Percussionist and Leading Activist
for African Week
Over twenty local and foreign NGO’s and cooperatives are collaborating to put up a week of activities that includes some seven workshops with a Senegalese percussionist and a dancer, an evening of African music and literature inspired by Africa, a two-hour concert of African music and dance, two seminars with mainly foreign speakers, an interfaith celebration, an evening of African films and an exhibition of African art and social and political commitment. Seven local and foreign cooperatives, including a South African cooperative, are collaborating together for the first time not only to put up this African Week but also to promote cooperative ways of working.
A close collaborator of Bishop Desmond Tutu in the T.R.C., Charles Villa-Vicencio is also Professor of Religion and Society at the University of Cape Town and author or editor of thirteen books and over a hundred articles. He is consultant editor of the Religion and Ideology Series of Cambridge University Press and of the US-based Journal of Church and State. His books include, amongst others, Civil Disobedience and Beyond: Law Resistance and Religion in South Africa and A Theology of Reconstruction: Nation-building and Human Rights.
The aim behind this African Week being organized by the Third World Group and Koperattiva Kummerc Gust (of the world shop L-Arka) in collaboration with the University Precincts Office and BOV Club is to present the Maltese public with an ‘experience of African culture. education and social and political commitment’. Mousse Ndiaye, who has played with Youssou Ndour, Orchestra Baobab and Baaba Maal, and lectures at the University of Helsinki, is a key player in this Week with his workshops for school children, university students and the general public. One of the highlights of the week will be his concert at the University’s Francis Ebejer Hall on Thursday, 18 March at 7.00p.m. together with Tanzanian singer Joyce Mabilla and Tunisian musician Jamil Limam.
Full Programme
The exhibition at the University’s Junior Common Room will be open from Monday to Thursday between 9.00 and 1.00pm and between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. The activities include:
Official Opening – Monday, 7.00pm, Junior Common Room.
Workshops (percussions and dance) for the general public – Monday and Tuesday, 3.00p.m. – 5.00p.m., Junior Common Room (LM2 a session).
Isefra, an evening of literature and music, Tuesday, 7.00p.m., Francis Ebejer Hall (behind University Library), entrance free.
African Cinema, Wednesday, Francis Ebejer Hall, (LM1.50);
6.00p.m.: "Xala" (Senegal); 8.30p.m.: "Halfaouine" (Tunisia), English subtitles.
Mousse Ndiaye in Concert, Thursday, 7.00p.m., Francis Ebejer Hall, with Jamil Limam, Joyce Mabilla and Thioune Ndiaye (LM3).
Seminar: Africa for Africa, Friday, 9.00p.m.-1.00p.m., Aula Magna, Old University Building, Valletta; speakers Prof. Charles Villa-Vicencio, Dr. Paul Clough, Dr. Stella Borg Barthet and Mr. Vince Caruana (LM2), in English.
Interfaith Celebration, Friday, Ta’ L-Ibrag Parish Church, 7.30p.m., led by Gwann Xerri O.P., in English and Maltese.
Seminar: Draft Policy for Law on Refugees, Saturday, Mount St. Joseph, Mosta, 9.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. (LM7, including lunch).
African Night organized by the Society for African Studies, Saturday, Francis Ebejer Hall, 7.00p.m..
There will be African food on sale at all the activities being held at the Francis Ebejer Hall.
For tickets, bookings for workshops, transport after the activities, and further information please contact the Precincts Office on 3290 2236 or L-Arka on 244865.
Adrian Grima
