Angola Independence Day 2009, Speech by André Panzo Angolan Chargé d’Affaires, Japan

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE DIET,
EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I AM DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE ARE BEING HELD AT A TIME WHEN A CLIMATE OF PEACE, CONCORD AND HARMONY PREVAILS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

IN THE ECONOMIC SPHERE, DESPITE THE ONGOING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT HAS BEEN SHAKING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY SINCE LAST YEAR, WE ARE HAPPY TO NOTE WITH SATISFACTION THAT UNDER THE WISE LEADERSHIP OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY KEEPS GROWING SATISFACTORILY.

IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT ANGOLA IS REGARDING THE ONGOING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY, BY THE FACT THAT IT HAS LED US TO DEVELOP OTHER INITIATIVES, ESPECIALLY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ONES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF INCOME, THUS MAKING THE ECONOMY LESS DEPENDENT ON OIL AND AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING IT FROM EXTERNAL SHOCKS.

............ Get full multi-lingual (English, Portuguese, Japanese) text here: http://www.japanafricanet.com/whatsnew/country_of_the_month_november2009.php

Mamadou Lo and Abdou Bayefall Performs African Drums and Dances in Japan

This is a video clip of two Africans: Mamadou Lo and Abdou Bayefall performing in Japan.

Mamadou Lo is a multi African-drummer, plays about 14 different African drums and a member of the SAFAIKO percussion band. He is also a songwriter and singer.

And Abdou Bayefall, while popularly known as a prolific African dancer and African dance teacher, he also is a multi African drummer/instrumentalist.

They both hail from Senegal in West Africa and current live and perform all over Japan. I recently ran into them at the French Instistute in Tokyo, Japan. I hope you enjoy this video.

Kunitachi Nebuta Festival, Photo of Warriors and Flowers

Main display at the entrance to the Kunitachi Nebuta festival between August 14th and 16th; 2009.

The Nebuta art works are wooden frames covered with Japanese papers with beautifully designed images of samurai warriors and their horses, historical scenes, women, flowers etc. The display is always at night with hundreds of light bulbs inside making the Nebuta glow. They are moved from place to place on carriages accompanied with drums, flutes, singing and dancing in a kind of floating parade . It's very colorful and a beautiful scene to watch; viewers are also welcomed to join in the processions.

Nebuta Festival, More Photos

Nebuta Art work of Women dancing for their home coming worriors

Nebuta Festival Photo

Nebuta Festival in Tokyo Japan

It's summer again and lots of festivals everywhere in Japan. This is one of the best seasons to be in Japan. Everything you ever thought of on a visit: culture, people, traditional music, drums and dances by people of all ages. And most of all; food and drinks.

The Nebuta festival held between August 14th and 16th at Kunitachi in Tokyo didn't disappoint. People were streaming through the streets of Kunitachi eating and drinking from the roadside food vendors on the streetwalk, dancing to the traditional drums of Nebuta. My friend told me this festival originated from Aomori in the northern part of Japan. This old festival is celebrated to welcome home worriors from the war after successful conquests and all the art works for this festival are of faces of worriors, samurai, their horses and the women who dance to welcome them home.

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Africa; Mama Africa.

Africa: Mama Africa.

Oh Africa, mama Africa.

You are beautiful, you're the mother of the world

Or so we were told; That life began in Africa,

But then your children started to move, they migrated

To new found lands, In search of greener pastures,

They left you to rot. Oh Mama.

Mama Africa

We read of earlier greatness, the days of the Kings and Queens,

The worriors of your empires, the beauty of your lands

And the wisdom of your people. The days when early civilization

Was born in Egypt; We heard also of Timbuktu where wise men came to study.

Oh Mama,

Mama Africa.

We heard how you were rape? plundered? exploited and left bare.

By the people who hated? or loved? you.

But your riches are abundant.

Till this day, you are still the one to come to, in search of wealth:

Natural resources like gold, silver, diamond, nickel etc

Oh Mama

Mama Africa, your children still don't know,

They still migrate in millions, searching for better world?

They're looking for wealth? But there's none richer than you.

When shall we ever learn?

That you are more beautiful,

And that you are richer.

Africa Arise! I am using this space to call on all sons, daughters and lovers

Of Africa to come together, give back something to Africa,

Drop a line to encourage Africa.

Those suffering from diseases, and those who are still hungry.

Tell the governments that Africa is rich;

If only they will use African resources well.