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| Tabitha Weber – Bitatha Crafts |
| Tabitha Weber: The
event serves as an outlet to introduce and sell our products.
We offer products that are applicable to both African and
European lifestyle. European girls are now braiding their hair
and using hair extensions. Furthermore, people are interested
in our handmade jewelries. |
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| Anthony Thompson & Mark Asamoah –
Storytelling |
| The African storytelling is very
exciting for the children and the “young at hearts”.
Anthony and Mark, both from Ghana, integrate percussion,
dancing and singing into their program and animate the
audience to be part of the program. The result is a lively
atmosphere that brings the platform to shaking. According to
Anthony and Mark, the demand for storytelling has increased in
recent times. Our goal is to make the African culture and the
social settings in traditional Africa transparent to the
Germans especially to the young ones. We have performed in
junior and secondary schools as well as at diverse cultural
events. The audience is filled with enthusiasm and there is
always a lot of laughter in the hall wherever they perform.
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| Batchati Family (German –Togolese couple with 2
children) |
| “Afrika Tage” also provides a
family outing opportunity. The Batchati family visited the event
and had a lot of fun especially at the storytelling children
program. The event is very interesting and gives an insight of
African culture the family agrees. “However, there is too
much of consume and the fabrics seem not to be original
African”, Ms Batchati says.
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| The
“Afrika Tage” event |
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Despite bad weather with
intermittent rainfalls, thousands of people visited the first
“Afrika Tage” (Africa Days) in Munich, Germany. The
3-day (11-13. June 2004) event that focuses on African culture
and products was initiated by the Egyptian Medhat Abdelati.
According to the press release of the organizers after the
festival, a total of 108 000 people visited the festival. This
number doubles the number of visitors (50 000), which the
organizers forecasted at the time of planning. Like other
Africa festivals, the concept combines African music,
concerts, percussion/dance workshops, markets, exotic recipes,
fashion/hairdressing and storytelling included in children’s
program to entice visitors.
The number of visitors definitely
proves that there is demand for such festivals. But why are
these festivals attracting so many visitors? AFRITOPIC visited
the “Afrika Tage” event and captured some visitors’ and
participators’ opinions as presented on this page.
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| Brent Jones |
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| I am an African-American artist and have been living in
Germany for many years. I would love to visit Africa as soon
as the opportunity arises. The “Afrika Tage” as an event
is good but the cost of renting space for stall is rather
expensive. The organizers have collected the rent and it is
left to the stall owners to sell or not. If the weather is
bad, the ground becomes muddy and messy. The stalls have no
elevated floors and there is no free drinking water anywhere.
I hope that these issues would be taken into consideration at
the next event. |
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| Teresa Schoene |
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Today is my second day at the
“Afrika Tage” and so far, I impressed. Taking into
consideration that the event is being organized for the first
time here in Munich, I give credit to the people involved in
making the event happen. It is fascinating to see so many
different faces and various types of products from Africa.
Though, I got to know about the event through an Internet
newsletter, I think that the next “Afrika Tage” should be
more advertised in the local media.
I have gone through the markets and
done some shopping. I would have loved to attend the Manu
Dibango concert but I could not afford price. Anyway, I stayed
outside the tent and consoled myself with the sound permeating
through the polymer. I was at the fashion show of the designer
Ann Dörr. The designs are nice but I feel that they are more
authentic when worn by Africans. I personally prefer designs
that pronounce my figure. Though, there was some dancing at
the end of the show, I had expected more choreographic effects
and more temperament in the show.
I wish that there were more events
of this scale in Munich. It helps to acquaint people to other
cultures. I have not been to Africa but I have heard a lot
about the continent through my Cameroonian boyfriend. I know
that there are serious economical and infrastructure problems
facing the majority of African countries. Sometimes I think of
helping the poor in Africa by working for a foreign development
organization based in Africa. But I am afraid that I would
psychologically not be able to bear the sight of many people
dying in poverty through malnutrition. On the other hand, I am
aware of the beautiful Africa. This event testifies to the
truth. |
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| I could
imagine myself helping to organize an event like this one,
if I have the time. My job with an insurance company is
demanding. Since I am into music, I could take the part of
planning the music programs including scheduling the concerts,
inviting and working together with the musicians. I like
singing and take singing lessons. I sing, mostly Gospels and
R&B albeit at home, I listen to all sorts of music
including African music. I have also read a couple of novels
by African authors. Yes, I am interested in Africa and the
African culture. |
| Afritopic
2004 |
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| Zaid Essouti – The gentle Moroccan |
| African hospitality is commendable. In Morocco, the
visitor is offered tea in special Moroccan tea-glass. This
traditional friendliness is offered to visitors at this gentle
Moroccan’s market “Meharee Shop”. Visitors are informed
about the products for sale while sipping at Moroccan tea. |
| Afritopic
2004 |
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| Themes
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