The joyous sounds of African singing and dancing filled the air at Grace Community Church in Hydean Way in Stevenage on Saturday.

The gathering – organised by the Stevenage Kadoma Link Association – was a celebration of the link between Stevenage and its Zimbabwean twin town, and came two days before the anniversary of Zimbabwe’s formal independence on April 18, 1980, after the Lancaster House Agreement.

Singers and dancers from Stevenage’s AFM Church sang African songs in the indigenous Shona language and cooked up a tempting menu of traditional Zimbabwean food.

The aim was to let more people know about the link, which was established in 1989.

Association chair Rose Hamilton said the event was a success with lots of people enjoying food, song and dance.

Rev Steven Cooper of St Paul’s Methodist Church in Knebworth was at the event investigating the possibility of setting up a link between Stevenage and Kadoma churches.

Stevenage’s deputy mayor Councillor John Lloyd – a long term supporter of the link – was also there.

For more information about the association visit www.skla.org.