So, it’s not yet Christmas, but soon after the festive celebrations and the parties on Princes Street, it will be Burns Night.  This year there’s a massive number of Burns Night gatherings, not just in Scotland, but around the world.

Why celebrate a dead poet?
Well, it’s the year of Homecoming to Scotland and Scots everywhere are being encouraged to celebrate their roots. We’re having a Burns Night with an African theme to it ‘cos it’s a bit different.

We wondered about inviting President-Elect Barack Obama to address the haggis, but it appears he’s pretty busy on the 20th and can’t squeeze us in.  There’s plenty of dancing to be done, with the Auld Reekie Sawbones Band playing a stormin’ set of Ugandan Eightsome Reels (they go on forever), Kenyan barn dances and Tanzanian Strip the Willows.

Not forgetting the haggis, there’ll be haggis nibbles and wee bit of poetry too, but mostly dancing.

What’s it all in aid of?
We are excited about the carpentry project being developed by Soroti Deliverance Church.  Over the last couple of years we have supported the construction of a workshop and now our support is needed to establish the carpentry business and training programme.

It needs £12,000 for wood working machinery, tools, timber and trainers.  As well as training young carpenters, and helping provide local jobs, the idea is that the carpentry will pay back this money from timber and product sales, allowing to be invested again in other livelihood projects around Soroti.  We will report on progress after we visit Soroti this September.

Venue: King’s Hall, 41a South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9NZ
Time: 7.30pm
Date: 24th January 2009

Price: £10 per person - £8 for concessions or £25 for a family
Tickets available at the door, or buy your ticket through the TAF office at info@theafricafund.net

African dress (and afros) welcome.