Voices of change

 On the 28th November 1998, DAPAMDA in co-operation with South Africa Kontakt, organized the conference "Communicating Cultural Africa" at Copenhagen University. We invited 11 journalists from 10 countries in Africa for a week long seminar ending with a conference. "Communicating Cultural Africa" was an exchange of cultural knowledge, ideas and experience between journalists and artists and Danes interested in African culture. Dapamda member Matt Hunter reports about the conference.

A conference on how we communicate Africa spread valuable knowledge on the cultures of the continent. From `the Coca–Cola invasion` to spirits, sex, aids…
By Matt hunter

They came from the four corners of the continent, journalists communicating cultural Africa. Eight days of inspiring conversation with a clear level of give and take, is the best way of describing the conference held as a joint project between South Africa Contact and Dapamda - the Danish Association for the Promotion of African Music Drama and Art. In the end of November, 1998, the week begins with a welcoming dinner for the journalists attended by members of both organizations. The idea is to create a cross cultural exchange between the visiting journalists and their counterparts living in Denmark. Artists, journalists, social activists and interested individuals are invited and given the opportunity to compare notes on how governments, democracies, and societies in general, function within the various countries.

Journalistic and artistic freedom is also among the main topics particularly in connection to criticism of governmental leaders. Several meetings are held, at municipality houses - medborgerhuse - as well as at South Africa Contact at Nørrebro and the Danish Center for Cultural Development at Vestergade in Copenhagen.

Confrontation with reality

On their way to Denmark, three of the journalists were confronted with the stark reality of what "Fort Europa" truly means when they were unjustly detained by German, British and French immigrations officials. The fact of the matter is that these journalists were completely authorized, invited guests of the Danish government and could document the authentity of their travels through their signed letters of invitation. Yet they were still treated like common criminals.
A very strongly worded complaint has been filed with the German Embassy in Copenhagen, and the sad story was printed in several Danish newspapers. An official apology is expected and should be demanded. To Djembe`s knowledge, there has been no response until present.

Grass roots communication

Enough with the negative. What remained was overwhelming and surprising enthusiasm for our invited guests and for the discussion they engendered. I must admit that I was not in favor of spending so much money on journalists sitting around grey square tables, indulging in boring debate, when there are so many dynamic, undiscovered creative genius in the arts, hidden away in Africa. Shouldn`t they be more appropriately invited? I must now acknowledge that I was wrong.
This visit of the 11 African journalists was a very successful effort at showing that Africa is much more than song and dance. Other aspects of Africa can equally create a stimulating occasion. It has also been pointed out that journalists are gifted communicators, reaching a wide cross section of the general population, as opposed to the abilities of intellectuals, academicians and other experts on Africa. This show was about grass roots communications, culture, tradition and change.

Day of dialogue

The conference on `Communicating Cultural Africa` culminated with a full day of dialog, workshops, and festivities at Copenhagen University and Etnorama of the community house at Nørre Allé. Who would expect 250 paying customers to sacrifice a Saturday, and show up promptly at 9 o`clock in the morning for a conference on Africa?
The topics of discussion ranged from the Coca–Cola invasion, to the "power of chiefs", spirits of the anceators, women in African culture, aids, the enviroment, the effects of war, music, the media, and political culture. The energetic workshop on "Women in Africa - Tradition and Change" lead by Amie Sillah of Gambia, touched on such compelling issues as female genital mutilation or circumcision, child marriages, polygamy, child education, and the rise of women in politics and business through the power of religious societies. Should Western society be blindly followed without a blueprint that avoids its many pitfalls and shortcomings?

Women who escape rites of circumcision loose their place in society, consequently becoming prostitutes and outcasts in the cities. Is there a means of initiation into the wisdom of womanhood without mutilation and fulfilling the laws of traditional society?
Are there laws prohibiting child marriages and why are they not enforced? Is there a means of gentle persuasion enlightening the chiefs, elders, and keepers of tradition to yield to change for the benefit of society? Is polygamy always in favor of the man?
Recently, the women of Uganda protested and successfully repealed a law prohibiting plural marriages. The women reasoned that under a traditional polygamous system, they always know where their man is. Under a Western system a man may begin to pattern his life after European and American men, nightclubbing, chasing prostitutes and keeping a mistress.

Living spirits

The workshop on `Spirits of the Ancestors` was an equally thought provoking and stimulating workshop. Simon Kaheru, Ugandan journalist, dispelled the mystery of ancestor worship with the simple analogy of Jesus dying on the cross. He is dead man, yet people consult him, seek his advice and worship him. This is analogous to the ancestors who have died, but passed on into the realm of eternal life, being exalted with the ability to intercede in practical affairs on earth. What influence does Islam or Christianity assert affecting traditional African thought? African religion is seen as inclusive and syncretistic. It can be compared to other indigenous like the Shinto of Japan, for example, where there is a common saying: "Once we had 800,000 gods. Now we have 800,001 gods, because now we also have Jesus". Chritianity, Jesus, Islam and the saints have been incorporated into African religion and magic whenever and wherever it proves to work with tangible results. Many will deny their adherence to traditional beliefs because of status. It is prestigeous to have a Western facade. However, in the end, they all return to the root.

Festive finale

To top off the night, we indulged in the celestial sounds of Mandingo kora music by Basirou Suso. His music is like the clear water of a lake trickling down a mountain in a thin transcendental stream penetrating rocks and the wall of a cave leading to a sacred, secret, higher world. Yawo Sylvester Agbedoglo and Afro Roots provided the hot fire and earth sounds of calypso and highlife. There is no doubt that the band has worked long and hard together, executing precise timing and breaks throughout the musical arrangements. The moon was almost full and it was indeed, a good night.

Simon Kaheru from Uganda - one of the 11 visiting journalists from Africa - dispelled the mystery of ancestor worship.