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Mama Afrika rocks Trafalgar Square
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THOUSANDS OF Londoners braved the rainy Bank Holiday weather today (Monday 28), to gather at Trafalgar Square for the first annual Africa Day celebrations organised by the Mayor of London. Crowds were treated to the sights, sounds and rhythms of Africa with live music, arts and craft stalls, and a food court representing all the continents in the African Diaspora.
Mayor Ken Livingstone took to the stage to welcome the legendary artist Miriam Makeba, who lived up to the crowd's expectation by delivering a memorable performance.
Makeba, a leading opponent of apartheid, headed the strong line-up of talented African performers including Misty N Roots, the African Jazz Allstars, Seeds of Creation and the Congo All Stars. Many of the musicians used traditional African instruments from lutes, sanza's, balatons and drums to fill the square with traditional African beats.
Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "London is home to almost 80 per cent of Africans living and working in the UK and it was great to see so many people braving the bad weather to join the Africa Day celebrations. There was a great atmosphere in the square. The live music acts were excellent and I was honoured that Miriam Makeba travelled from South Africa to perform.
"African Londoners make a valuable contribution to the city, particularly in the fields of economics, education and culture. I want to establish an annual celebration of African culture and communities in london."??
This year's event forms part of the Mayor's programme of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Britain Ends.
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