus on the task in hand. Mai Rosie would make a good company CEO. But she is a housemaid and cross border trader, a domestic worker with a difference. At an age when many African women might look forward to retirement, Amai Rosie, along with other women like her, has just found a new job. Is it the current political and economic state of Zimbabwe that forces her to act? I would argue otherwise: Amai Rosie has understood that power can be taken and used to give agency, rather than to dominate people. And she is using that power to change her life and the lives of others.

Creativity Innovation Approaches to Intercultural Dialogues in Europe Conference May 2009

It is a fantastic social event to mark the conclusion of our conference on Tuesday 19th May. We will be joined by members of our local communities, including from the Zimbabwean and Somali diaspora.

There will be a collection held for the Zambuko Community Library.
Please feel free to invite your friends , family and others you think might enjoy this event.

We look forward to working with you on these intercultural events.