There’s no need to take an international flight to experience African culture, just pop down to the Shaw Conference Centre Saturday night for the Africa Day gala.
Hosted by the Africa Centre, the event will feature dancers from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, drummers from Liberia, three bands, and a mix of popular African cuisine and Canadian favourites.
“This event is important because it’s a way of showcasing our culture to the residents of Edmonton and it’s contributing to the diversity of the city,” he said.
More than 70,000 people from African countries are estimated to live in Edmonton, said John Gaye, the chair of the Africa Day planning committee.
The gala is also an opportunity for members of the African community to meet, network and share their cultures with each other, Gaye said.
“Africa is a continent, sometimes people mistakenly think that it’s a country,” Gaye said.
“There are some cultural similarities but each country is also very unique for certain things.”
Tickets to the event, which starts 6 p.m., are $50. The hall has a capacity about between 700 and 800, and so far about 600 tickets have already been sold.
