Galway celebrates Africa Day in Style

Find out what's happening in Galway around Africa Day 2010 - Soccerfest, Film Festival, Music and much more!

Africa Day, which falls on 25 May annually, is the official day of the African Union and marks African unity. This year to celebrate Africa Day in Galway, Spirit of Voice Productions, ZebraWorld and the Galway One World Centre present an exciting programme of Sports, Music, Film and education projects to showcase African diversity and success, and join Africans around the world in highlighting the cultural and social energy of the continent.

The celebrations literally kick off on Friday, May 21st with the Inaugural Spirit of Africa Day Schools Soccer Cup which will take place at Mervue United AFC. Starting at 10am, the event will see a number of Galway national schools competing for the prizes to be presented by Galway City Mayor Declan McDonnell. School pupils will aim to win the 5-a-side trophy representing their chosen African Nation team. The tournament is supported by the FAI intercultural programme community development, Irish Aid, Galway City Sports Partnership, and Powersoccer School of excellence. Participating schools will receive educational guest visits from African Ambassadors together with cultural Art & Music workshops. To register a team please contact 086 3367129.

Monday 24th & 25th then sees African culture highlighted at the Annual Galway African Film Festival. Jointly organised by the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, the Galway Film Society and the Galway One World Centre, this year the festival includes films from Algeria, Chad, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and many more. “We usually associate the continent of Africa with pictures of poverty and despair, whereas the Festival will give us a chance to see the wealth of different experiences the people of Africa have to offer” said Ms Trisha Buddin, one of the festival directors. Details of the full programme are available at www.galwayafricanfilmfestival.com or directly from the Galway One World Centre at 091 530590. Films include “For the best and for the onion”, winner of best documentary at the African Movie Academy Awards 2009, “Araromire the Figurine”, a horror movie from Nigeria, “Mascarades”, a comedy from Algeria and “Captain Majid”, a story about football and love from Chad. There will be free screenings for primary schools of “The Legends of the Sky Kingdom”, an animated movie from Zimbabwe that has been put together using recycled materials - for details please contact the Galway One World Centre.

The evening of May 25th will see music, fashion and dance in the Quay’s Music Hall on Quay Street, organized by Spirit of Voice. Gerry Mulkerrins, Spirit of Voice, said “This is an exceptional music concert featuring UK’s Neil Sparkes whose groups include Bougarabou, Temple of Sound & Transglobal Underground together with Galway’s African calypso band Toluking who will launch their latest CD ‘Story Story’.” The line up also features Reggae singer Dread, young rhythm hip hop poets Lucky & Crew, the full Afro Latin sound from Bombanova, a Fashion Show and Cultural Dance Group. DJs Zenzo & Andreas maintain celebrations from 9pm until 2am.

Events will close with a family day on Friday May 28th where individuals and families are welcome to come and celebrate African styles in food, fashion and dance. Children are particularly welcome and the day will have some activities especially for them. This event has been organised by Zebraworld, a Galway-based organisation, and is being supported by African National Associations from the Congo, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, as well as the West of Ireland Mediator Group and the Galway One World Centre. It will take place at 44A Ballybane Industrial Estate, Ballybane, Galway, all are welcome. Further information for this event can be obtained from Gabriel Lawal, Zebraworld, at gabriellawal@yahoo.co.uk

The events are supported by Irish Aid, Ireland's official aid programme to developing countries.