A REGGAE-LOVING youth worker is celebrating after banking £800 to help run classes on African history.

Mark Samuels – known as Natty Mark – has secured the cash thanks to Oxfordshire County Council’s community support fund, to provide books and teaching materials.

He set up the free classes last year to inspire people about the continent’s different cultures, traditions and customs.

The scheme, which is approaching its first anniversary, is holding a celebration party tonight at Jubilee Hall in Sorrel Road, Blackbird Leys from 8pm, where the classes are held.

The money will buy books and learning resources as well as stationery, publicity materials and the funds to set up a website.

Father-of-two Mr Samuels, from Townsend Square, East Oxford, said the money meant he no longer had to count the pennies when buying books.

He said: “I need books to deepen my knowledge and my research so I can pass it on in my teaching.

“Books are very expensive. I went into the Oxford University shop and bought a book which cost £120 and normally that would have crippled me. This is a real boost.”

Mr Samuels, 47, has applied for more cash from Oxfordshire grants to help him get his classes, which explore the history of Sub-Saharan African societies in pre-colonial times, accredited.

He currently attracts four regular members to the Monday evening sessions, as well as other drop-in learners.

He added: “Some of them have roots in Africa and others just want to broaden their knowledge and get a more balanced picture of Africa as opposed to the negative story telling you get from the media.”

Among the subjects covered so far have been the Azande people, from north east Africa, and the Venda people from South Africa. In September, learners were taught about pre colonial cultures including the Bemba people from Zambia, Yao from Mozambique, and Oromo from Ethiopia.

Mr Samuels, who has been a youth and community worker in Blackbird Leys for more than 12 years, has roots in Ghana and is passionate about the continent and its heritage. He is teaching at Ruskin College’s Headington campus on October 15-17 on pre-colonial central African societies.

For more information call 07748031529 or email nattyhifi@googlemail.com