A GAELIC-speaking Ormiston teenager shares her experiences of education at a Gaelic school in a new programme to be shown on BBC ALBA on Monday.

Tawana Maramba (pictured), who lives on Wildflower Crescent, appears in Trusadh: Afro-Gàidheil – Afro-Gaels, a documentary that follows Cass Ezeji, a Gaelic-speaking singer with Scottish and Nigerian roots.Throughout the programme, Cass explores her relationship with Gaelic culture and history.

She meets Gaelic speakers of African and Caribbean descent to discuss how they connect to the language and culture while also talking to experts to uncover the Gael’s role in the slave trade.

Tawana, 19, discusses her education at a Gaelic school and how she enjoys singing in Gaelic. She also teaches Gaelic singing.

Tawana’s parents are from Zimbabwe and have taught her the Shona language, a Bantu language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Tawana was born in Edinburgh, moving to Ormiston two years ago. She also has a strong connection to Zimbabwe culture.

She attended Tollcross Primary School in Edinburgh, which offered the only Gaelic medium primary education in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Tawana stayed there until a new Gaelic primary school opened in Bonnington, Leith, called Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.

Afterwards, she attended James Gillespie’s High School, also in Edinburgh.

Tawana runs an after-school club in Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce, teaching Gaelic to pupils.

She said: “I feel some people react like: ‘Oh, you speak Gaelic?!’ But I’m quite proud of that.

“It plays a huge part in my life. There are lots of things I wouldn’t be doing if it wasn’t for Gaelic. I’m grateful that I can speak Gaelic.”

Trusadh: Afro-Gàidheil – Afro-Gaels airs on BBC ALBA on Monday at 9pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days.