Tomorrow's "RG Magazine'' turns the spotlight on Africa in a special issue to mark the opening of next month's major art exhibition at the Bermuda National Gallery.

The acclaimed 100-piece exhibition -- "Secrecy: African Art That Conceals and Reveals'' -- is featured in the cover story, Secrets of Africa by Patricia Calnan, arts critic of The Royal Gazette and reviewed by Adam Gopnik, arts critic for "The New Yorker'' magazine.

"Secrecy'', which opens at the Gallery on October 3 after having been on show at New York's Museum for African Art, is described by Calnan as "an art event of enormous importance to Bermuda''.

The African theme continues throughout the 68-page colour magazine as writer Cyril Packwood and wife Dorothy describe their recent journey through five African countries; local artists Robert Bassett and Diana Tetlow talk about the African influence on their work; Kevin Winter describes how he built a safari lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria; and Dudley Thomas explores Lesotho.

Also, six Bermudian photographers celebrate Afrocentrism in a picture spread entitled Self Portraits and there is a preview of November's African fashion show.

The Royal Gazette's sports editor Dexter Smith gives readers an inside look at Cup Match following his debut as a St. George's player in this year's annual cricket classic.

It's all in the October issue of RG Magazine -- available free only with tomorrow's edition of The Royal Gazette .

RG Magazine is now available on subscription to overseas readers at just $39 for 12 issues.

AFRICAN MAGIC -- Sandys Secondary School art teacher Mr. Robert Bassett and his 15-year-old students Aisha Jordan (right) and Teayona Gilbert put up African masks in the foyer of the Bermuda National Gallery. The school made 68 masks which will be on sale and display during the "Secrecy'' African art show which opens on October 3.