News and Events

A Taste of Africa is a non-profit making cultural, stimulating and vibrant program of events that takes place in Tees Valley. It is a showcase of Africa’s rich heritage and culture and it creates experiences for residents and visitors that are completely different to everyday living in a celebration of cultural diversity across the North East.

It’s main aim is to promote community integration and cultural awareness within the Tees Valley and the North East of England and especially to appreciate the contributions of African communities to the arts and culture in the region.

Also, to create an opportunity for the community to experience and celebrate African Culture, the side that is not usually seen or portrayed by the media in our increasing culturally diverse community and finally, to mark the Black History month which is celebrated in October.

The black history month recognizes and celebrates the contribution of black people to this country.

Summary of A Taste of Africa –2006 & 2007

As a way of celebrating the Black History Month, Taste of Africa event was held on 6th October 2006 and 12th October 2007 at the Middlesbrough town hall for the second and third time respectively.

The event witnessed a massive turnout over (1100 people) as Africans living in the Tees Valley area as well as people from other cultural and ethnic backgrounds came to enjoy African culture, food, music, dance, fashion, art and poetry at its best. Ashok Kumar MP attended the event and and presented awards to members of the community who have been very supportive of the African community in TeesValley .

The Nzinga Dancers, The World Drummers, Traditional South African dance from the SACA youths, gaze a great performance that got everyone dancing to African rythmic drumming, Tina Simbo's belly dancing was fantastic as she demonstrated how vast African talent can be.  The event also wtnessed a live performance by Robert Maseko and the Congo Beat who gave a five star performance that brought the event to a climax as everyone surged forward to dance to the African music.

As a way of marking the black History, which is celebrated every year in October, Taste of Africa - an annual cultural event which had previously been held in October 2005, 2006 and 2007, was held on 24th October 2008 at the Middlesbrough town hall for the fourth time.

This time around, the event witnessed two sessions. The first session, held in the morning was especially for children while the second session held in the evening was for children and adults. There was a huge turnout during both sessions as Middlesbrough Town Hall was packed to full capacity.

Sade Sangowawa -  the organiser of the event used the morning session to enable children in schools accross the Tees valley have a feel of the richness of African Arts and Culture. 

During this session, children were hosted to many dazzling African arts and cultural performances; which include African cultural dance, African drumming, African cultural atires as well as instruments. The children were able to witness and actively participate in the African cultural dance and drumming.

In addition to this, there were also talks on the subject of racism and bullying in schools during the workshop. This was conducted by representatives of the organization called ‘Show Racism A Red-Card’

The second session witnessed a variety of performances which include;  Live African music by the ‘Kassai Massai’ live African band from London; African dance performed by Osun Art Foundation from Liverpool and various African artists and cultural groups within the Tees Valley and North East; drama presentation by 'Proud To Be Me' children; African poetry presented by African children; African fashion presentation as well as other presentation of community youth talents.

Press Clips

The 2008 Taste of Africa event received reviews and mention in papers, notably Evening Gazette, Middlesbrough Herald and Post, Northern Echo, BBC Radio North East, The Circuit, Arts Notebook magazine, B-Daily and more importantly from people who participated in it.

As a way of marking the black History, which is celebrated every year in October, Taste of Africa - an annual cultural event which had previously been held in October 2005, 2006 and 2007, was held on 24th October 2008 at the Middlesbrough town hall for the fourth time.

This time around, the event witnessed two sessions. The first session, held in the morning was especially for children while the second session held in the evening was for children and adults. There was a huge turnout during both sessions as Middlesbrough Town Hall was packed to full capacity.

For the 7th year running, Cultures CIC hosted the non-profit making, colourful and cultural event - ‘A Taste of Africa’ in October 2009; coinciding with a range of events all around the UK promoting Black history and culture within British society

It featured stimulating and vibrant series of events in Tees Valley; creating experiences for residents and visitors alike that are unique and completely different to everyday living in a culturally diversity area.

The event promoted community integration and cultural awareness; access and learning opportunities via cultural activities, thereby promoting understanding between and within the communities; enhanced respect and values within the community; and promoted opportunities to directly experience diversity and appreciate contributions of African communities to the arts and culture in the region.

The audience included individuals, small organizations, providers and trainers, students and the private sector; Tees Valley community: all ages interested in exploring and understanding African arts and culture; Organizations and Individuals from the Tees Valley whose work promotes diversity, regeneration, community cohesion, inclusion, integration, business and the arts and culture; Representatives of the regions new African communities; and Members of the Tees Valley Black Minority Ethnic community.