The city turns distinctly exotic from June 23, to celebrate Oxford Africa Week.

The well-established arts event brings together a taste of the huge variety of musical styles and influences, from Tangiers to Capetown.

And while you are unlikely to see a giraffe or zebra ambling down the High Street, you are guaranteed to be delighted by the extraordinary range of talent on offer.

Performances, exhibitions, talks and workshops are taking place all over the city, with many based at the Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road - including one of the

festival highlights, Kabudu.

This dynamic group of performers, from South and West Africa, the UK and Jamaica, stage their show at the Magdalen Road venue on June 24 at 8pm. Tickets are £7/ £4.50 concs/ £2.50 under-18s.

The group are holding movement, music and rhythm workshops throughout the week. Each class has been designed to suit different age groups. Times are as follows:

Six to 12 years: Monday 4-5pm

13-17 years: Monday 6-8pm

18 years + Tuesday 4.30-6.30pm

All workshops places are £2.50.

Perhaps the greatest draw of the festival, however, is an evening of music at the Pegasus on June 25, celebrating the flowering of African culture across the globe.

The African Diaspora features the cream of black music from both sides of the Atlantic - including Brazilian capoeira, birembau and conga, performed by Cirenda Brazilian Culture; Cuban salsa music and dance from The Salsa company; Caribbean calypso from The RASPO Humingbirds Steel Band; and percussion music from Carib Africa.

The show starts at 8pm. Tickets are £7/ £4.50 concs/ £2.50 under-18s.

Box Office 01865 722851.