Celebrate Africa day in Dublin's Iveagh Gardens this Sunday

CELEBRATE AFRICA DAY 2010 IN DUBLIN’S IVEAGH GARDENS THIS SUNDAY 

Irish Aid’s flagship Africa Day celebration will take place in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin on Sunday, May 16 from 12 noon – 7pm. The event is free-of-charge and family-focused, with a special programme for children which includes family treasure hunts, sports and art activities.

Africa Day Dublin is hosted by Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas development programme, and Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power TD, will address the event from the main stage at 2.20pm.

Speaking ahead of Africa Day in Iveagh Gardens, Minister Power said:

“I am delighted that Irish Aid is hosting such a rich and colourful programme of events to mark Africa Day. This is the fourth year that Irish Aid is organising Africa Day celebrations to mark our strong and enduring bond with Africa.

Africa Day offers an opportunity for us all to celebrate the heritage and identity of the African continent and the African community in Ireland. Last year over 30,000 people attended Africa Day events around the country.

Africa Day also offers the public an opportunity to learn more about the Government’s aid programme and our work in sub-Saharan Africa. Irish Aid staff will be on hand throughout the day to discuss Ireland’s development work with members of the public.”

Event highlights will include:

Music

The Main Stage at Africa Day Dublin will feature Congolese musician Niwel Tsumbu and Irish musician Dave Flynn who have developed a special Africa Day collaboration; Senegalese kora master and griot  Solo Cissokho; Choice Music Prize winner Jape; traditional Irish act Fidil; The Amazing Few; the Discovery Gospel Choir, and the Newpark Afro-Cuban Orchestra. 

African Bazaar

In the African Bazaar, visitors to Africa Day Dublin can take a crash course in Ugandan or Bini dancing; learn some Swahili phrases; model traditional Kasai costumes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, or try out a tent used by the Taureg nomads of Mali.  There will also be hair-braiding; traditional Nigerian masquerade performers; Abyssinian and Afro-Caribbean music; African board games; delicious food samples from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Cameroon, and arts and crafts displays from all over Africa.  A ‘Best Dressed’ competition will take place over the course of the day, with prizes for those dressed in the most colourful African attire.

Food

This year at Africa Day Dublin, there will be several African food vendors offering a wide variety of authentic African food and drinks for visitors to purchase.

Education Zone

In the Education Zone, visitors to Africa Day Dublin can learn more about development issues through participating in fun, family-friendly activities – try on traditional Mauritanian clothes; visit the ‘Because I Am A Girl’ photo exhibition; plant a seed to grow a vegetable commonly eaten in Africa, or take part in a jigsaw puzzle competition. 

Speakers’ Corner

The Speakers’ Corner at Africa Day Dublin will feature a range of workshops over the course of the day, including an Africa Day Book Club discussion on the classic novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe.  Chaired by Seán Rocks, presenter of the ‘Arena’ arts programme on RTÉ Radio 1, panellists will include award-winning writer Claire Kilroy; Newstalk presenter Orla Barry, acclaimed author Hugo Hamilton; journalist Roisin Ingle; South African writer Thabi Madide, and Chinedu Onyejelem, Editor of Metro Éireann. 

A discussion on ‘How to Build Ireland’s Engagement with Africa’ will also take place, with input from the Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power TD.  Chaired by RTÉ newsreader Bryan Dobson, panellists will include Justin Kilcullen, Director of Trócaire; Eric Yao, Coordinator of the Africa Centre; broadcaster and travel writer Manchán Magan, and Salome Mbugua, Director of AkiDwA, the African Women’s Network. 

Sports and Play Area

Children visiting Africa Day Dublin can try their hand at traditional African games, such as Ingoma Bawo, the Malawian version of an ancient African board game.  They can also enter quizzes and jigsaw puzzle competitions; participate in a drumming workshop; learn how to make traditional Ugandan toys out of banana fibres, and take part in African-themed art activities.

• Access is through the Clonmel Street (just off Harcourt Street) entrance to the Iveagh Gardens, and visitors are advised to use public transport to travel to the venue, as parking will be severely limited in the area.

• Full details of the programme for Africa Day Dublin are available at http://www.africaday.ie/dublin/overview.aspx. 

• Irish Aid is the Government’s programme of overseas development. It is a division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. For further information, please visit www.irishaid.gov.ie

For further details or to request an interview with Minister Peter Power, contact Fionnuala Quinlan, press officer, Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01-4082653 or 087-9099975

ENDS+++

Press Office
13 May 2010

Press Office | Department of Foreign Affairs | Dublin | ( tel: (+ 353 1) 408 2275/2550 | ( fax: (+353 1) 478 5942 | : press.office@dfa.ie