Tribesmen offer their song, dance, drumming and crafts

A SELECTION of arts, crafts and antique artefacts from Somaliland is currently on show at the Old Fire Station Gallery until Tuesday of next week.

The exhibition showcases items from the traditional way of life of Borama nomadic tribesmen from an area of the country, bordering Ethiopia, in the horn of Africa.

The items include traditional drums, carvings and baskets.

Carol Crowdy, who is helping to organise the exhibition, said she is also expecting a crowd of tribesmen to arrive on Saturday who will entertain passers-by in Market Place with drumming, singing and dancing — all in full tribal dress.

She said: “The Borama are no longer nomadic now, they are a sedentary tribe, but they are coming to visit to celebrate the Henley Borama Friendship Association which was established in 1983. I spoke to one of them on the phone and he said they were not very good with time and were always late — so I told them 11 o’clock in the town square, which means hopefully they will arrive by lunchtime!”