Celebrating Culture: Africa Day programme launched

KITTY HOLLAND: AFRICA IS about more than poverty, sadness and sickness, according to the founder of a South African dance troupe…

KITTY HOLLAND:AFRICA IS about more than poverty, sadness and sickness, according to the founder of a South African dance troupe taking part in this year's Africa Day event.

Desiree Lethake, explaining the importance of the celebrations, said there was a “strong need” for African people living in Ireland to celebrate African culture “to have a sense of their identity”.

Africa Day, May 25th, is an initiative of the African Union and has been marked in Ireland since 2006.

“For Africans to be able to settle and to be able to get on with life here, celebrations of our music and the things that give us happiness are so important,” said Ms Lethake.

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Africa Day will be marked this year with a series of events over nine days including an exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art by African artist Romuald Hazoumé opening on Friday, May 20th.

A day of family events is planned at Bushy Park and the Africa plains at Dublin zoo over the Saturday and Sunday.

In Galway an African film and music festival will take place over the weekend, while there will be a number of events at City Hall and the Milk Market in Limerick on Sunday, May 29th.

Other events in Dublin include a debate in Trinity College on Africa Day itself; a music and food fair at the National College of Art and Design and events at the Irish Aid Volunteering centre on O’Connell Street.