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On the agenda: Black History Month; Dante’s ‘Inferno’; BFI London Film Festival; Worthing’s Wukulele Festival; Love Cooking

Black culture celebrated in west London; ukulele culture celebrated in West Susse

Sunday 03 October 2010 00:00 BST
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Culture

Who better than political reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson to open west London's Across the Street, Around the World festival celebrating Black History Month? The legendary artist will be giving a lecture and Q&A in Kensington Town Hall tomorrow. Other festival highlights include a debate about the representation of black youth culture on the big screen, with speakers including the celebrated British film-maker Horace Ové (right, his Playing Away); and a 100m graphic along a wall around Portobello that will depict the songs, artists and musical trends that have defined the area. To 23 October, rbkc.gov.uk/acrossthestreet

Robert Epstein

Art

For those who find traipsing around galleries hellishly dull, a new show in the Old Vic Tunnels beneath Waterloo Station promises to be only the first half of that equation: Hell's Half Acre will convert the maze of tunnels into a modern-day representation of Dante's 'Inferno', taking visitors through the nine circles of hell that comprise life under the coalition. The event, organised by Lazarides Gallery with the Tunnels, will be a dark interactive mélange of sculptures, paintings, video installations and live performances. You might be terrified – but you certainly won't be bored. 12-17 October, tunnel-228.com, lazinc.com

RE

Film

Carey Mulligan, "the new Keira Knightley", stars with... well, Keira Knightley in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, which has its European premiere at this month's jam-packed BFI London Film Festival. Also showing: a new Mike Leigh (Another Year, a melancholic study of friendship and ageing) and Danny Boyle's eagerly anticipated mountain drama 127 Hours. With 33 European premieres, talks by directors including Darren Aronofsky, whose ballet battle royale Black Swan is also showing, and masterclasses with film-makers such as Olivier Carlos Assayas, it's a full-on programme that requires early booking. 13-28 October, bfi.org.uk/lff

RE

Music

If your only experience of the ukulele comes courtesy of George Formby, Worthing's Wukulele Festival is set to change your perceptions. Stars of the strumming world will be jamming round the clock, Stereolab collaborator Sean O'Hagan has written a composition for the festival that will be played by 60 children from a nearby school, and there's opportunities to improve your own plucking at a series of workshops. And all with nary a lamppost to lean on in sight. Friday-Sunday, ukulele.com

Salik Zia

Fashion

The new season isn't just about sprucing up your wardrobe. Pick a new set of wheels to complement your autumn clothes, such as super-cool bike brand Charge's Lazy Susan model, a beautiful spindly affair that comes in a rusty burnt-sienna hue and will go a treat with your new camel coat and khaki skirt. It's the sort of bike that'll get you straight on The Sartorialist's cycling section – street style just went up a gear. £449.99, evanscycles.com

Harriet Walker

Food

If the current crop of cookery shows on TV lack one thing, its Smellovision. Until that day comes, foodie fans can instead check out Love Cooking, a series of stage shows taking place around the country hosted by top TV chefs including Gary Rhodes, Rachel Allen and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who will whip up their favourite dishes while dispensing advice. From Tuesday, in Bristol, Edinburgh, Harrogate & London, lovecookingfestival.com

Adam Jacques

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