Africa Day events taking place in Athy, Monasterevin and Maynooth
The line-up for the flagship Africa Day 2023 event in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin has been announced, with almost 40 performers, artists and organisations set to take part in a special celebration of African cultures.
On the mainstage in Dublin, headline acts include Galway-born artist and one of the most exciting names in the Irish hip-hop and rap scene Celaviedmai, alongside the Discovery Choir, Rhythm Africana, Kiruu, SBEZ, Troy Okay and Monte DJ.
Inside the historical courtyard of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in the dance and spoken word area, multidisciplinary movement artist Tobi Balogun, No Whahala Crew, the Zoryanna, Iggy Kelly, the Congolese Community in Ireland, and more will take to the stage.
The event will also see over 20 organisations take part in a ‘cultural village’ to showcase art and culture from across Africa. Among those participating in the cultural village are the Uganda Association of Ireland, AkiDwA: Migrant Women's Advocacy Network, Zambia Ireland Association, Image of Africa, Gospel Music Ireland and the Association of Tanzanians in Ireland and many more.
The full event line up includes:
Live music showcasing artists with links to Africa
A cultural village providing local groups with an opportunity to highlight their culture, art, industry and craft
Food vendors
Children’s entertainment
Africa Day at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham is organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with Dublin City Council. In addition to the Kilmainham event, the Department of Foreign Affairs is funding 30 Local Authorities to host a wide range of cultural, artistic and family-friendly events celebrating Africa Day. These will include contemporary African/Irish culture, as well as family fun days, fashion, art, film, music, dance and food events, which will take place in towns and cities across Ireland.
Speaking on the line-up launch, Africa Day 2023 ambassadors spoke about what Africa Day means to them, and what they think it means for Irish and African culture:
Celaviedmai, hip-hop and rap singer, said:
“I'm so proud to be Irish but to have heritage somewhere so beautiful like Ivory Coast is extra special. Africa Day is a way to mark the place where our families and heritage originate from and show appreciation and love to our ancestors. Not only will this day allow us to showcase our work, talent and art, it will unify us .This is a celebration that will allow us to move in strength, unity, love and joy and I’m so grateful to be a part of something so special."
Tobi Balogun, multidisciplinary artist said:
“Africa Day is a coming together of the vibrant, diverse cultures from the African continent present in Ireland. Growing up in Ireland from young, being African/Irish wasn’t always seen as a celebratory thing. So over the years it’s been incredible to see communities be able to come together, share their culture and their uniqueness with each other as well as the larger Irish community. It is a great celebration of all the valuable, positive impact these cultures have had on Ireland. Creatively, through music, fashion, dance and within communities also. I will be in attendance as I have been in previous years and am looking forward to the performances, the food, the vibrant clothing."
Umoja Linn fashion retail site co-owners China Soribe and Liswa McDonald said:
“As Africans in the diaspora, we are proud to take part in the annual celebrations of Africa Day. For us, Africa Day is an opportunity to intentionally celebrate African diversity and success. Africa is endowed with diverse cultural heritage and with that comes the beautiful prints and styles which us at Umoja linn celebrate proudly and are honoured to share with the world. As we celebrate our beautiful continent through its audacious prints, vibrant music, and delicious food, we also get a chance to highlight the economic potential that exists within Africa, and while we do all this throughout the year, for Africa Day we are intentionally in the forefront!”