Noticias
The gathering takes place from May 23rd to 29th
The Africa Week in Mexico starts at Vasconcelos Library
May 23, 2016To the rhythm of drums and African dance, the Africa Week in Mexico started at Vasconcelos Library, where it was cut the ribbon of the photographic exhibition A journey through West Africa, by artist Jean-François Druz, in which we can see images captured in four countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo.
This initiative in collaboration with the Department of Culture and the Department of Foreign Affairs (SRE, for its acronym in Spanish), seeks to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Mexico and the countries of Africa, to identify and develop opportunities for bilateral and business cooperation as well as to promote greater knowledge of those lands in different sectors of Mexican society.
The opening ceremony, held at the Vasconcelos Library Auditorium, was attended by the head of the SRE, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, the dean of the African diplomatic corps in Mexico, Leovigildo da Costa e Silva, and representatives of the embassies of the African countries in Mexico.
Meanwhile, Daniel Goldin, director of the institution, said that diversity will be celebrated with this event, having an encounter with contemporary Africa which was the cradle of civilization, while Mexico's relations will be consolidated with African countries, he said.
Da Costa e Silva, also Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, expressed that the celebration of the Africa Week in Mexico marks the willingness to offer Mexicans the opportunity to learn more about the rich culture and civilization of a continent that in different aspects remain unknown.
He pointed out that with the activities program proposed for the occasion, including film, poetry, talks and an economic forum, the Africa’s achievements in the field of development will be deepened and the economic, cultural and human aspects of the continent will be discussed.
On her behalf, Claudia Ruiz Massieu described the week as "an extraordinary opportunity" to remember Africa’s history and life in Mexico, referring to the states of Veracruz, Guerrero and Oaxaca where most of the 400 Afro-Mexican communities are settled there, and about 1.400.000 Mexicans are recognized as Afro-descendants.
La Semana de África en México tiene como sedes la Biblioteca Vasconcelos, además de El Colegio de México y el Palacio de la Autonomía.
The Africa Week in Mexico venues are: the Vasconcelos Library, in addition to El Colegio de México (The School of Mexico) and the Palacio de Autonomía (Palace of Autonomy)
Also, a literary discussion group will be held on Tuesday May 24th at the enclosure of the department of Culture located in Buenavista, in order to read African poetry in native language and in Spanish.
On May 25th, at 17:00 hours, a cinema debate on the film Black Venus by A. Kechiche will be held; on Saturday 28th the African films, Invictus and A-Cero will be projected at 12:00 and 17:00 respectively, and on Sunday 29th, at the same time, Gorillas in the Mist and Messages of the sea.
The Africa Week in Mexico, to be held from May 23rd to 29th, is organized in conjunction with the African embassies in Mexico, the Committee on Foreign Affairs Africa Senate of the Republic, the Department of Culture of the Federal Government, ProMéxico, AMEXCID, the school of Mexico and the Vasconcelos Library.
Mexico,Distrito Federal
