A FATHER is hoping his African beats will spread peace across the city this Christmas.

Francis Boua has launched Drumming Up Peace on Earth to raise money for his East Oxford Fairtrade market.

Born in the Ivory Coast, Mr Boua is now on a mission to raise awareness of the market and help poverty-stricken families across Africa.

Mr Boua, from Headington, said: “I am concerned about the situation globally in the world and particularly in Africa, where people don’t have the opportunity to develop their potential.

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“I would like to use the opportunity of being here in this country to actually show the people in Africa and developing countries that you can succeed if you work hard and support each other.”

Mr Boua started his music mission just months after opening the Fairtrade market in May. Each Wednesday from noon he invites passers-by into the centre to play his African drums while discovering his Fairtrade products.

He is now hoping to launch a daily Fairtrade market in Cowley Road, which will sell African-made products including tea, coffee and jewellery.

He added: “We want to have a good job, we want our children to have a good education, we want top-class health care when we are sick. We want to live in a social environment and that’s what Fairtrade is about.”

Mr Boua, 45, has made Christmas cards, polo shirts, mugs, baby grows and shopping bags to help raise money for his daily market. Funds raised will be donated to his new venture, Oxford Quality Care, which he hopes to register as a charity after raising £5,000.

A team from Oxford Quality Care will then run a new Cowley Road market after Mr Boua finds a permament base for it.

Mr Boua, father to 16-year-old Marine, wants to use his love of African drumming to entice people to join his campaign.

He added: “My vision is to promote African drumming in the local community in Oxford and the UK. Drumming makes people happy and brings peace and harmony to the community.”

Mr Boua, who is owner of cleaning service Oxford Quality Cleaning, moved to the UK 16 years ago after leaving the Ivory Coast for France at the age of eight.

But he said he had left behind mother Jeanette Bah who is living in poverty in the Ivory Coast.

He added: “I want to eradicate poverty. I come from Africa so it’s my dream.”

Call Mr Boua on 07946 073953 or email francis.boua@virginmedia.com


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