The College recently hosted an intercultural event celebrating Community Relations Week 2019. Students from St Mary's and Stranmillis University Colleges joined families from the Sudanese and Somali communities, among others, to taste Nigerian cuisine and learn Ugandan drumming.

The event was coordinated by Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland (HAPANI) and Africa House (NI), two of the larger African diaspora charities in Northern Ireland. Mr Suleiman Abdulahi (founder of HAPANI) and Dr Manal Hassen (Chair of Africa House NI) addressed the gathering. The event was also organised to coincide with the United Nations' Year of African Ancestry.

Dr Gerard McCann, Senior Lecturer in International Studies at St Mary's, gave a keynote address on “Past, Present and Future: the African Influence in Belfast”.

The Brassneck Youth Group from West Belfast and the Sudanese Youth Club also joined the event and enthusiastically participated in the drumming performances and festivities throughout the evening.