ERROR RG P4 26.1.1994 The group performing at the second annual African Ball on February 19 is called Soul Touch, not Soft Touch as reported yesterday.

Kwanzaa, the African-American celebration, will provide the theme for this year's second annual African Ball.

Staged by Black Box Performance Workshops, the Ball will be held in the Dr.

E.F. Gordon Memorial Hall at the BIU headquarters on Saturday, February 19.

Everyone will be encouraged to wear African dress, says Ball chairman and Black Box director, Ms Patricia Pogson.

"Kwanzaa actually takes place between December 26 and January 1 and is a celebration of the seven principles of life that people should live by,'' she explains. "If people can't wear full African costume, we are asking them to wear something ethnic.'' An impressive line-up in entertainment has been arranged and includes Shine Hayward's African Jazz Ensemble, Piece of the Rock Band, songs from Wild Honey, poetry recitations by Tona Douglas, Leechee and Esther and their group called Soft Touch, will sing reggae. In addition, the Black Box Players will perform two short comedies, Hair Piece and Symbiosis, from their National Gallery production of Coloured Museum.

"We shall be giving everyone the red carpet treatment, with a full African buffet prepared by Leonie Curtis,'' promises Ms Pogson, adding that dancing will continue through 3 a.m.

Although this is the second annual Ball, Ms Pogson says this is the first time that it will also be a fund-raiser. There will be in-house raffles with "lots of prizes'', with proceeds going to the Black Box Education Fund.

"Last year, Black Box managed to raise $1,000 to go towards the cost of sending Laurel Burns, one of our students, to college. This year we would like to raise even more.'' This year, there will be a special tribute to Nelson Mandela for his fight against Apartheid.

"The Ball is under the patronage of the Rev. Trevor Woolridge, MP. We chose him because of his efforts at making further education more accessible to Bermudians by sending them to Allen University.'' There will also be a Libation Ceremony in which three special personalities will be remembered. These are, the late Chris Harney, former General Secretary of the ANC who was recently murdered, tennis star, Arthur Ashe, who died last year from AIDS, and the work of Margaret Carter, who also died last year, will be remembered. A copy of the Bermuda Writers Machine's latest book, "An Isle So Long Unknown'', which is dedicated to her memory, will be on sale.

Tickets at $30 are available at True Reflections. For every purchase, there will be a 10-percent deduction for costumes purchased for the Ball. And Hair At Last beauty salon and Shades of Africa will also be offering 10-percent discounts with proof of purchase of tickets.

Further information can be obtained by telephoning 295-5943 or 297-8462.