| for Darfur and a number of members of the Swedish parliament. There was also a large number of Stockholm based Africans. A group of African performers entertained the large crowd with traditional African drumming and dancing. Earlier in the week, the Ghana Union, together with Gambia Solidarity Forum, VHI-Sweden and AFRIS organised a seminar on the gains and shortfalls of independence and the future of Africa to mark African Union Day. Speakers at the seminar included Dr Cyril Obi of the Nordic Africa Institute, Mary Mubi, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Sweden and Joe Frans, Chairman of Forum Syd. Click here to see more images from both events... |
La Scala plays Beethoven in Accra: The world famous Milanese orchestra, La Scala, played to a packed house at the National Theatre in Accra on Monday as part of the activities marking Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations. BBC's report on the show says the audience applauded at the wrong places (a sign of ignorance) but the conductor was fully satisfied at the behaviour of the audience who came in their 'brightly coloured dresses'. The concert, the first of its kind in Ghana and the first visit of Teatro alla Scala to Africa, cost tens of thousands of dollars and was organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan. The idea, hatched by Kofi Annan, was made possible thanks to the support of Eni, the Province of Milan and the Chamber of Commerce. It was broadcast live on television and those ordinary Ghanaians who, against all odds, did watch it, would have recognised Beethoven's 9th Symphony and, perhaps, the solo parts of the "Hymn to Joy", which is also the European Union's official hymn. |
