africa centre

Vacancy at Africa Centre Scotland

Vacancy at Africa Centre Scotland

Wanted: someone who enjoys community work and would like to  play a crucial role in supporting people of African heritage. 

Difference, diversity and the ghost story at the Scottish Parliament

Difference, diversity and the ghost story at the Scottish Parliament

Looking to the future: Peace and Security is the theme of this year’s international Africa Day. Picture by Yvonne Baginsky
This is a busy month for African communities in Edinburgh.  There’s a brave new play  exploring difference and diversity through children’s eyes, and the annual celebration of Africa Day focusing on international issues.  But first the [...]

Volunteers wanted at Africa Centre Scotland

Zawadi, African women’s choir at the Diversity event in West Lothian.
“It’s getting busy,” emails Agnes Holmes in her new year greeting from Africa Centre Scotland. As always the diary is full of events and activities which is why ACS is looking for volunteers to join the management committee. Specially welcome are people skilled in money [...]

Black (and white) history month

Black (and white) history month

We could call it just history month, but it’s more than that. It’s about forgotten heroes and stories that we never get told at school.
October is Black History Month in Britain and has been since 1987. This year’s celebrations by  Africa Centre Scotland in Edinburgh are a reminder that when it comes to history there [...]

Singing and stitching in time

Singing and stitching in time

Marching in violet, white and green
A pageant of creative conviction …

Agnes Holmes answers the phone with a needle and thread in one hand.  “I’m sitting here writing emails, answering the phone and stitching at the same time,” she says with her usual good humour.  As always there’s lots going on at the Africa Centre and [...]

Wanted: project coordinator for Africa Centre

Smell the coffee: Jerusalem Barnabas demonstrates how to make a cup of Ethiopian coffee.
A heady smell of roasting coffee greets you. Women in bright colours laugh and chat as they pass plates of African food.  We’ve just dropped into a fundraising coffee morning with a difference and it feels a long way from the grey [...]

Many hands make the Burns Banner

Many hands make the Burns Banner

Give me an ‘n’, give me a ‘y’, give me another ‘n’…  Ok, this is going to take too long. Add up all the letters produced by community groups all round Scotland and it spells two verses of the Burns poem A Man’s a Man for A’ That which will be unfurled as a banner [...]

Singing out loud at the Mela

Singing out loud at the Mela

Warming up: Zawadi with choir leader Rachel Milne at their first public performance in April
Great to hear the Zawadi Women’s Choir is going from strength to strength. Since their first appearance in April this year they have been collecting a growing list of requests (and some new members).  If you didn’t hear them in the [...]