Story: Lisa Swift
New African support group Elodie All Sainte held their launch event on 15th June at Verdon Recreation Centre.
Councillor Jackie Drayton opened the event, which was a celebration of African culture, with food, music and traditional dress. The group also raised money for Cancer Research.
Those who attended were from different parts of Africa including Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Congo, Kenya and Somalia. Members of the group brought food from the Ivory Coast and Kenya, including dishes such as attieke, which is similar in texture to cous-cous, and alloco, which is fried plantain. There were also bottles of gnamakou, fresh ginger juice, mellowed with pineapple.
Organiser and President of the Elodie organisation, Emmanuel Kei, said,
"I am very happy that people have responded and come here for fellowship. We are very determined to stay together and show unity. We want to think about the future now,providing activities for children and the community.”
Eugene Nguetta, a committee member and advisor to the group said,
“I hope to be able to help organise more events like this one for all people in the African Community in Sheffield. I’m interested in fundraising for charities such as Cancer Research.”
Elvira, a parent from Southey Green said,
“I came today to show our community here what we can do. We want to bring our children together, to meet together, to know each other and understand our culture.”