Akua Gyamfi, editor of The British Blacklist has been announced as the host of this year’s inaugural BUFF Africa Season – sponsored by The Africa Channel. The season launches on The Africa Channel (Sky channel 209 and Virgin channel 289) on Friday 5 December with the UK television premiere of ‘Music for Mandela’ – a documentary which highlights the influential role music played in the battle against apartheid in South Africa. Interviewees include BB King, Sean Paul, Estelle, classical singer Katherine Jenkins and Mandela’s grandson, hip hop artist Bambatha Mandela with musical performances featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

BUFF Africa Season continues into Saturday 6 December with a weekend of film premieres, hosted by Ms Gyamfi. Screenings to be shown include ‘Maasai: 10th lost tribe of Israel’, ‘Africa Masters: Tanzania’ and top of the bill, the world premiere of ‘Mum Dad meet Sam’ starring Nollywood actor Joseph Benjamin and comedian Afolabi Dasaolu (a.k.a. “A-dot”).

Speaking ahead of the December launch, Miss Gyamfi said: "It's an absolute honour to be asked to host the first ever BUFF Africa Season. The British Blacklist is all about shining a spotlight on the overlooked talents within our community. It makes sense to support the celebration of talent coming out of the wider diaspora."

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, Director of The British Urban Film Festival said: "BUFF Africa Season is a great way to bring to a close our unrivalled coverage of film programming in 2014. Once again, we have something for everyone as we'll be bringing the best of African independent film to audiences online, on-air and in person".

*About BUFF Africa Season:*

Akua is the editor-in-chief of The British Blacklist – the UK’s first online directory of black/Africa-Caribbean film and broadcast media professionals. The website publishes breaking industry news online and has partnered coverage of BUFF’s events since March 2013.

BUFF Africa Season is the newest addition to BUFF’s annual portfolio of events headlined by the British Urban Film Festival which was launched in 2005 by founder Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe. BUFF is the home of urban film coverage in the UK, using the mediums of cinema, television and the internet to reflect the changing cultural mass of the UK population. Previous BUFF presenters include Wil Johnson, Zawe Ashton, Henry Bonsu, Jacqueline Shepherd, Lateef Lovejoy & Akosua Annobil.

Tickets for the world festival premiere of 'Mum, Dad, meet Sam' (Genesis Cinema) on Saturday 6 December are available via Eventbrite (only) by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mum-dad-meet-sam-world-premiere-tickets-14229377451

Tickets for the world festival premiere of 'Maasai: 10th Lost Tribe of Israel' (Oxford House, Bethnal Green) on Sunday 7 December are available via Eventbrite (only) by visiting: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buff-africa-season-2014-maasai-10th-lost-tribe-of-israel-world-festival-premiere-tickets-12849590471

Tickets for the free screening of 'African Masters: Tanzania' (Oxford House, Bethnal Green) on Sunday 7 December are available via Eventbrite (only) by visiting: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buff-africa-season-2014-african-masters-tanzania-in-association-with-the-africa-channel-free-tickets-12849748945

The Africa Channel is available to viewers across the UK and Ireland on Sky channel 209, and Virgin Media channel 289, 24 hours a day. The network is inspired by Africa and dedicated to providing bold, high-quality programming including news, current affairs, documentaries (e.g. Africa Business Weekly, Sisters in Law, It’s Africa’s Time, Mandela, Ghana Black Gold), entertainment (e.g. Mary Mary, Cooking with Siba, Nigerian Idol), music (e.g. Soundcheck at Momo’s), drama (e.g. Jacob’s Cross, Scandal, Tinsel), comedy (e.g. Desmond’s) and films (e.g. The Athlete, Sinking Sands, Heart of Fire). This is both acquired programming and wholly owned productions, from or about Africa. For more, please visit: www.theafricachannel.co.uk.

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