Events programme launched for Africa Day in Athlone later this month

A programme of events for Africa Day 2024, which will be celebrated in Athlone later this month, has been formally launched.

This year's Africa Day Westmeath celebration is taking place on Saturday, May 25, from 12 noon to 6pm at Burgess Park, Athlone.

Dancing, music, food and fashion events are being planned as part of Africa Day Westmeath.

The Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming, this week launched the nationwide programme of events for Africa Day 2024.

Minister Fleming was joined at the launch in Dublin by representatives of the African diaspora community in Ireland, including dancer Lapree Lala, designer Virtue Shine, Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde footballer Roberto Lopes, and Michael Chanda from the Discovery Gospel Choir at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Africa Day is an annual worldwide celebration of the people, cultures, and potential of the African continent.

This year, all 31 Local Authorities across Ireland will host various cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events.

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.

Commenting on the upcoming events, Minister Fleming said: "Ireland has growing trade, political and cultural links across the continent of Africa.

"Africa Day is an opportunity to promote those links and learn more about the diversity and vibrancy of African cultures".