Christ Church Cathedral is staging a first this Christmas as it plays host to a concert celebrating Africa, with all the sounds, rhythms and excitement synonymous with this vibrant continent. The event is organised by SOS Sahel UK, an Oxford-based charity which has been supporting the rural dryland dwellers of Mali, Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya for more than 20 years.

The evening kicks off with the traditional powerful Afro-beat of kora-player Jali Fily Cissokho - who lives in Oxfordshire - and his Cout Diomboulou Band. Then comes Juldeh Camara, a prominent Fulani musician from West Africa, playing the rita, a one-string fiddle which complements his fine voice and the inspired compositional skills that mark him out as a performer of note. The final band of the evening is Yiri Baa, whose infectious rhythms of their High-Life music gets feet tapping instantly. With startling harmonic progressions of the ngoni, and outrageous and joyful singing and dancing Yiri Baa will undoubtedly fill a cold December night with the sunshine and passion of Africa. This group, which also make music with a saxophone, lute and flute, is led by artistic director Bucarr Mdow, one of the international touring troupe The Master Drummers of Africa.

Celebrate an African Christmas in Oxford takes place at 8pm on Friday, December 14. Proceeds go directly to the SOS Sahel UK, which will also recieve 15 per cent of sales from an African Fairtrade stand inside the cathedral. The aims of SOS Sahel UK are to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to the poverty experienced by millions of people across the Sahel. The charity looks for innovative ways of tackling the discrimination and denial of rights which are the primary cause of this poverty by working alongside African partners to help farmers and livestock-keepers gain security over the natural resources upon which they depend. The charity believes that the rich and diverse voice of those living in the drylands must be brought to centre stage. To book tickets, phone 01865 305305.