In an interview for the program “Cultura en Movimiento”, broadcast by the Alba Ciudad radio station, based in Caracas, the Vice-minister for Africa of the People’s Power Ministry for Foreign Relations, Yuri Pimentel, offered details on the realization of the 16th edition of the Africa Week and the VII of the Cultural Festival with the peoples of Africa, which will be held at the end of May, in commemoration of Africa Day.
During the telephone contact, he indicated that “since 2005, Commander Hugo Chávez gave a strong boost to all relations with Africa”, for which reason these activities were conceived “as spaces to highlight the African heritage and the historical connection that we, as Venezuelans have with African countries”, in addition to serving as platforms to strengthen cooperative relations between Venezuela and the countries of the African continent.
He said that since the launch of the initiative, Africa Week is celebrated every May 25; This year it will be from May 24 to 30, coinciding with the international holiday for Africa Day, the date on which the African Union was founded in 1963.
He explained that on this occasion, the Africa Week and the Cultural Festival with the peoples of Africa will be held simultaneously, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We decided to conceptualize and produce both activities simultaneously and with formats consistent with current demands, especially with videoconferencing systems and all the resources that technology offers”, explained Vice-minister Pimentel.
Likewise, there will be a projection of African cinema, through the public and alternative media.
Meanwhile, the VII Cultural Festival with the Peoples of Africa, which takes place every two years, will be broadcast on the social networks of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry and the People’s Power Ministry for Culture -organizing entities- on May 26 and 27. “We will have artists from various countries, such as Angola, Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia (…) We will also have dance, poetry and cooking of traditional food.”
National and international groups that wish to participate in the event can send their request until May 8, through the email viifestivalculturalconafrica@gmail.com. “All artists who are interested can send their videos there, with a duration between 3 and 5 minutes, with their information sheet”, said the Vice-minister for Africa.