Annig Barrett, who was born in Ireland but grew up in Botswana, says she has been travelling and trading most of her ays, but when the time came for her daughter to go to secondary school, she decided to set up shop in Dublin. World Design, in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, is that rare thing: a treasure trove of a shop that reflects its proprietor's taste as well as African connections with a unique mix of furnishings, fabrics, ceramics, jewellery and one-off handicrafts and works of art.
Barrett makes a point of supporting job creation projects and fair trade enterprises.
"I wanted to remind people that Africa is there . . . to bring the essence of Africa to Ireland and promote awareness and respect for a continent with very exciting and talented designers," she says.
Thus you will find handwoven grass placemats made by a co-operative in Swaziland or a handcarved Bameleke bed from Cameroon or ebony bowls handcarved by a women's co-operative in Dar Es Salaam. Some of the textiles she stocks are woven on small looms by nomads in Mali.
There are beautiful baskets, of course, and carved chairs and tables, portable stools and felted beanbags. She sells metal bowls and flatware designed by Carrol Boyes in Cape Town, and clay and wire chandeliers.
The shop is crammed with collectibles - from small gifts to investment pieces. Check it out on www.worlddesign.ie, or find it in 59 South William Street, Dublin 2 01-6139032 Patsey Murphy
From aid to trade
Traidlinks, a not-for profit alliance of Irish businesses, has developed its own brand of African products that are being sold in Irish shops.
Heart of Africa is a range of premium food products that are sourced and imported from Africa, including tea, coffee, nuts and fruit. Traidlinks hopes the brand will help create employment and improve working and living conditions for communities in developing countries, while providing educational opportunities and raising awareness of the positive role of trade in the development of poorer nations. The initial focus is on the food sector in Uganda, hence the highly munchable Heart of Africa products. You can sample the organisation's products at Africa Day tomorrow, and there will be two hampers stuffed with goods up for grabs. The products are also available in Dunnes Stores, Londis, Superquinn, Tesco and other stores. Yum. www.heartofafrica.ie. Laurence Mackin
Africa on film for free
There's still time to catch some of the best films to come out of Africa in recent years. Today is the third and last day of the Reel Africa film festival in Dundalk. This free-of-charge festival takes place in Dundalk's Institute of Technology.
Today's screenings begin at 1pm with Bamako, directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, which is showing at the New Black Box Theatre at Dundalk Institute of Technology, followed by a 3pm showing of Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's Darratt.
The festival ends with a 6pm screening of The Amazing Grace, the story of British slave trader John Newton's voyage to Nigeria in 1748, an experience which inspired him to compose the hymn Amazing Grace. The film's director Jeta Amata and star Nick Moran will be on hand for a question-and-answer session after the film.
Irish Aid is the main sponsor of these festivals, including Galway's African Film Festival, hosted by the Galway One World Centre, Galway Film Society and Huston School of Film and Digital Media in the Town Hall Theatre next weekend (June 1st and 2nd). The programme includes the Irish premiere of Clouds over Conakry, directed by Cheik Fantamady Camara, which tells the story of BB, a cartoonist from a Muslim family who is sent by his father on a pilgrimage to Saudia Arabia. Alex Ogou, who plays BB, will be present for the screening. Also booked are: Bunny Chow, a politically incorrect comedy directed by John Barker which takes its name from a type of fast food associated with South African's Indian communities; the award-winning Waiting for Happiness, directed by Abderrahmane Sissako; and two children's films directed by Michel Ocelot, Kirikou and The Sorceress and Azur and Asmar: the Princes' Quest.
All tickets are free, but should be reserved through the Town Hall box office at 091-569777. Full programme details on www.myspace.com/galwayafricanfilmfestival.
In Dublin, the Irish Film Institute is having its own African festival. Africa Unite is "at once a concert movie, a Marley family travelogue and a humanitarian documentary" that follows a one-week event which commemorated Bob Marley's 60th birthday. It is screened at 1.45pm. Bunny Chowis screened at 2pm, and Daratt and Waiting for Happiness are at noon.
All these films are free, with tickets available at the box office. See www.irishfilm.ie. Fiona McCann, Lorna Siggins, Laurence Mackin
Safari, snakes and the Serengeti
Whether it's recreating scenes from The African Queen, clambering up Kilimanjaro, haggling for bargains in the souks of Marrakech, or taking in the wildlife of the jungle, there are plenty of holiday companies to help you take on the continent.
Tourafrica.ie organises all inclusive trips, flights, hotels, safaris and cruises to the southern tip of the continent. See tourafrica.ie or 01-8173565. Panorama specialises in Tunisian getaways; see www.panoramaholidays.ie or 0818-202020. Sunway has range of offers on Morocco, Egypt and safari packages in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as South Africa. See www.sunway.ie or 01-2311889. Budget Travel has plenty of Egyptian packages on offer, see www.budgettravel.ie or 01-6311111.
If you like your travel a bit on the tougher side, then climbing Kilimanjaro should be just the challenge. Check out Ashante Tours at www.africa-ata.org/ ashante_tours.htm for their itineraries, though you'll have to organise your flights. If money is no object, then check out Abercrombie & Kent. It specialises in bespoke safaris throughout the continent in luxury lodges. Call 0044-845-6182202 or see www.abercrombiekent.co.uk. For an upriver adventure in the wilds of Gambia, check out www.hiddengambia.com, which can organise an itinerary to suit most demands. Laurence Mackin
Made in Tanzania
If your were to climb Kilimanjaro, you might find the family who makes these wooden toys selling them to tourists at the base of the mountain, led by their 86-year-old grandfather, his four sons and several grandchildren.
Oxfam Ireland has become one of the family's best customers and, because administrative offices for some of its development work are nearby, it is particularly keen to raise the profile of the projects and handcrafts they are supporting in Tanzania. Thus you will find the "Kwanza collection" - handcarved ebony bowls, cooking utensils, batik fabrics and other houseware items - creating employment in the region. Look out for single-estate coffee beans from Kilimanjaro, too.
There are now four Fair Trade Oxfam shops here - in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway - and the pickings get better and better, from books to global music, and hammocks to ceramics. Perfect present-hunting territory and some of the foodstuffs, jewellery and gift items are now available online from www.oxfamireland.org Patsey Murphy
Centre of attention
Most of Ireland's official overseas aid (€914 million this year) goes to Africa. The newly opened Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on Dublin's O'Connell Street tells the story of this aid - why we're spending it and the difference it is making in some of the world's least developed countries. The centre is also a great first port of call for information on overseas volunteering opportunities
The centre is free to visit, open six days a week (Monday to Saturday) and has a lively programme of events around overseas development. Upcoming events include a conference on the role of social entrepreneurs in global development and a session on volunteering in Latin America - more information and a full listing of events is available at www.irishaid.gov.ie. Catherine Heaney
10 AFRICAN CDS TO HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTION
Orchestra Baobab Pirate's Choice
Sunnysideup Senegal funk and soothing late-night grooves
Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabante In the Heart of the Moon
Two masters at work producing peerless symphonies of guitar and kora
King Sunny Ade Juju Music
The Nigerian juju maestro's finest hour.
Fela Kuti The Black President
The Afrobeat pioneer recorded over 50 albums during his lifetime so start your Fela lessons with this Best Of.
Khaled Khaled
When Algerian rai went global
Franco The Rough Guide To Franco
The king of sexy Congolese rumba
Various The Very Best of Les Ethiopiques
All-star collection of infectious sounds from the golden age of Ethiopian and Eritrean music in the 1960s and 1970s
Youssou N'Dour Nothing's In Vain
The Senegalese megastar hits all the sweet spots.
Tinariwmen Amassakoul
Conclusive proof that the blues came from the Sahara
Mariam Dimanche a Bamako
Divine Afropop from the blind Malian husband and wife
Jim Carroll