South African evening

Sounds from the Willowmoore High School Marimba band and Xhosa face painting greeted the guests and delegates to the South African evening dinner in the Serengeti area on Tuesday. Many turned out to the event in colourful traditional African outfits and a fair amount of dancing and singing started the evening off.

The support team made their way around the hall performing a traditional hand washing ceremony once the guests had taken their seats.

The Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of South Africa, Mrs Esmè Richards, gave the welcoming address in which she commented on the importance of unity “working together and continuing to look wider and to look forward with confidence”. The guest speaker, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ntombazana Botha, encouraged the guests to experience South Africa and said how honoured she is that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has come back to Africa.