Are you sitting comfortably?

Liverpool's annual Africa Oyé festival is always a highlight in my calendar and this year is more exciting than ever because my organisation is an official festival partner.

We've got a stall focusing on Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) mental health and we were really busy today talking to hundreds of people. Our 'A Culture of Wellbeing' whistles were a big hit!

Given that we've had so many reminders over the last few days of how fear of difference or 'otherness' can promote hatred, intolerance, violence and murder, it's particularly timely that Liverpool has had an opportunity to unite this weekend to celebrate the beauty to be found in love, togetherness, good food, good fun, great music, laughter, conversation and celebration of cultural diversity.

I was back and forth all day and managed to catch most of the acts on the main stage including Liverpool's own Rimka and Xam Volo, Damily from Madagascar, Wesli from Haiti, the Ifa Band from Tanzania and the UK's top hip hop artist, Akala www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXlP5Io0cQM (I'll post more photos elsewhere when I get round to it!) whilst also enjoying activities at our own stall including a wonderful performance by the women of the Migrant Artists Mutual Aid (MAMA) choir and the storytelling of today's blip subject, Mara Menzies.

Mara travelled down from Edinburgh today to be with us and it was a joy to listen to her telling her tales! Here's a brief example... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaueLCbOjGg

Thanks to Nici for all her help in making this weekend's activities happen and thanks to everyone who volunteered at our stall! Thanks to all at Africa Oyé for keeping the festival free and putting together another great lineup! There's more tomorrow...

(Thanks also for all the love for Spokes on her birthday. She's very touched by your responses!)