Culture central to Africa Day celebrations

Abu Dhabi: Dozens of smiling children in brightly coloured costumes paraded on the stage while the rhythmic beats of African drums filled the air. Nearby, the aroma of freshly prepared sweets and traditional dishes lured visitors.

These vibrant performances and displays of traditional artefacts and cuisines by more than 20 different African embassies marked Africa Day celebrations in the capital on Saturday.

“Our festivities here coincide with worldwide celebrations of Africa Day and they aim to create an understanding of African cultures and traditions. They also boost relations among African nations as well as relations with other countries,” Dr Maha Radwan, wife of the Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News.

Africa Day is marked on May 25, the day on which a number of African states signed a charter in Addis Ababa in 1963 to form the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This year marks the 50th year since the formation of the OAU and it is being celebrated globally under the theme ‘2013: Year of Pan-Africanism and African Rennaissance’.

In the UAE, the Africa Group of Ambassadors organised Africa Day. In addition, a gala dinner is planned for Sunday for invited guests, hosted by the Dean of the Group, Algerian Ambassador to the UAE Hamid Chebira.

Dr Radwan, who is also co-ordinator for this year’s Africa Day events in the UAE, said the event was expected to see nearly 500 visitors.

“One of the major goals of the activities is to expose children to African cultural elements. This is why we have a range of activities for them, including a storytelling corner, handicrafts and pottery workshops, glass painting, drawing and a host of folkloric dances,” she added.

The festivities also included a colourful fashion show, a number of dance performances and a chance for visitors to sample exotic cuisines.

“From South Africa, we have our national flowers, the beautiful proteas, preserved for display. Visitors can also sample the famous pap n chakalaka, a nutritious maize meal eaten with a bean, tomato and onion mix,” said Brenda Oosthuizen, wife of the Charge D’Affaires at the South African Embassy.

“For those with a sweet tooth, there is the koeksister, a hugely popular dessert that is essentially a syrup-coated doughnut in braided form,” she said.

Olanda De Carvalho, wife of the Angolan Ambassador to the UAE, also invited visitors to try the delicious seijoada, a concoction of beans cooked with a range of meats.