Sat 6 Oct
PATRICE NAIAMBANA
Edinburgh Fringe First Award Winning solo show created and performed by Patrice Naiambana. Mamadou the peasant seeks justice after a greedy dictator has eaten his cow. An initially self-centred lawyer is taken on a searing journey of conscience. Venue: Lakeside Theatre. 7.30pm. Adm: £8, conc £5. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.visitcolchester.com.

Sat 6 Oct
1EXTRA DJ EVENT
1Extra Dance Party hosted by the Student Union in celebration of BHM and Freshers’ Week. Venue: Student Union Level 2. 9pm. Adm: Free. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.essex.ac.uk

Sun 7 Oct
FAMILY STORIES ART WORKSHOP
Families small and large are welcome to join us in an exploration of personal family roots, identity, place and belonging. With Anita McKenzie who is an established photographer, visual artist and inter-faith minister. Venue: Hollytrees Museum. 11am – 5pm. Adm: Free. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.colchester.ac.uk.

Tues 9 Oct
LUNCHTIME JAZZ KIKO COWAN
Born in Camaguey Cuba and studied Flute, Saxophone, orchestration and musical arrangement in Havana. Kico Cowan has worked with a host of Cuban greats including Bobby Carcasses, LA 440, Beatrice Marquez and toured with Teatro Buendia. Venue: Lakeside Theatre. 12.30pm. Adm: £4. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.essex.ac.uk.

Wed 10 Oct
MBIRA AND PERCUSSION WORKSHOP
Only the sounds of the crickets and doves are to be heard. The boys are in the bush making sounds that there is a lion nearby. In the house, someone is cooking sadza over the fire to the beat of the drum, and the room is filled with a reverberating, mesmerizing soundscape of the mbira. Venue: Colchester Arts Centre, 2.30pm-4.30pm. Adm: Free. Info:: 01206 873 261 / www.colchester.ac.uk.

Fri 12 Oct
CLUB SKANK AND DARIEN PROPHECY
Pure Roots Reggae from Jamaica, with a clear spiritual message With Djs including DJ Skank, and Darien Prophecy who is poised to breakthrough into the reggae mainstream with his debut album ‘Natural Vibes’. Venue: Essex University. 8pm. Adm: £5-£7. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.essex.gov.uk.

Tues 16 Oct
STAND-UP COMEDY WITH EDDI KADI
In a space of a few years, the Congolese 24-year-old from Black Grape Productions has rocked the UK’s mainstream comedy circuit claiming titles such as Best Newcomer (BECA Comedy Awards 2006) and Artist of the Year (Vine Awards 2006). Venue: Sub-Zero Essex University, 8pm. Adm: £3-£5. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.essex.gov.uk.

Tues 16 Oct
OUR STORIES OPEN FORUM
Community Speakers on a variety of topics, faith, politics, history and life.
Fawohodie “independence” symbol of independence, freedom, emancipation. From the expression: Fawodhodie ene obre na enam. Literal translation: “Independence comes with its responsibilities.” (from Cloth As Metaphor by G.F. Kojo Arthur). Venue: Lakeside Theatre. 7pm. Adm: Free. Info: 01206 873 261 / www.colchester.gov.uk

Fri 19 Oct
FILM PRESENTATIONS BY THE DIRECTOR DAMI AKINNUSI
Award-winning documentary film-maker Dami Akinnusi made ‘Go To Your Room – The Bedroom MC Competition’ and ‘Bleach Me White’ a film about skin-bleaching. Tonight he presents an extract of Malcolm Echo which is due to be screened nation-wide. Q&A session follows. Venue: Lakeside Theatre, Colchester. 8pm. Adm: £4-£5. Info: 01206 873 261.

Tues 23 Oct
CLEVELAND WATKISS
Cleveland Watkiss continues to perform in many of the major concert halls, Festivals and clubs around the world. He is versed in a huge multitude of Genres and musical styles and makes the cultural connection that all the music is rooted in the legacy of Europe/Africa and its Diaspora. Venue: Lakeside Theatre. 12.30 pm. Adm: £4 (Essex University Students Free). Info: 01206 873 261 / www.colchester.gov.uk.

Thurs 25 Oct
TAMBAI ENSEMBLE WITH ANNA MUDEKA
Exploring Africa and Cuba through music, dance and story this authentic and original piece of theatre explores the slave trade route from Africa to South America. Traditional music and dances from Africa and Cuba, dances such as the Makishi grave dance of Africa and Orisha gods of Cuba. These dances are fused to become original choreographic pieces. The music making is celebratory and ceremonial with dances using voice, drums, shakers and Mbira. Venue: Lakeside Theatre. 7.30pm. Adm: £5-£8. Info: 01206 873 261.

Sat 27 Oct
AFRO-TEMA
Born in Dakar, capital of Senegal, in the early 1960s, Makhou N’Diaye is the lead singer and song-writer of Afro-Tema. Driving afro-funk is interspersed with languid reggae, hot afro-latin and hi-life give way to high-energy mbalax. With powerful vocals, smooth, dextrous, expressive guitar, and injections of inspiring jazzy sax, Afro-Tema’s music is warm-spirited, infectious and hugely danceable. Venue: Colchester Arts Centre. 8pml Adm: £6-£8. Info: 01206 873 261.