Africa Day

This Sunday Farmleigh kicks off in a riotous celebration of the continent…

Africa Day, one of the most vibrant days of the year in Ireland, returns this Sunday with festivities stretching nationwide. Cork has a parade tomorrow along Patrick’s Street while Galway’s NUIG is hosting the 7^th annual Galway African Film Festival. Dublin’s Farmleigh House becomes the nexus of festivities on Sunday as the annual Africa Day concert bleeds out across three stages in Phoenix Park. Drumming, amazing food, and dancing? We need to go to the there. K?la will share the main Kwassa Kwassa stage with Irish and Nigeran fusion band Tig Linn and Uganda’s Justine Nantale. The second stage is DJ central and over on stage three you’ll have an opportunity to see emerging acts, interactive shows, hip hop dancing as well as listen to some rousing Sunday gospel. When you’ve had you audible fill head towards the pop up African Bazaar, Marrakech, for a gander at stalls from over forty countries across the vast continent.

We’re heading straight for the henna hand-painting upon arival and then educating ourselves with some of the NGOs and Irish Aid, the organisers of the whole shebang, on hand showcasing the amazing work they’re achieving with communities. If you’re parenting or on babysitting duties then Mount Kiddimanjaro is your godsend. Drumming workshops and storytelling events will occupy those nippers all afternoon. Getting there is pretty easy thanks to Dublin Bus offering free shuttle buses from Heuston Station throughout the day. For more information see here.

Jeanne Sutton @jeannedesutun