MAASAI tribespeople are to visit a Northallerton art gallery as part of a week of African art and photography.

The visit by the Kenyans to North Yorkshire has been organised by outdoor survival expert Jason Ingamells, who runs bushcraft courses in the UK and in the Masaai Mara with Masaai Warriors.

They will be visiting the Joe Cornish Galleries in Northallerton on Thursday, May 22, where they will be providing a jewellery demonstration on the afternoon and giving a dance and song performance at the gallery in the evening.

The following day, Friday, May 23, they will be visiting Applegarth School in Northallerton, where they will do a performance for the primary school pupils.

It is part of a week of African art being run at the gallery on Zetland Street from Saturday, May 17, featuring a variety of artwork and photographs by Joe Cornish, Anna Booth, Paul Harris, Chris Martin, Joni Essex, Laura Hancock, Alan Ball and Ross Moore.

On Saturday (May 17) afternoon photographer Joni Essex will talk about travelling in West Africa and the following Saturday (May 24) Joe Cornish will be giving a talk on his photographic trip to Africa.

On Tuesday, May 20, Mamane Barka from Niger, the last remaining master of the Biram harp will be performing traditional songs on the five stringed instrument.

Jo Rose, from the gallery, said: “He’s the last surviving person who is a master of the Biram harp – and he was taught by the world’s masters. It should be a really good evening.”

For more information, or tickets to any of the performances, telephone the gallery on 01609-777404 or go online at; www.joecornishgallery.co.uk