Craft market brings a taste of Africa
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| Colourful: Fabrics will be among African craft items on sale |
A FLAVOUR of Africa is set to infuse East Oxford today with a special African craft fair and market.
The event at the Pegasus Theatre in Magdalen Road will be sandwiched between two performances of Journeys to Freedom.
Journeys to Freedom is a celebration of black history and culture and how it has affected Oxford through the ages, told through three linked plays.
Organisers decided to extend the festivities so people going to both matinee and evening performances on Saturday could make the whole day an African celebration.
Yasmin Sidhwa, head of education at Pegasus, said: "The idea came about when we were first thinking of Journeys to Freedom when we had an event called Multiplicity.
"This involved a lot of African artists and crafts people who had not before had a chance to promote their work.
"Because we were looking at African history, and the African contribution within Oxford, we thought why not have a market where their wonderful arts can be shown.
"It is about giving them a platform which will hopefully lead to more opportunities."
The market will open directly after the matinee performance, at about 3.30pm, and go on until 6pm.
It will start with a performance from the city's Afropean Choir, a group of about 20 people singing a fusion of African music with European sensibilities.
The market is open to anyone, free of charge, not just ticket holders.
On offer will be 13 different stalls selling everything from food, to arts and crafts, to jewellery and textiles.
Emily Winfield, front of house co-ordinator at Pegasus, has organised the market.
She said: "It's going to be really vibrant and we have tried to make it as varied as possible.
"As well as the stalls, we will have lots of information about the different activities and groups in Oxford."
Among the stall holders will be Pat Green, who describes herself as an African woman born in Oxford. She hopes to move to Africa at some point.
She said: "I feel very strongly that African diaspora history and culture is very important in Oxford and any way to display that work and generate opportunities to discuss the culture is not to be missed.
"This is an opportunity to create awareness about history and for people to buy things they cannot easily purchase in Oxford."
6:11am Saturday 29th March 2008
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