This article is from page 29 of the 2008-03-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
INTEGRATION and community will form the key themes of an Afro- Irish festival of music planned for Ennis in March.
The main aim of the Afro-Irish gospel extravaganza, details of which were revealed last week, seeks to bring together Ennis’ African and Irish communities through music.
Taking place on Saturday, March 22, the event will feature a host of traditional African and Irish musi- GETS
Organised by the Ennis _ based Foundation Ministries, the concert at elor will feature performances from the Children of Soweto Group, the Ennis Youth Choir, Mary Ayo Tade,
James Kilbane and many other art- ists and choirs from abroad.
Event organiser and singer Chinwe Obadeyi explained Easter was cho- sen specifically as the ideal time to bring the two communities together.
She said, “It 1s important that in- tegration takes place in Ennis. We were trying to think what would be the best way of bringing Irish and Africans’ together and we though the best was through music. Music is the best way to it. I saw that when I launched my cd in Ennis”.
She continued “Easter is a good time to do it because it 1s such an im- portant time for people with a Chris- tian faith. Irish and African people share very strong religious beliefs and hopefully we can use this occa-
sion as an united force”’.
A prominent member of Ennis’s African community, Obadey1 moved to Ennis from Nigeria eight years ago.
Having completed her education in Ireland at the University of Limerick, Obadeyi released her debut album, Beyond the Sky, in Ennis two years ago.
She is a founding member of the Foundation Ministries Church and is also an active member of the African Forum in Ireland.
She said the concert will celebrate aspects of African and Irish culture.
“There will be music, dance, Afro- beats, Irish set dancing, everything. The African community has been made very welcome in Ennis and
we want to give something back to the town. This is one of showing that appreciation. In the future maybe we ll organise exhibitions, or fash- ion shows, but for we are focusing on music. It is a great way to show USD IA Vaan
Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy and Mayor of Ennis Tommy Bren- nan are both being invited to open the event. Obadeyi urged people in Ennis to come out and support the event.
“We have got great support from people. It’s going to be a great night and the best way people in Ennis can show their support is by com- ing along. This is the only way it can work. We need the presence of Ennis people to make the event a success”.