Natives of the city, which is the largest city in the African nation’s north-western Awdal region, including many who now live in the UK, travelled to Henley to give a demonstration of their culture at the third “Borama Comes to Henley” event in Mill Meadows on Saturday.
Many of the guests wore colourful traditional African dress, while others donned T-shirts which read: “Borama Comes to Henley”. They included Suldan Mahdi Abdi, a traditional leader, and other dignitaries from the city.
The event began with introductory speeches from Henley Mayor Kellie Hinton and Habiba Ali, a Borama native who is now a city councillor in Helsinki, Finland.
The displays of singing, dancing and drumming had been organised by Samasonic Relief, a charity which channels funds from the UK for welfare projects in Borama. The charity is currently collecting books for a new public library in the city.
There was also a talk about the history of the friendship link from Brigadier Malcolm Page, who lives in Ancastle Green, Henley, and founded the Henley Borama Friendship Association in 1983.
Hobbs of Henley also took a small group on a ferry to the Thames Traditional Boat Festival in nearby Fawley Meadows for an hour, where they got to see the Queen’s royal barge Gloriana. Brig Page said: “I was pleased, although the weather was not ideal and as a result some of the ladies decided not come and skip around in their colourful dress.