Beautiful colours lit up Henley this weekend… visitors from Borama dressed in their traditional brightly coloured clothes danced, drummed and sang in Market Square to the delights of a Henley audience on Saturday afternoon.

They were here in Henley on an official visit to promote our Friendship Link with the town which was formed in 1982.

As well as the performance in Market Square, there was an exhibition of traditional crafts on display at the Old Fire Station Gallery which continues today (Tuesday 10 June) including tapestries, baskets, paintings, vases, jewellery and lots more.

At the gallery there were a number of workshops too which included how to make coiled baskets, a painting workshop by Unsi, an artist who is studying at Birmingham City University who demonstrated a great new way of painting and a poetry session on Sunday afternoon.

Carol Crowdy who organised the exhibition said, “I have had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and have learnt so much about Borama culture and traditions, both old and new.

I’m really into crafts, and I have discovered some amazing craftswomen amongst the visitors and am very much looking forward to hooking up with them to learn some new techniques and skills.

It was so lovely sharing our knowledge with each other and comparing ideas. I am very much looking forward to the next 32 years of friendship between the towns.”  Carol found the following Horn of African proverb which sums up the event…

An ostrich came to a dance floor. She put one leg on the dance floor. Then someone asked her why she had not put both legs on the dance floor. She answered, “Continue with your own dance. Once I have learned to play in tune with you I will put my other leg on the dance floor.”

Carol said, “I feel I have started my journey of being able to put both feet on the Borama dancefloor!

The Mayor, Martin Akehurst said, “Lovely day, lovely colourful friendly people and so nice to see traditions being passed on to the next generation through cultural dancing. As they entered the Market Square the sun came out. That summed it up!”

Ahmed Magare who ran the poetry workshop wrote and dedicated this poem about the visit to Henley

We are the fresh milk, poured out from the dhiil (water/milk vessel)
We are the milk, beating through the vains of the rivers of Thames.
We are the guardians of the boats and the ships.
The helpers of the low and high.
The dreamers who preach by bridges.
Sleepless thoughts we sink in forgiveness.
We are the shadowing drums, awaking the heart of the market
We are the messengers of the town hall and kind givers of tomorrow.
We are Henley and Borama
Borama is Henley, let us breathe another day.

Henley