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Africa Day Heritage Event

24th to 25th May 2025

Multiple Locations, Across Ireland

Following the success of BallySmart7 Dublin 2025, we are delighted to announce the Heritage Event Africa Day, a vibrant three-day cultural festival taking place in Dublin 15.

Event Overview

Your community can become a better place to live, work and visit!

Following the success of BallySmart7 Dublin 2025, we are delighted to announce the Heritage Event African Day, a vibrant three-day cultural festival taking place from 24th to 26th April 2025 in Dublin 15. This event is specially curated for those who were unable to attend BallySmart7, offering an immersive experience into African heritage and contemporary culture.

Event Highlights:

  • Arts and Crafts Exhibition: Explore a diverse range of traditional and modern African art and craftsmanship, showcasing the continent’s rich artistic heritage.

  • Cultural Visits: Participate in guided tours to significant cultural landmarks, providing deeper insights into African traditions and history.

  • Workshops: Engage in interactive sessions covering various aspects of African culture, including music, dance, and culinary arts.

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees, fostering relationships and collaborations within the community.

  • Folktale Sessions: Experience the magic of African storytelling, as griots and storytellers share tales passed down through generations.

Who Should Attend?

  • Town traditional rulers and custodians of heritage
  • Town chambers of commerce
  • Town credit union or cooperative and thrift society
  • Town planners and developers
  • Real Estate businesses
  • Festivals organizers
  • Smart City/Town/Community Solutions Businesses

Why BallySmart7?

The Power of Heritage

Heritage is a powerful resource that can unify and differentiate communities. By leveraging heritage assets, towns can boost their socio-economic well-being and pave the way for Smart Cities. The Smart Community approach involves long-term social, economic, and environmental activities that engage local governance, promote entrepreneurship, and preserve the rural environment.

The goals and objectives of BallySmart7 Dublin 2025 are to identify local leaders, promote inclusivity, share impactful practices, access professional advice, explore funding sources, develop new communities, enhance collaboration, ensure diversity, and drive economic development. This summit aims to bring together traditional authorities, heritage custodians, and communal commerce teams to foster international collaboration, skills transfer, and smart community development.

Event Programme

Following the success of BallySmart7 Dublin 2025, this three-day cultural heritage event invites community members, African diaspora, and allies to celebrate African identity, honour our roots, and activate justice-driven renewal.

Day 1

Theme: Awakening the Past – Honouring Ancestry
Focus: Cultural roots, exhibitions, and ancestral connection

Programme:

  • 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Arts & Crafts Exhibition Launch
    Opening ceremony of the curated arts display featuring textiles, beadwork, sculpture, photography, and more.

  • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Ancestral Honour Circle
    A reflective circle featuring drumming, libation ceremony, and stories from community elders.

  • 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Guided Cultural Visits
    Optional small-group trips to nearby cultural centres, community murals, or museum installations.

  • 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Film Screening & Panel Discussion
    A documentary film on African heritage, followed by a dialogue with historians and curators.

  • 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Mixer: ‘Roots & Rhythms’
    An informal social night with Afro-jazz, small plates, and storytelling games.

Day 2

Theme: Our Heritage, Our Justice
Focus: Celebration, cultural expression, and dialogue for change

This is the central celebration day of the festival.

Programme:

  • 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Welcome Reception
    African music and refreshments; themed registration and decor.

  • 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Opening Ceremony
    Invocation, welcome remarks by organisers and special guests.

  • 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Heritage Storytelling
    A griot or elder shares intergenerational stories of African survival and pride.

  • 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Keynote Address
    A thought-provoking keynote on African identity and justice in the global context.

  • 6:00 PM – 6:20 PM | Cultural Performances
    Youth poetry, dance troupes, or spoken word on the theme Voices of Renewal.

  • 6:20 PM – 6:40 PM | Fireside Chat / Panel Discussion
    How Global Africans Can Shape Justice in Their Communities + Q&A

  • 6:40 PM – 7:00 PM | “Renewal Wall” Activity
    Guests write messages, draw symbols, or share video reflections on heritage and justice.

  • 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Dinner & Cultural Networking
    Tasting of pan-African dishes, networking tables, and community marketplace.

  • 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Recognition & Closing Remarks

  • 8:00 PM till late | Afrobeat Afterparty: “Return to the Drums”
    A vibrant night of music, dancing, and celebration of African excellence.

Day 3

Theme: Forward Together – Community & Continuity
Focus: Workshops, learning, and community engagement

Programme:

  • 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Community Brunch: “Breakfast & Bantu”
    Light buffet brunch paired with informal roundtable discussions on unity, language, and future-building.

  • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Cultural Workshops (Choose 1 of 3)

    • African Drumming & Rhythm Circle

    • Culinary Traditions: Cooking Across Cultures

    • Textile Art & Pattern-Making

  • 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Youth & Family Corner
    Interactive storytelling, face painting, games, and folktale dramatics for children.

  • 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Closing Panel: “Building the Next Decade of Global African Unity”
    Cross-generational panel including community leaders, youth voices, and diaspora professionals.

  • 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Reflections & Farewell Ceremony
    Audience reflections, symbolic gestures of closure, and commitments to future collaboration.

Main Summit Speakers

Jack Chambers TD

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

His Royal Majesty Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle MFR

Olu of Ilaro, Paramount Ruler of Yewa land. Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas

HRH. Dr. Amb. Olusegun Aderemi JP. MCArb. FCAI

Atayero of Aramoko Kingdom Ekiti

Helen Carbery

CEO – Credit Union Development Association (CUDA)

Yvonne Keenan

Trust Manager Carlingford Lough Heritage Trust

Karthik Nagarajan

Former Chairman and Founder – NLS Banking
Founder and Director of Bharathbrands Global

Cllr Ashiedu Joel PhD

Councillor for Hamilton, Humberstone & Netherhall Ward

Dr Ebun Akinsete

Senior Researcher – AE4RIA Network, Sustainable Development Unit-ATHENA RC, the Athens University of Business and Economics,

Deputy Emer Currie, TD

Assistant Government Chief Whip of The Irish Government

Ray O’Donoghue

Dublin’s Inaugural Night-Time Economy Advisor

Dr. Alexander Osarogue (Ph.D.)

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Eniola Oke

John Maxwell Certified Coach

Rosely Silva

Founder Samba Dance Brasil Group

Dr. Hanunmanta Rao Marapelli

Principal Software Engineer – Tektronix Communications

Princess King

Founder and Interior Architect

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Andrea Gonzalez

Founder – Violet Sky

Summit Moderators

Diana Stahl

Director of Public Affairs at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin

Lye Ogunsanya

IUSA Emerging Leader 22

James Clancy

Chemical Engineer – Jacobs Engineering

Tobi Omoteso

Board Member – Dublin Dance Festival

Powered By

The BallySmart 7 Event Sponsors Were:

Get in Touch

Summit Ambassadors:

+353851175004
+447860163527

WoWYou Concepts

Contact Us

+353 85 117 5004

MG Building,
Base Enterprise Centre,
Damastown Road, Dublin
D15 EPP4, Republic of Ireland

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