NUS Black Students’ Campaign has joined the fight to save The Africa Centre in Covent Garden, London. The Centre has a 40 year history of being a vibrant site for maintaining and projecting the culture of Africa, Africans and the Diaspora, through arts events, exhibitions and concerts.

However in  March 2011, news leaked that the trustees had secretly decided to sell off the centre to property developers, without consultation and without any firm plans for a replacement centre. The Save The Africa Centre campaign petition launched in response, with the support of Desmond Tutu, Bonnie Greer, Wole Soyinka, the Royal African Society and even Mayor Boris Johnson.

The day before the proposed sale, NUS Black Students Campaign Committee with the Save The Africa Centre Campaign, took to the streets and demanded that the Africa Centre trustees halt the secret sale and reconsider their plans. Our protest was successful and forced a postponement of the sale until after an emergency general meeting (EGM).

The EGM takes place tonight at 6pm an provides the last chance for Africans and Africa lovers to prevent the sale of the cultural heart of Africa in London. Despite agreeing to the EGM, Oliver Andrews, Chair of the Africa Centre Trustee Board, has since claimed there is "no need to consult the members of association" and it is thought that he intends to revert to secrecy and hold the meeting in private.

It would be a bitter betrayal if the Trustees sold off the cultural heart of Africa in London, while the African community is locked outside the room. So we will turn up in force and demand an open, transparent consultation before any decision is made. To replace such a key cultural and political asset with yet another overpriced fashion store would be a crying shame. Please join us tonight at 6pm in The Wine Tun, 2-6 Cannon Street, London, EC4M 6XX to ensure that the Africa Centre survives for future generations.