DUNMANWAY was awash with colour and culture as it marked its first ever Africa Day in May. The event has been celebrated in Cork city for decades but came to the West Cork town for the first time this year.

The festival saw the town draped in flags and bunting as live music filled the streets and authentic African cuisine was served.

‘I am from Dunmanway and my husband is Tanzanian,’ Emerald Green, one of the organisers, explained. ‘We met in the city in 2009 when I was studying International Development in UCC.

Chioma and son.

‘We were both involved with helping to organise Africa Day in the city and we also founded Cork African Film Festival. We moved back home to West Cork not long before our first child was born.

‘Over the last decade watching the growing diversity in the area we often talked about having an Africa Day locally and all the stars aligned following a cultural cuisine evening at the Family Resource Centre in Dunmanway.’

A committee was formed and received support and funding from DFRC and West Cork Development Partnership. Africa Day West Cork this year was warmly received by the Dunmanway Community Council and the local library who supported it with a cultural display in the library window in the week leading up to the main event.

Emerald described: ‘There was a performance by the Drummers of Burundi in Dunmanway Square, the African Union Flag was raised to the dulcet singing of the crowd ‘Africa Day - thank you Dunmanway’! ‘There was a flag parade, a drum workshop, West African Dance Workshop, an acrobatic performance from Street Acro and delicious African food.

‘Closing up the event was a performance by Citadel - a world music band of displaced people, performing songs from home.’

Venus Casserly and Aoife Casserly.

The well-attended event provided an opportunity for the people of West Cork to learn about the beautiful culture and heritage of Africa - challenging the stereotype of Africa as the struggling continent.

‘It was also a chance for local people to start conversations with new communities and begin friendships with a greater understanding of each other’s cultural background,’ said Emerald. ‘Events like this allow us to rejoice in our diversity by shifting the paradigm, breaking down barriers, building bridges and uniting communities through music, food and cultural exchange.’

Africa Day West Cork plans to return in May 2027 with workshops in schools, African storytellers, film screenings, music, food, dancing and more.