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Letter to the Trustees of the Africa Centre 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8JT

25 March 2011 Dear Africa Centre Trustee We, the undersigned, understand that you are proposing to sell the 38 King Street premises and close down the Africa Centre as it presently exists. While we appreciate that you have done what you can to keep the Centre going, we believe exercising the option to sell this property held in trust is a mistake. Not all alternatives have been exhausted. There are other options that should be explored with wider consultation and support. The Centre has been a meeting place, a cultural beacon and an iconic landmark in the centre of London for more than 40 years. Given by the Catholic Church in perpetuity to the people of Africa, huge numbers of Africans and others interested in Africa have been to meetings and events there. These people are stakeholders too and they would like a say in its future. To simply decide to sell the building without consulting them would be a betrayal of your duty as a Trustee. Africa has recently risen up the international agenda. Although the economic recession has affected the western world, Africa is the fastest growing region on earth at the moment. Investors, new and old, are engaged with, and in, African countries as never before. In other ways too, in the arts music and literature, Africa’s importance is experiencing a renaissance. It would be ironic if, at the very moment the rest of the world takes Africa seriously, the Africa Centre closed. Furthermore the meetings and events programme has recently been revived thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of a few individuals and the numbers attending indicate the demand for African events in the centre of London is high and growing. Abandoning the Africa Centre now would be to lose a gilt edged opportunity, perhaps especially considering the upcoming platform offered by the 2012 Cultural Olympiad in London. A study three years ago indicated wide support for the Centre and concluded that raising money to revamp the building was feasible. We believe this is still the case and that not all possibilities for raising the necessary money have been explored. There are alternatives. While the ground floor and lower ground floor are available for functions, meetings and social events, the upper floors are now fully occupied by organisations involved in Africa, who bring in income and further the aims of the Centre. They have indicated they wish to be involved in the regeneration of the Africa Centre at King Street. We see no evidence that alternative ways forward have been fully explored, no discussions with those who use the Africa Centre have been held, no evidence that the price being offered is the best that can be realised and no plan to continue the Africa Centre’s mission at another home.

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We therefore call on you to meet with us, the undersigned, with a view to holding a Public Meeting before the end of April 2011 where supporters of the Africa Centre can, in collaboration with you, put forward alternative ideas for fulfilling the mission you have been entrusted with. Yours sincerely 1 Mr Boko Inyundo, Trustee, Africa Centre 2 Mr Nigel Watt, MBE, Former Director of the Africa Centre 3 Professor Femi Osofisan, Writer and University Professor, Ibadan, Nigeria 4 The Rt Hon The Lord Mark Malloch Brown, Former Minister of State in the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Africa & former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

5 Mr Richard Dowden, Director, Royal African Society 6 Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Former Secretary of State, Department for

International Development 7 Baroness Glenys Kinnock, former Africa Minister, Foreign & Commonwealth

Office 8 Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, Former Minister of State for Africa: Foreign and

Commonwealth Office 9 Ms Hadeel Ibrahim, Executive Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation 10 Mr Harry Leventis, Trustee of the A G Leventis Foundation 11 Sir Mervyn Brown, Patron, Britain-Nigeria Educational Trust; also High

Commissioner Nigeria 1979-83 & High Commissioner Tanzania 1975-78 12 Dr. Mpalive Msiska, former Chair, Africa Centre Board of Trustees 13 Mrs Sokari Douglas Camp, Sculptor 14 Professor Michael Omolewa, Former Ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO 15 Mr Oladipo Agboluaje, Playwright 16 Dr Titilola Banjoko, Director, Africa Recruit 17 Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Nigeria Health Watch 18 Mr William Wallis, Africa Editor, Financial Times 19 Rt Hon. Prof. the Lord David Alton of Liverpool 20 Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, former leader, Liberal Democrats 21 Emmanuel Adenyi Odekanyin, Cultural Administrator, Abuja, Nigeria 22 D R Reeves MBE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Britain-Nigeria

Educational Trust 23 Mr Gary Clark Esq., Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Britain Nigeria

Educational Trust 24 Mr Tim Cooke, Trustee, Britain Nigeria Educational Trust 25 Elizabeth Oritsejolomi Dudley, Events Coordinator, Britain Nigeria

Educational Trust 26 Mr Jude Udo Ilo, Abuja, Nigeria Analyst, Open Society Initiative for West Africa 27 Mr Dayo Johnson, Company Director, Nigeria Cleaning Service Ltd 28 Ms Carole Enahoro, Writer. Author of Doing Dangerously Well 29 Mr Onyekachi Wambu, Journalist 30 Ms Josephine Osikena, Director, Foreign Policy Centre 31 Mr Dudu Sarr, Music Promoter, Consultant, DJ 32 Mr David Johnson, Managing Director, West African Banking Consultants Ltd

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33 Mr Biyi Bandele, Writer/ Director 34 Ms Vuyiswa Joy, Broadcaster, Presenter, Writer 35 Mr Peter Banner, Chairman, Business Council for Africa, West and South 36 Mr Gordon Hutt, Vice-Chairman, Business Council for Africa, West and South 37 Mr Hamish McGregor CEO, Business Council for Africa, West and South 38 Dr Jonathan Lawley, Business Council for Africa, West and South (ex-Director

Royal African Society) 39 Dr Heather Deegan, Business Council for Africa, West and South(ex Chatham

House) 40 Ms Karen Sussex, Business Council for Africa, West and South 41 Ms Samantha Callender, Business Council for Africa, West and South 42 Mr John Rivett, Advisor, The Business Council For Africa 43 Mr John Turnbull, Member, Business Council for Africa, West and South 44 Merle Lipton, Member, Business Council for Africa, West and South 45 Mr Dipo Salimonu, CEO Ateriba 46 Mr Vava Tampa, Executive Director of Save the Congo 47 Farouk Haruna, Membership and Events coordinator, Star 100 48 Mr Richard Tandoh, Chair, Star 100 UK, The Professional Ghanaian Network 49 Rolake Akinola, Founding Director, VoxPerfect/VoxFrontier Consulting, Oil and

Gas Specialist, Africa, Ecobank Capital 50 Mr Mark Tilling, Operations Manager, Leventis Overseas Limited 51 Dr. Allan Pamba MD, MPH, Director Public Engagement & Access Initiatives,

Developing Countries & Market Access, Glaxosmithkline 52 Dr. Jeremy William Oritsesaninomi Dudley, Senior Consultant, WRc plc

(Water Research Council) 53 Dr. Stefano Luzzatto, Research Scientist, Italy 54 Mr Algy Cluff, Chairman, Cluff Gold 55 Mr Pete Gardner, Finance Director, Cluff Gold 56 Catherine Apthorpe, Chairman, Cluff Gold 57 Mr Murray McCartney, Director, Weaver Press, Zimbabwe 58 Mr Toyin Sule, Managing Director, Quick Auto, Lagos, Nigeria 59 Mr Inua Ellams, poet 60 Susana Edjang, Parliamentary Researcher and Adviser on Global Health &

Climate Change, UK Parliament 61 Ms Gail Mwamba, Managing Editor, Private Equity Africa 62 Donald Dewale Omope, Online Magazine Editor, African Screens 63 Dr Edward George, Ecobank 64 Mr Ayodeji Osannimu, Managing Partner, OsanNimu 3D Branding & Packaging

Design LLP 65 Mr Dele Fatunla, Communications Officer, People Team, Diversity & Inclusion,

Pearson PLC 66 Dr Garth Glentworth, OBE, Senior Governance Adviser, Department for

International Development 67 David Brewin, Editor, Tanzanian Affairs 68 Christian C Udechukwu, Managing Director, BusinessinAfrica Events (BIAE) Ltd 69 Ms Carol Hatchett, International Placement Manager, VSO 70 Gerry Coldham, International Sales Manager, Smith & Ousman Ltd, Commercial

and Security Print Solutions 71 Tim Forrester, International Sales Manager, Smith & Ousman Ltd, Commercial

and Security Print Solutions 72 Dr Philip Abiola, Femta Medical 73 Ms Zoe Nadaud, Managing Director, The English Institute of Abidjan 74 Sylviane Rano, Co-Founder and Director, Images of Black Women Film Festival

Ltd

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75 Leonard William Cathan, Director, Geneva Wealth Capital Management 76 Mr Toby Orr, Partner, Portland 77 Dr. Allan Shelley, Former Senior Partner, Knight Frank & Chairman, West Africa

Committee 78 Claire Beston, Researcher: Ethiopia & Eritrea, Amnesty International 79 Mr Arjan van der Waal, Amnesty International, Kampala, Uganda 80 Ms Susan Upton, Coordinator, Pamoja West Africa 81 Nick Lawton, Owner, Lawton Communications Group 82 Ms Catherine Martin, Coordinator, APPG Climate Change Group, UK Parliament 83 Mr James Birch, Coordinator APPG Agriculture and Food for Development, UK

Parliament 84 Ms Anne McCormick, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo Africa 85 Ms Busola Osibogun, Director, BY Associates 86 Mr Mark Alec, Business Development Director for Africa, Travelex 87 Mr Arnold Lord, Director, DSV Air and Sea Limited 88 Allan Kamau, Associate Publisher of Financial Times publication ‘This is Africa’ 89 Mr Charles de Chassiron, Diplomatic Consultant, Royal Garden Hotel 90 Mr Charles Tilbury, FCMB UK Ltd 91 Mrs Violet Diallo, Coordinator, GAP Mali 92 Mrs Judith Polkinhorn, Executive Director, Mercy Ships UK Ltd 93 Ms Jucilla Walters, Group Executive, TT Media Ltd 94 Mr Clive Carpenter, Vice Chairman, Business Council for Africa 95 Mr Sean O’Neill, Ashford Labs 96 Mr Julian Fisher, Director, Africa Integrity Services 97 Mr Derek Fordham, Chairman, Alain Charles Publishing Ltd 98 Mr Jonathan Barber, Consultant, The Facilities House 99 Mr Harry Baker, Latterly United Africa Company 100 Mr David Le Breton, Secretary/ Treasurer, Overseas Service Pensioners’

Association 101 Mrs Miriam Johnson, Member Britain Nigeria-Educational Trust 102 Mrs Frances Lord, Director, ALS Consultants 103 Dr John Oxenham, Deputy Executive Chair, Council for Education in the

Commonwealth 104 Mr Malcolm Cutler, Managing Director, FSC Development Services Ltd 105 Mr Windson Choy, Director, Beyond Networks Ltd 106 Mr Andrew Holmes OBE, Chairman, Taymin Africa Ltd 107 Brigadier Gerald Blakey, Senior Partner, Farrington Associates 108 Mr Jamie Shearer, Accountant, Drum Resources Ltd 109 Mr Ian Wright, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo 110 Mrs Cara Hartley, Meckow Limited 111 Mr Michael Sippitt, Chairman, Forbury Environmental 112 Mr David Rintoul, Deputy Managing Partner, Clarkslegal LLP 113 Mr Rocky Hitchcock, KK Security, Nairobi 114 Mr Sonny Decker, Producer, Presenter Talking Africa, Bellsman Media Limited 115 Ms Lola Oshin, Shipping Coordinator 116 Mr John Small, Chief Executive, The Eastern Africa Association 117 Sunny Lambe DipM, MBA, FCIM, PGCEFE, Chartered Marketer

Managing Director, SAL Associates Ltd 118 Mr Deva Ponnoosami, Marketing Director, Southern Marketing Services &

Former Chair, Africa Centre 119 Mr Bill Taylor, De La Rue International 120 Professor Jeffry Blum, Visiting Lecturer in Africa 121 Ms Rita Roberts, Consultant, Global Investment Solution 122 Mr Michael Smethurst, Regional Manager, DRS Data services Limited

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123 Mr Craig Hitchcock, President and Chairman, Business Council for Africa - Cote d'Ivoire

124 Hon Robert McFarlane, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America, Chairman/CEO McFarlane Associates Inc.

125 Mr John Hollingworth, Brueni Gallery, SOAS, University of London 126 Ms Annabel Fogden, London Chamber of Commerce 127 Mrs Cheryl Nelson, Secretary, South African High Commission 128 Mark Polack, Director, Smart Organic Solutions Ltd 129 Mr. Yakub Ahmed, International Relations, British Institute of Technology & E-

commerce 130 Dr Emma Crew, Visiting Reader, SOAS, University of London 131 Dr Martin Orwin, Faculty of Languages and Cultures, SOAS, University of London 132 Dr Hermione Harris, Research Associate, SOAS, University of London 133 Mr André Chappatte, PhD Student, SOAS, University of London 134 Professor Tervor H J Marchand, SOAS, University of London 135 Dr John Campbell, SOAS, University of London 136 Dr Lutz Marten, SOAS, University of London 137 Dr Chege Githiora, SOAS, University of London 138 Professor Richard Fardon, SOAS, University of London 139 Ms Elsbeth Court, SOAS, University of London 140 Ms Barbara Campbell, Chairman and CEO, Black Heritage Today 141 Mr Kwaku Kwaku, Founder, Black Music Congress 142 Ms Helen Mthiyane, Programme Manager, Khulisa UK 143 David RLB LAMB, Chairman, Cheverell International Services Limited 144 Mr Anthony Sawyerr, Director, Aerona (Air and Sea) Customs Clearing Agents 145 Mr Alexander McGregor, Country Manager, International SOS 146 Ms Sylvie Aboa-Bradwell, Executive Director, African Peoples Advocacy 147 Mr Bob Auor, Executive Director, African Community Development Foundation

(ACDF) 148 Dr Anna Vanderpuye Owunne, Director, INGO UK ltd 149 Mr Jonathan Price, Business Centre Capital 150 Dr Tessa Watt, Director, Being Mindful (former Director of Africa Beyond) 151 Mr Cheick O Kone, Logistician, M&S 152 Mr Guy A Cissoko, Chef, Gordon Ramsay 153 Stewart Baird, Partner, Glenshee Enterprises Ltd 154 Ms Adeola Solanke, Spora Stories 155 Ade Sofola, Programme Manager, Think Global 156 Miss Christine Eyene, Art Critic, Independent Curator and Consultant 157 Mr A Ofoegbu, Artist 158 Mrs Karen Ditchfield, Director, Glasform 159 Alexander Enahoro, Filmmaker 160 Eric Acha, Executive Director, African Policy Forum 161 Simon Fulford, Chief Executive, Khulisa UK 162 Mr Jeremy Green, Head of Innovation, BMB 163 Dr William Schrecck, Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University 164 Ms Pauline Dodgson-Katiyo, Head of Humanities, Sheffield Hallam University 165 Mr Dele Sikuade, Director, Chartermax Computing Ltd 166 Mr Philip Eyre, Director, Astra Aviation Services 167 Mr Paul Claque, Group Director, Gee and Garnham Ltd 168 Ms Namvula Rennie, Events manager, musician, photographer 169 Topher Campbell, Artistic Director The Red Room Film and Theatre Co 170 Mr Mkoloma, Mahoganyblk 171 Minna Salami, MsAfropolitan 172 Ms Juliet Highet, Writer/Photographer

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173 Juwon Onungbe, self employed, Sole Trader 174 Mr Kofi Allen, Visual Artist, Kofi Allen 175 Ms Shirley May, Creative Director, Amazing Heights 176 Ms Kadija George, Publisher, SABLE LitMag 177 Robert Asare, Multimedia Artist 178 Ms Eni Ilori, Student 179 Kathleen McCreery, Freelance Writer, Director, Counsellor 180 Renate Braimah, Africart TV

Signatures received from individuals at various trade bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations (including Business Council for Africa, Britain-Nigeria Educational Trust etc):

181 Mr Demola Sule

182 Miss Buki Sule

183 Mr Folabi Oworu

184 Tom Mboya

185 Mr Luke Oritsesaninomi Jones

186 Mrs Omolara Sule

187 Ms Lucy Moore

188 Mr Hugo Tuoyo Jones 189 Miss Abimbola Sule

190 Mr Tom Townsend

191 Mrs Rubina Khan

192 Mr Andrew Parsons

193 Mr Prince Tikare

194 Mr Charles Abani

195 Mrs Claire Whitehill

196 Ms Charmaine Jorsling 197 Ms Jill Frankland

198 Miss Ruth Hunter

199 Miss Temi Binitie

200 Miss Sophia Mann

201 Miss Isabelle Djeni

202 Ms Gayola Sandy

203 Dr Mark Abani

204 Mrs Chigozie Ozumba

205 Ms Elizabeth Moloney 206 Mr John Taylor

207 Mr Martin Paine

208 Mrs Yanthy Clark 209 Dr Kachi Ozumba 210 Mr Martin White

211 Mr Dan Coberman 212 Mr David Shears 213 Mr David Robinson

214 Mr Jan Starren

215 Mr Mark Coleman

216 Ms Bukola Adisa

217 Mr Derek Smail

218 Mr Richard Parrett

219 Mr Ergin Rasit

220 Mrs Kim Callender

221 Mr Wilfred Willey

222 Mr David Kelly

223 Mr Shareef Maund

224 Miss Amy Harrison

225 Mr John Flynn

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226 Mr Vincent Mitchell

227 Mr Philip Egan

228 Mr Simon Fisher

229 Mr Greg Abani

230 Mr Eric Hardy-King

231 Mrs Jayne Bond

232 Ms Rachel Bennett

233 Ms Audrey Cherryl Mogan

234 Mrs Pamela Hill

235 Ms Lauren Samuel

236 Mr Michael Parsey

237 Mr Rodney Little

238 Mr Daniel Bond

239 Mr Brendan Rouse

240 Mr David Marrone

241 Ms Kate Quince

242 Mr Kevin Rafferty

243 Ms B Morton

244 Ms Sara Al-Saman

245 Mr Batanayi Katongera

246 Mr Jason Day

247 Mr Adam Singer

248 Mr John Tudgay

249 Mr Paul Heathfield

250 Miss Maame Yaa Addai 251 Ms Aminata Diaby

252 Mr Andrew Klucow

253 Mr Richard Kelsey 254 Messrs Edghurst Ltd 255 Mr Edward Morgan

256 Mr Ene Henshaw

257 Mr Edward Abrokwah 258 Mr Tosin Coker

259 Mr Massimiliano Crisera

260 Dr William Herbert 261 Mr Panchen Large

262 Mr Gehan Fernando 263 Miss Kitty Llewellyn

264 Mr Philip Fisher

265 Mr Jesmond Blumenfeld

266 Mr and Mrs Oliyide Ayodele

267 Elizabeth Ayodele

268 Mrs Victoria Patricia Large

269 Miss Saira Sow

270 Mr Rob Broad

271 Mr Paul Adams

272 Ms Christina Knutsson 273 Dr E Kudzoe

274 Dr Akanu Obasi

275 Rev David Peck, USA

276 Ms Ifeyi Jones-Lecointe

277 Mr Michael Pinches

278 Dr Kaonen Adekola

279 Mr Nana Adu Ampofo

280 Mr Tony Crowther-Green

281 Mr Mark Steeves

282 Mr Emmanuel Odogwu

283 Mr Deb Barua

284 Shamsudeen Hassan

285 Mr Peter Henry

286 Reverend Rose Hudson Wilkin

287 Dr Chika Unigwe

288 Mr Daniel Mallo Mallow

289 Dr Ike Anya

290 Dr Nnanna Igwe

291 Ms Nana Ocran

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292 Ms Roanne Escobales

293 Mr Henry Abraham

294 Mr Kees Maxey

295 Ms Linda Nyirenda

296 Temitope Olodo

297 Ms Isabella Hessler

298 Mr Fabrice Nze-Bekele 299 Dr Victor Doku

300 Miss Adaugo Amajuoyi

301 Ms Lola Henry

302 Ms Soyini Grey

303 Ms Elsie Owusu

304 Ms A Quadri

305 Cllr. Gbola Adeleke

306 Mr Chudi Okechukwu

307 Mr Elliot Fox

308 Mr Christopher Atkinson

309 Ms Kapie Mzumara

310 Mr Toby Oke

311 Mrs J Umunna

312 Ms Eahu Matenjwa

313 Ms Ade Akinlaja

314 Ms Fidaa Mahmoud

315 Niall Peoples

316 Mrs Dahabo Isse

317 Ms Lee Daley

318 Mr Aide Omokhudu

319 Miss Charlotte FitzGerald

320 Ms Missy Ince

321 Mr Jon Daniel

322 Anonymous

323 Anonymous

324 Anonymous

325 Anonymous

326 Anonymous

327 Ms Kate Scanlan

328 Miss Amelia Ideh

329 Mr Ben Waist

330 Mr Andrew Dayo

331 Ms Inja Vatne, International Development

332 Mr David Newell

333 Ms Gaylene Gould

334 Miss Irenosen Okojie

335 Mr Emmanuel Martyr, Trinidad and Tobago

336 Christiane Ngono

337 Mr Simon Murray

338 Ms Chizom Ekeh

339 Mr Arinze Nwokolo

340 Mr Chris Nyamoutet

341 Valerie Synmoie

342 Mr Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth

343 Ebele Ajogbe

344 Miss Agnes Kuye

345 Mr Mouctar Cisse

346 Anonymous

347 Anonymous

348 Anonymous

349 Anonymous

350 Anonymous

351 Anonymous

352 Anonymous

353 Anonymous

354 Anonymous

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355 Anonymous

356 Anonymous

357 Anonymous

358 Anonymous

359 Anonymous

360 Anonymous

361 Anonymous

362 Anonymous

363 Anonymous

364 Anonymous

365 Anonymous

366 Anonymous

367 Doreene Blackstock

368 Mr Lionel Orji

369 Anonymous

370 Daddae Harvey

371 Mr Ahmed Akasha

372 Kobina Graham

373 Ms Morolayo Smith

374 Mr Brian Chikwaya

375 Mr Tom McGlynn

376 Ms Beaa Darko

377 Anonymous

378 Anonymous

379 Anonymous

380 Anonymous

381 Anonymous

382 Anonymous

383 Anonymous

384 Anonymous

385 Miss Timeyin Olumide 386 Ms Jamie Oakes

387 Mr Charlie Cowdrey

388 Mr Richard Okorie

389 Miss Kafilat Suleiman-oba

390 Mr Garfield Robinison

391 Mr Bode Bello

392 Mr Isume Omokhudu 393 Mrs Caroline Bernard Moxey

394 Mr Sola Ogunnaike

395 Mr Tobi

396 Mr Tony Humphries

397 Mr Idowu Agbaje

398 Mr Nazo Anya

399 Mr Peter Childs

400 Mrs Barbara Murray

401 Mr Juwon

402 Mr Michael Etherton

403 Mr Tobi Adewale 404 Mr Robert Raikes

405 Mr Ezekiel Dada

406 Mr Idahosa Osagie

407 Joy Onyejiako

408 Mr Taylor

409 Edirin Omajajah

410 Tricia Wombell

411 Mr Chidiebere Nweke

412 Miss Muniq Bakare-saba

413 Ms Yaba Badoe

414 Miss D W Depeazer

415 Miss Jummy Sanyusi

416 Ms Christine Tamaklo 417 Mr Tendai Huchu

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418 Dr Wendy Williams

419 Mr Nii Ayikwei Parkes 420 Mr Kayode Odunsi

421 Ms Ida Ofori

422 Ms Sharron Wallice

423 Miss Amber Meikle

424 Mr Abdullahi Sada

425 Mr Di Wu

426 Mr Matthew Baker

427 Miss Lisa Anderson

428 Ms Moira Jenkins

429 Mr Jon Daniel

430 Miss Cabrielle Smith

431 Ms Wendy Davies

432 Mr Clive Anderson

433 Dr Silvia Onesti

434 Ms Mahlet Mairegu

435 Mr Edward Hill

436 Ms. Naa Aku Addo

437 Mr Emmanuel Odogwu 438 Miss Georgina Philip

439 Mrs Julia Day

440 Mr Gabriel Gbadamosi 441 Mr Prescott Kaliati

442 Mr Ollie Williams 443 Ms Lorna Edwards 444 Mr Olukoye Akinkugbe

445 Ms Molara Solanke

446 Mr H O Nazareth

447 Tim Hopkirk

448 Simon Day

449 Joanna Jones

450 Doris Akinyooye

451 Ayo Adeyinka

452 Paul Mack, Japan

453 Darius Wiench

454 Shaun Wallace

455 Rik Walton

456 Ms Diana Bailey

COMMENTS: 25 March 2011: (i) Hon Robert McFarlane

The Centre is doing vital work. Sale of the building would be extremely disruptive. I urge strongly that you reconsider

(ii) Ms Rita Roberts No to Africa Centre sell. Now more than ever, Africa is on the spotlight and Africans in the UK and everyone with interests In Africa need a point of reference and the very crucial services been offered by Organisations operating in the Africa Centre

(iii) Mr Deva Ponnoosami As a former Chairman of the Africa Centre, I am aware of the role that the Africa Centre in Central London has with personnel from the African Diaspora, locals and visitors and therefore propose that any actions to sell the building in Kings Street should be strongly objected to. During my Chairmanship the Board and I secured a grant of £3.5million from the Arts Council to re-furbish the Africa Centre and now cannot see any reasons as to why the building needs to be sold

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(iv) Mr Sonny Decker The Africa Centre needs to stay open for those in this country - Africans and non-Africans, and those who come to this country who are passionate about Africa. It is a place to meet and do things African, debate Africa, and inform about Africa; it is a home away from home!

(v) Dr E Kudzoe An action to close the Africa centre at this juncture when there is even more promise and concrete signs of the emergence of continent is short-sighted. While focus is on the BRIC countries and in the middle of the biggest downturn endured by the Western world for decades, analysts have pointed to the emerging economies of Africa, which looked at together are likely to present their era of growth, cultural and social emergence that our connections from London will benefit

(vi) Mr William Wallis

If this sale goes ahead, London will be bereft of the one historic and central place at which Africans and Africa-philes have been meeting, eating, drinking, dancing and reading for generations. Creative thinking could save the Africa centre

(vii) Prof Michael Omolewa

Africa Centre is clearly a heritage site, having played a prominent role in the furtherance of African culture and tradition over the years. Its closure will be a loss to the promotion of African heritage in the UK and worldwide

(viii) Mr & Mrs Oliyide Ayodele ( & Elizabeth Ayodele) We plead with you to reconsider closing down this centre which is a symbol for Africans in the centre of London the capital we were to have moved in recently to complement the occupancy along with our other fellow African countries and are still to settle in properly

(ix) Mr Andrew Holmes OBE

I believe it would be a huge mistake to lose such an asset at this stage of Africa's development

(x) Brigadier Gerald Blakey

In view of the recent arrangements made with the British Council for Africa, the proposed sale is clearly in breach of trust

(xi) Mr Malcolm Cutler

To sell the Africa Centre without fully consulting all 'stakeholders' and exploring all other possibilities, is unethical, unprofessional and reflects poor business management

(xii) Mr Jonathan Barber

After so much work and goodwill has been invested in the Centre it would wrong to lose it - especially when Africa is at such a crucial stage in its development

(xiii) Mr Vincent Mitchell

The African centre is there to educate, inspire people who have a keen interest in understanding Africa. So allow it to continue its great work for the people

(xiv) Mr David Le Breton

OSPA represents several thousand former members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service, who worked in the former British colonies in Africa. They strongly support the moves to keep the Africa Centre open

(xv) Mr Simon Fisher

I would like to believe that we all can trust the trustees to faithfully represent the interests towards which they have been entrusted

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(xvi) Ms Audrey Cherryl Mogan In this economic climate though difficult financial decisions must be made, it is important that centres such as these are kept alive to foster community spirit and encourage citizen participation which truly are the building blocks of good society

(xvii) Sunny Lambe DipM, MBA, FCIM, PGCEFE I strongly believe with good leadership, innovation and a good vision for the future, the Africa Centre can be a very viable centre catering for the interests of her diverse stakeholders. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the past. Please don`t rush into any decision to sell off our treasure which should be passed on from generation to generation

(xvii) Tony Crowther-Green I support the activities of BCA and am a member of that Group for West and Southern Africa. I would like to help retain the Africa Centre and would hope to see its work continue

(xviii) Mrs Julia Day

The Times summed it up beautifully -'Skyscrapers in Addis Ababa, a 'new Manhattan' emerges on Victoria Island in Lagos. Film festivals in Mali, fashion shows in Jo'berg and concerts in Kinshasa. African art and novelists flourish'. Africa is changing and the Africa Centre in London has for the past 40 years promoted, supported and encouraged change. Supporters of the Centre are testimony to the tough times, it is only right that they remain together to witness and share in Africa's exciting future

(xix) Ms Zoë Nadaud, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Africa

Please keep the building for the prospect offered in developing business and cultural relationships between British people and Africans. As a member of the BCA and a business person, I strongly believe in the soundness of this petition. Truly

(xx) Mr Deb Barua Fully support your cause

(xxi) Mr Emmanuel Odogwu It's a disgrace to sell off this cultural landmark. Please reconsider!

(xxii) Mr A Ofoegbu An institution for African culture and anyone who has enjoyed what this continent has given and has yet to offer should remain accessible in the heart of London's West End

(xxiii) Ms Gaylene Gould As Founder of the Underground Railroad network, a network of black UK artists and creative entrepreneurs, I strongly advise against this move to sell off the Africa Centre before a creative consultation process to review options. Having creative space in London, is much more lucrative in the long-run. Investment can always be drawn down to support its core aims - we don't doubt that. Letting it go will lead to a state of severe impoverishment

(xxiv) Ms Ade Sofola

It is really important that as the London becomes more diverse, the voice of the African Diaspora remains at the heart of the city. The building in Covent Garden has a great legacy and there has been much investment to improve it - surely it is madness to sell it now in the middle of its resurgence?

(xxv) Miss Abimbola Sule

We need the Africa Centre. Don't sell such an integral part of our history. We'll have nothing left!

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(xxvi) Ms Fidaa Mahmou Dear trustees, I think that giving out this place at the heart of London without having a clear and transparent plan for the activities of the Africa Centre will mean that it will basically cease to exist. I appeal to you to reconsider your decision and try to find other ways of saving this key place which has been promoting African and African issues, arts and culture for years

(xxvii) Ms Ade Akinlaja

I have been using the Africa Centre for several decades and find it a lifeline to African Resources, closing it with no plan for its future appears rather short sighted to me. The trustees need to balance the tangible and intangible cost-benefit when deciding

(xxviii) Mrs Dahabo Isse

The Centre is a meeting place and events for African people in London for more than 40 years. Some of these people are stakeholders and have a right to participate its consultation. I urge the centre should not be closed as the initial for its opening still there and demand is even more greater than before

(xxix) Dr Nnanna Igwe

Please am fully supportive of the fight against any planned sale house in which the African Centre London is located. Please help further the cause of Africa, explore better options. No ! No!! No to the planned sale of this property. God bless Africa Thanks Dr Igwe

(xxx) Ms Nana Ocran

The Africa Centre is a rare historical venue in London that holds stories and experiences of Africans who have lived or passed through this city. Despite its setbacks it is a living, breathing resource that is invaluable for those of us here now, and for generations of people (of all cultures) who will come after us

(xxxi) Mr Alexander McGregor, Doha, Qatar

Africa as a continent has always suffered from under funding and a lack of overall respect; let's break the cycle and invest in the Africa centre which is a beacon of hope, cultural education and human unity

(xxxii) Ms Sylvie Aboa-Bradwell

Selling the Africa Centre would be a blow to many members of the African community

(xxxiii) Mr Bob Awuor This is preposterous, to say the least! Kindly do not sell the only asset dedicated to serving Africans and African causes at the heart of Europe! Shame on you, African Centre Trustees, for even considering disposing of something which your predecessors never even thought of! We shall help mobilise the African Diaspora community in Europe to raise the requisite funds to save this vital asset and keep it within our community. Hope good sense prevails!

(xxxiv) Mr Kees Maxey

It would be a real tragedy to lose the Africa Centre - it has been a centre of African activity for decades

(xxxv) Mr Temitope Olodo

I believe it is imperative that Africa Centre is saved because Africa is a critical partner and British-African community in the UK need a place to meet, network and identify solutions to the challenges in the community

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(xxxvi) Mr Kofi Allen We Love the Africa Centre, for all that it stands for, not only for the indigenous people of Africa, but to also expand the wider implication of having a space where other cultures may come to integrate with the African / Diaspora culture! Without having a place to regard as a central point to engage so many topics, events, and practices significant to black culture, this would be a sad and crippling blow for those seeking to broaden their understanding about Africa culture

(xxxvii) Jeremy Green

It seems a great shame that all avenues have not been explored prior to reaching this outcome

(xxxviii)

Professor Richard Fardon Such an irrevocable step should have been the result of much wider consultation

(xxxix) Professor, Trevor H J Marchand

An important and historic resource that must be retained

(xl) Mr Dayo Johnson, Ilupeju, Lagos, Nigeria When I schooled and worked in the UK, the Africa Centre was a place I took my European friends and business colleagues, to help them understand African Culture. It would be a terrible shame to let the place go. Please save the centre for Africans living abroad

(xli) Miss Christine Eyene

There is a vibrant African and Diaspora community in the UK and a number of arts professionals as never been consulted to explore further possibilities to revive the centre. My experience of the Africa Centre as member of staff from 2002 to 2004 is that it replicated all the signs of bad governance that characterise the African continent. But there is more to the art community and it is the Africa Centre's obligation to protect our cultural heritage in the UK

(xlii) Mr Kwaku Kwaku

What a shame that in 2011 when we're marking as the UN's Year of People Of African Descent, an important centre for African people is not in the news for a positive reason, but rather because the Trustees are considering selling it! The pool of Trustees perhaps needs to be expanded to take in new members that can bring in new alternatives for saving African Centre

(xliii) Miss Amber Meikle, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Come on, you know better than this! Save the centre

(xliv) Dr. William Schrecck, Oman Having spent 10 years of my life teaching in 3 African countries, Botswana, Kenya and Nigeria, I know how vital The Africa Centre is to Africa, Africans and, in particular, the United Kingdom. The UK is the proud home to this world-renowned centre, a beacon of information and an international forum for open discussion. Where else could such an essential centre exist? Save it

(xlv) Ms Moira Jenkins

I love the Africa centre!

(xlvi) Mr Toyin Sule, Maidenhead Let us try to see if we can get an alternative first before selling the present site. What happens to the sales money when it is sold?

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(xlvii) Mr Juwon Ogungbe, London The Africa Centre is a hugely important part of the heritage of UK Africans

(xlviii) Mr Nazo Anya

The African Centre is the inscription of the African people on central London which provides a venue for Londoners and visitors to view Africa from different perspectives and to gain a better understanding of the Continent, thereby building bonds of friendship. Please do not let this vision die under your watch

(xlix) Mr Ezekiel Dada, United States of America

Pls reconsider and do the right thing

(l) Mr Russell Corn You would be failing in your duty to the founders to allow this to happen

(li) Mrs Shirley May

I am told that I'm amongst the statistics that say I am less than 1% of this country’s population. Please DO NOT sell our heritage down the line. Money is not everything

(lii) Ms Kadija George

Art is the HeArt of a Nation (liii) Mr Robert Asare

The Africa Centre is a beacon in an otherwise dark landscape for visible, authentic, African Art and Culture in Central London

(liv) Ms Renate Braimah

I second the petition and very much hope that the iconic Africa Centre can be saved

(lv) Mr Shaun Wallace The above article says it all...

All those signing do so in a personal capacity. Appending employment details or membership of organisations does not, of course, imply that these employers or organisations

necessarily endorse the sentiments of the above letter