Today sees lots of free events in the run up to Africa Day next Thursday. There are drumming workshops during the day and a performance this evening in the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin.

Galway city is hosting an African Film Festival all weekend in the Galway One World Centre. Also today, families can head to Bushy Park in Dublin’s Templeogue for a Family Day from 10am that includes five-a-side soccer. Or they might wander up to the African Plains in Dublin Zoo for story-telling, games and a bazaar from noon today until 4pm.

Then all next week the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on O'Connell Street in Dublin is holding a free event every night. There's a Swahili henna design workshop followed by a bellydancing workshop on Monday, a writers' night on Tuesday, a film-screening on Wednesday of a remake of Bizet's Carmen set in a South African township. There's a debate on Thursday about how Africa views Irish missionaries chaired by Irish Timesjournalist Joe Humphreys. The Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu and his band finish things off on Friday.

There's also a film show in the Loft Venue in Limerick on Wednesday and a Taste and Sounds of Africa event next weekend in the Limerick City Milk Market. For more information see irishaid.gov.ie/africaday. CATHERINE CLEARY