Wales, Africa and Women

Hub Cymru Africa is pleased to present a night of celebration and recognising women in global solidarity as part of International Women’s Day with live performances, stalls, African food, drinks and networking.

2026 marks the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day. While much progress has been made, gender inequality remains a pervasive and damaging force across the world.

International Women’s Day provides an important platform to engage with communities, reflect on progress, and commit to positive action. In the global solidarity sector, women are leading the effort to build a just world for future generations. Whether it’s the fight against climate change, strengthening public health, lifelong learning or driving policy reform, women are leading.

This International Women’s Day we also remember a truly inspirational woman, a fearless campaigner for justice and leader in global solidarity, Claire O’Shea. Claire was the head of Hub Cymru Africa until May last year when she died from cancer. Claire dedicated her life to making the world a better place in education and health, loneliness, inclusion and global justice.

Since joining Hub Cymru Africa in 2019, Claire became a leader in global solidarity and international development. She was an articulate advocate for the importance of helping those in need, regardless of borders, her passion for global solidarity never diminished, even as her own health deteriorated.

Despite her diagnosis and prognosis, Claire used her power to challenge inadequate treatment of women in the health service and fight for better outcomes. She did this through the creation of a campaign named in her honour – Claire’s Campaign We’re honoured to be joined by Claire’s Campaign for this special event.

Agenda

18:45 – Doors open

• Enjoy a drink and the opportunity to chat with fellow guests

19:00 – Event starts with a welcome from our compére, Elemchi Nwosu

19:05 – An introduction to Hub Cymru Africa by Israa Mohammed, Chair of Global Health Partnerships Cymru

19:10 – Spotlight on women’s empowerment projects by WCVA

19:15 – Performance: Aïda Diop

• Explore the stalls, catch up with friends while enjoying a wonderful performance from Aïda Diop

19:30 – Dinner, networking and marketplace

• Enjoy authentic, delicious and vibrant Nigerian food by Id’s Place while meeting and networking with supporters of global solidarity and browsing stalls from the sector.

19:45 – Performance: ADJUA

• ADJUA is an Alt-R&B, Latin and funk-infused singer-songwriter and producer born and bred in Splott, Cardiff. ADJUA likes to utilise the influence of her Welsh-Ghanaian heritage, showcasing her unique vocal recording and songwriting skills paired with political and soulful lyrics.

20:15 – Claire O’Shea Tribute

• Claire’s colleagues and friends pay tribute to a fearless and passionate campaigner for global and gender justice and former head of Hub Cymru Africa, Claire O’Shea.
• Cath Moulogo on Claire’s legacy in global solidarity
• Chizi Phiri, a former mentee of Claire’s on her role lifting women up
• A message from Dr. Kathrin Thomas and Claire’s Campaign, focused on ensuring policy change through people’s voices and stories and campaigning to change the culture of dismissing women’s voices in healthcare.

20:40 – Meet and network with supporters and colleagues in global solidarity and browse the market stalls, while we play a bespoke playlist of African music.

20:55 – Spotlight on Treeflights and Size of Wales: partnerships between Wales, Uganda and Kenya

• The Wales and Africa Programme has supported Treeflights and their work in the west of Wales and the Boré community in Kenya for over 15 years. The long-term funding has been critical in helping build impact in both communities that has resulted in creating a practical, community-led model for addressing climate breakdown while enhancing lives and promoting women’s empowerment in Kenya and engaging communities in Wales.
• A video from Size of Wales on the Fuluma Butta project.

21:00 – Performance: Tia Zakura Camilleri

• Tia is an interdisciplinary creative from Cardiff, has left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape with her distinctive focus on poetry and theatre. Tia’s unique style of ‘flowetry’ seamlessly blends rhythm and wordplay. With a focus on social justice, Tia-zakura aims to merge poetry, rap and academia to tell stories from the Black diaspora.

21:15 – Performance: ZimVoices

• As we close the event, we welcome ZimVoices. They are a choir of five Zimbabwean women, now living in Wales, performing traditional stirring and riotous Southern African anthems, mostly from Zimbabwe.

22:00 – End