Today is Africa Day, so get out, get planning and enjoy the plethora of opportunities across the country celebrating all things from Africa!

The 5th Galway African Film Festival (25-27 May) starts today and runs for the weekend at Nun’s Island Arts Theatre, Galway. The festival presents a programme of 10 current feature films and documentaries from various countries across Africa. Highlights include Viva Riva, an award winning Congolese drama, two Egyptian Films about the Arab Spring 2011 and an Ethiopian/UK co-production, Town of Runners. Here is a selection of teaser trailers to give you a flavour of some of the films on offer:

Anchor Baby (Nigeria)

Town of Runners (Ethiopia)

Viva Riva (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Forbidden (Egypt)

Details of films, school screenings, brochures and tickets visit https://www.galwayafricanfilmfestival.org or contact the Galway One World Centre, T: 091 530590, E: info@galwayowc.org. Entry is either free or €5 so get booking!

Africa Day Flagship events will take place in:

• Galway: 25 May, Galway
• Dublin: 26-27 May, 12 noon – 7pm, Georges Dock, Custom House Quay, Dublin 2
• Cork: 26 May, 12 noon – 6 pm, Bishop Lucey Park, Grand Parade, Cork
• Limerick: 27 May, 11 am – 6 pm, Daghda Space, John’s Square, Limerick

A selection of some of the events on offer:

• Visions of Africa Photographic Exhibition | 25 May – 23 June | Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, County Kerry | The exhibition features thirty striking images by both amateur and professional photographers, which portray a positive image of rural and urban Africa. Contact KADE for further information, T: 066 718 1358.

• Africa Centre celebrates Africa Liberation Day | Sat 26 May, 8 pm – 1 am | Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre, 8-10 Harrington Street, Dublin 8 | The event will feature Congolese musician Niwel Tsumbu and his Motema Band. Admission: €10. For further information please contact Mbemba Jabbi, E: info@africacentre.ie, T: 01 6619289

• Free family festival Africa Day Dublin | Sat 26^th & Sun 27^th May | George’s Dock, Custom House Quay, Dublin | African bazaar, kids’ corner, drumming workshops, a ‘best dressed’ competition, with lots of live music and performances from Ireland’s African community (see: flyer)

Enjoy live music, dancing, food, games and more. The full programme of events to what is going on near you can be found by visiting the official Africa Day page over at https://africaday.ie/events/

[h/t to Anna Farrell who maintains the Dóchas newsletter, which is well worth subscribing for all things DE in Ireland]