Marking Africa Day 2020 Online

Although public events cannot take place in Ireland due to current COVID-19 social distancing requirements, this important anniversary will still be celebrated across Ireland on social media. See www.Africaday.ie

Fingal County Council in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are delighted to be part of the Virtual Africa Day celebration 2020 which provides a great opportunity to showcase African culture and communities living in Fingal.

In the video below some  of the groups who usually celebrate Africa day through community events are featured as a flavour of Africa is brought to you from Fingal homes.  Encompassing seven videos shared with us by six groups, we are introduced to African song and dance, as well as food and beautiful natural scenery and we hear stories of personal journeys coming to Ireland. 

I would like to thank all those local African groups that took part and sent short messages and videos. See link to video https://t.co/Tqvhb2q33a

Guide to the video content:

Echoes International bring us Africa Day felicitations, a focus on Nigeria the giant of Africa produced by Princess Pamela Ogunwusi

Children4World Children showcase the continent with a video depicting the Beautiful and hidden wonders of Africa (natural and man-made)

Balbriggan Irish Vikings Basketball Club present a Brief story about Erithies journey from Congo Kinshasa (DRC) by Erithie Kazimbe

MaryCare Foundation present a Showcase of Africa resources and culture from various MaryCare volunteers

Arms of Love Europe present Ogo on the Influence Irish culture has on her food choices and a recipe and video on How to cook Nigerian Fish pepper soup

 IGBO UNION DUBLIN (IUD) The Video is a Dance Performance by IUD Women (Umunwanyi Olaedo). The Picture depicts Celebration of the Annual Iwa Ji (New yam) Festival.

We would like to remind you of the wonderful celebration of Africa Day in Fingal in 2019

In 2019, Fingal PPN and Fingal County Council teamed with  the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support local groups to run eight Fingal Africa Days events across the county. The Fingal events took place on dates between May 25th and June 4th in a variety of community settings and all celebrated Africa through culture, music, food, history, sport and language. Groups that took part included  Rekindle talent, Children 4 World Children, Irish Vikings Balbriggan Basketball Club,  Avondale Community Group, i-Smile International, Igbo Union Dublin  , Osun Descendants Union Ireland,  Ada Igbo Ireland , The Forget-Me-Nots Choir. Fingal Africa Day was a great success with over 3000 people attending across the event.

Africa Day Celebration, Balbriggan

Attendees were invited to come together and unite in the spirit of African culture in the heart of Balbriggan for Africa Day and share the rich and diverse expressions of African music and culture in an inclusive, vibrant and positive community festival style setting. The programme of activities and events throughout the day included music, fun sports activities, dancing, African cuisine and well known African DJ – Raspizo’. The event was hosted by Balbriggan Basketball (Irish Vikings Club) supported by Balbriggan Integration Forum, Empower, Cairde, Bracken Educate Together N.S and Gaelscoil Baile Brigín and took place in Balbriggan Educate Together National School, Castleland Park View, Balbriggan on Saturday, 25th May.

Simply African, Blanchardstown Village

This exhibition of traditional African attire, music and food and how these traditions have been integrated into a social multi-cultural community in Ireland was hosted by Rekindle Talent in St. Brigid’s Community Centre, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown Village on Sunday, 26th May. ‘Simply African’ was a family oriented event and people of all ages and cultural diversity were encouraged to attend.

Africa Day Intercultural Bazaar, Mulhuddart

Bringing the African and Irish community together to celebrate cultural diversity, this celebration included an exhibition of African wears, styles, hair braids, music and food. Young children were entertained by a mascot and there was a discussion on how to increase the public’s understanding of Ireland’s development programme in Africa as well as to highlight the cultural and economic potentials that exists on the African continent. The event was hosted by Children4WorldChildren on Saturday, 1st June in the Mulhuddart Community Centre.

A Taste of Africa, Avondale Community Grounds

With over 25 nationalities living in the Avondale community, this event organised by Avondale Park Community and iSmile Internationa, showcased African, culture, heritage, food and entertainment. The community came together and were entertained by dance, music, artefacts and geography on Saturday, 1st June on the Avondale Community Grounds.

Africa Day Celebration, Howth / Sutton

People of all nationalities were invited to attend the Africa Day celebrations in the Howth / Sutton area. With a mix of drums, music, dance and food, there was much to be enjoyed. Historical and traditional materials were used to tell the story of Africa, and in particular the Osun State of Nigeria and the popular Osun Odogo festival. Attendees also learned a range of pleasantries in a range of languages. The event was hosted by the Osun Descendants Union Ireland on Sunday, 2nd June at 1 Church Road, North Dock, Dublin 13.

Conference on Igbo “History & Heritage”

Ada Igbo Ireland presented the Igbo conference on Igbo “History & Heritage”, with a special focus on the contributions of Igbo culture and heritage to the political and sociocultural manifestations of the Igbo people in the diaspora with direct references to African literature, dance, drama, and unique food. The conference took place on Monday, 3rd June at Baffles Event Centre, 3/4 Damastown Industrial Estate, Dublin 15.

Africa Day Concert, Baldoyle

The Forget Me Nots Choir hosted a free concert on Tuesday, 4th June in the Baldoyle Community Hall to celebrate Africa Day with visiting African singers for a gospel/African music festival. The event was a lively and colourful sing-along for all involved, featuring African Gospel Choir Dublin, Debsandy, and Bruce Patrick and Family.

Africa Day Celebration, Blakestown

Hosted by Igbo Union Dublin on Saturday, 8th June in Blakestown Community Centre, this event was a showcase of African culture, dance, food, tradition and way of life where guests were entertained with a variety of activities during the event.