Poor attendance almost mars Kijiji 'Festival'
Reported by Laura Brown
 |
| Fashion & Samba delighted the crowd |
The two day event ‘is meant to promote the continent
of Africa as well as to bring Africans and
Hungarians together’, according to the organisers who obviously were disappointed
at the low turnout experienced on Friday’s opening ceremony.
Responding, Mr. Tunde Komolafe, the event coordinator,
expressed his disappointment at the number of audience who graced the event,
saying the people he wished to see had failed to honour the invitation.
Komolafe admitted it has never been easy to organise
African events in Hungary
unlike in the United Kingdom
where he engaged in similar thing for some time before returning to Hungary late
last year to reproduce Kijiji Africa.
Although some people agreed that organising African
events in Hungary could be
problematic in terms of pulling crowd, they pointed out that the personality
and past record of African events organisers are becoming a determinant factor for
successfully coordinating cultural events in this Danube
region.
The event could have recorded high turnout if logistics,
and other little things had been adequately taken care of, claimed some. They
argued that organisers of African events in Hungary must endeavour to give the
best – at all times - instead of mediocre performances that have become typical of such events.
Responding to African News Hungary’s questions, some people
used the occasion to chastise organisers of African cultural events in Hungary,
saying they are fond of putting up shows that belittle African heritage in its
proper context.
“It’s quite different in other places,” quipped an
African living in France
but holidaying here. “It is either you project African culture in its proper
way or nothing”.
The French-African who has been living in France for over 20 years advised Africans involved in cultural activities in Hungary to showcase country by
country culture instead of muddling up African cultures with one another which often causes confusion. .
The French-African who has been living in France for over 20 years advised Africans involved in cultural activities in Hungary to showcase country by
country culture instead of muddling up African cultures with one another which often causes confusion. .
Meanwhile the attendance on Saturday erased the fear
of total failure as the audience was treated with both fashion parade and
contest with the introduction of Rosana Samba group and others which apparently delighted the crowd.
Declaring the event open, the Nigerian Charge d’affaires,
Mr. Adedotun Adenrele Adepoju, said that he hoped
this event would have tremendous impact, especially by creating ‘hope for the
hopeless’.
Sharing Adepoju’s sentiment, China Mart
representative believed the event might enhance everlasting relationships
between China, Africa and Hungary.
Written by Hakeem Babalola
"God is Chaos.
ReplyDeleteTithe Ritalin."
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http://acaseformarcbreed.blogspot.com/
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