MANY cultures make Glasgow - and this weekend they will come together at a special event.

On Saturday morning Glasgow City Chambers will play host to African drumming, Chinese and Bhangra dancing, traditional Slovakian Roma folk music and poetry in a variety of languages.

The Many Cultures Make Glasgow event, compered by Maryam Hamidi from River City, is aimed at recognising and celebrating the city's diversity.

Youngsters from St Andrew's learning community - St Maria Goretti, St Rose of Lima and St Paul's primaries - are performing at the event.

They will show off their skills with a Polish poem, a Swahili clapping poem, a Portuguese poem and a Nigerian lullaby as part of the Scotland-wide Mother Tongue Other Tongue competition.

Zahraa, eight, and Maryam Al Hallaf, 11, came from Iraq to Scotland two years ago and have settled well in their new school.

They will be singing an Arabic song to the audience at Saturday's event.

Maryam said: "We didn't learn as much at school in Iraq, the teachers didn't care if we learned or not, and they would hit you.

"They care more at this school. I don't actually miss living in Iraq but I miss my family.

"The first time I was in school I didn't understand what people were saying but after a few days I could understand much better."

Kirsten Barratt and Claire Mackay are EAL teachers working across various Glasgow primary schools with children speaking 50 languages.

Kirsten said: "It's important for us to have a lot of patience to gain the trust of the children who come here - teachers from their home countries might be real authority figures and it's about breaking down those barriers to show that we are different here.

"Our schools gain so much from having these children here."

Performers include drumming and chanting from Chief Amu at the African Caribbean Network and African Art Centre.

Zhao Yang, a professional dance student from Beijing, representing the Ricefield Arts and Cultural Centre, will be performing two dances influenced by Buddha and the Anhui Flower-Drum Lantern.

The Bella Bhangra Dancers from Bellahouston Academy will perform several energetic Bhangra dances combining Punjabi folk music with Western pop, while the Colours of Life dance group from the Maryhill Integration Network will perform traditional folk dances.

Kosovan refugee Remzije Sherifi, who leads the Albscott Albanian Scottish Association and runs the Maryhill Integration Network, and Dylan Fotoohi from Scottish Refugee Council, who sought asylum from Iran in 2013, will speak.

Councillor Soryia Siddique, chairwoman of Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, which organised the event, said: "This is a unique event held for the first time in Glasgow City Chambers celebrating the wonderful diversity of our great city.

"The event will be a celebration of cultures through music, song, dance and food. The City Chambers belongs to the City of Glasgow and its great people.

"Many new comers came to Glasgow and have made Glasgow their home, including researchers, innovators, renowned business people and prominent politicians.

"The event is about celebrating differences, learning about other cultures and sharing journeys.

"No matter where you come from and where you go, Glasgow will always be your home."

Running from 10am to 1pm, the event is free to attend but people must register at www.eventbrite.com/e/many-cultures-make-glasgow-tickets-21383821586