FRIDAY 21st MAY - 10.30 am (Free)

CONFERENCE: AFRICA IN THE 21st CENTURY

Organised by NCP (New Communities Partnership)

Guest speakers Jeremiah Ndou (South African Ambassador) Catherine Muigai Mwangi (Kenyan Ambassador) plus a representative from the Nigerian Embassy discuss the social, economic and political changes and developments which have taken place in their countries.

FRIDAY 21st MAY - 1.00 pm (Free)

FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY

Cork City Library - Grand Parade

Unity drums with Raj Padam

Cork School students display their West African drumming skills and Cork City African School children demonstrate their Irish Language skills

Official opening ceremony with Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin.

THE WAILING SOULS + DJ BELLYMAN

Followed by Africa Brasil DJs in the bar until 2.00 am

The Pavilion Careys Lane Cork

The Wailing Souls are one of the finest vocal harmony reggae groups from Jamaica. Like The Wailers, they were taught vocal perfection in the ghetto of Trench Town, Kingston by the late great Joe Higgs.

The Wailing Souls began recording for legendary producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One in the early 70's. During the mid to late 70's they released some of the most essential roots reggae ever made for the infamous Channel One label. Their albums "Wild Suspense", "Inchpinchers" and "Fire House Rock" are bona fide reggae classics and produced some of the most enduring, crucial songs in Jamaican history.

The Wailing Souls saw large success in the early '90s featuring songs on soundtracks including the certified gold album for Disney's film Cool Runnings. Their 1992 album All Over The World also achieved a great deal of success for the group, selling over 800,000 copies. The Wailing Souls pushed the musical limits of the reggae genre with that release, blending sounds of funk R&B, and country into their roots tradition, securing their reputations as pioneers in the genre.

Fusing the harmonies of Motown with the roots and dancehall sounds of reggae, The Wailing Souls persist as one of the most powerful forces in Jamaican music. To this day, the group continues to release provocative, highly regarded albums and is one of the most popular live reggae acts on the scene. MORE INFO

SATURDAY 22nd MAY- 1.00 pm

AFRICAN GALA AT THE PALACE

Camden Palace Hotel Camden Quay  (Free)

Ladies & Gents fashion parade with African dress from designers Victoriano Dare & Bode Sanni from ARK VG in Kinsale Road

The Gala is arranged with help and involvement of The New Communities Partnership and ARK VG (The Kinsale Road Asylum Volunteers Group)

This Camden Palace Hotel has no alcohol license but The Abbey Ale House around the rear of the building has promised to open up for us at lunchtime so anyone with a mild thirst can  quench it with any of the 230 international beers they have in stock. Soft drinks will be available for purchase at the venue.

Zimbabwean Artist/Sculptor Blessing Sanyanga opens his studio/workshop on the ground floor for the day and exhibits his Shona Sculptures, serenaded by traditional music from his homeland. Blessing conducts sculpture workshops in his studio and will be looking to sign-up students of all ages for sculpture lessons and workshops in the following weeks.

Sunday Service at Mountain of Fire

Centre Park House, Centre Park Road Cork

Pastor Ola leads a special service dedicated to Africa & Ireland for Africa Day. Hosted by the Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries

Acoustic music from acts including Afresh Band from Zimbabwe, Daniel & Troka and Koko Tanjah with special beers in the courtyard of this popular Cork microbrewery and Sunday afternoon hangout.

Pavilion Carey’s Lane Cork (Free)

8.00 FILM: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF FELA KUTI

Oleku Band formed in 2006 from a group of Nigerian musicians that had settled in and around Dublin over the preceding 6 years. Lead by composer/arranger Allen-Taylor Adeniyi, originally from Abeokuta in SW Nigeria the birth place of Fela Kuti, the band plays authentic Afrobeat and Highlife from their Nigerian (Yoruba) roots.

Singing lead vocals, mostly in Yoruba, Allen-Taylor also plays the Saxophone & Hammond XB2 organ with backing vocals supplied by his wife Tomilola, keyboardist Segun Akano and Trumpeter Otolorin ‘Oto’ Olalaleye. Oleku’s rhythm section features Segun Akano on keyboards with his brother Michael Akano on bass guitar and Felix Oludare on drums. Before moving to Ireland trumpeter ‘Otto’ was a musician in Femi Kuti’s band, ‘The Positive Force’ based in Lagos.

Oleku band made their debut Irish performance in 2007 at a festival in Cork City and have since graced many stages at festivals around Ireland, including The National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, and the Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire.

Originally playing covers of songs by Fela & Femi Kuti all the songs in Oleku’s current repertoire are now written and arranged by Oleku Band.

Allen Taylor released his 3^rd album, the spiritually inspired ‘Oba nla’ in early 2009,

“Some of the best music I ever heard”, anonymous farmer at the National Ploughing Championships Tullamore 2007.

Line up:

Allen-Taylor Adeniyi – Sax, Vocals, Hammond XB2 Organ

Otolorin ‘Oto’ Olalaleye – Trumpet, backing vocals, small percussion

Tomilola Allen-Taylor – Vocals, Shekere

Segun Akano – Keyboards, backing vocals

Michael Akano - Bass guitar

Felix Oludare – Drum kit

Watch Oleku on YouTube