We made history: we organised the first Hungary-Africa Week!
4 venues – 4 professional days – 3 cultural days – 400+ participants – representation of 9 different African countries – international art exhibition of 9 guest artists.
The main organiser of the Hungary-Africa Week: the 20-year-old Foundation for Africa. We would like to express our thanks to our fellow organisers: HAND, University of Pécs, Close to Africa Foundation, Africa Stories Association and Miriam Coulibaly, art curator.
We are grateful to our supporters: Duna Group, GED Africa, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Tempus Public Foundation, Agrofeed Kft.
We brought Africa to Budapest! We spent a week talking about Africa from an international development, economic and educational perspective and presenting African culture in an authentic way. The Hungary-Africa Week brought together professionals, academics, business people, students and Africa lovers.
The venue for the Professional Days was the beautiful Budapest Music Center from Monday to Thursday (12-15 September), where
- we formed our International Development and Humanitarian Day network on international development, and made recommendations on how we can best work together to help Africa,
- at the Economic Days we held conferences and business meetings,
- and finally at the Education Day we brought together university representatives, academics and students, to discuss scholarships, African studies and academic work.
On Monday, 12.09., the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest hosted a lecture on Kenya’s Wildlife as part of the Hungary-Africa Week, organised by our fantastic co-organiser, the Africa Stories Association.
The true face and atmosphere of Africa was best expressed through the cultural programmes at H13, where we held:
dance classes on Friday, 16.09. with Ballet Camara, Divin Ngamba, Nicolet Hamvas, Marian Szmodics and TeamGravity,
and on Sunday, 18.09., the “This is Africa!” Community Day
- a craft fair, fashion show with Kafiya the model of the year, Close to Africa Csorba-Német-Morris design, Izaura Sachicola, Largo Collections, Fekete Aniko (Ebony) and PANAFRICA,
- testimonials (Gábor Csonka), Ildiko Szilasi (Travel to Africa), Andrea Gyurácz (Africa Another Way), Zoltán Papp (Cargobike for Africa),
- The Dawn of the Rhinoceros book launch, authored by Boglárka Balogh and Orsolya Bedő,
- face painting with Andi Ynda Bihari, experiential painting with Marianna Bajczi (MariannaArt Kuckó Siófok) and puppet making with the Hungarian Puppeteers Association,
- storytelling with Danny the storyteller and Mhagama Peter,
- a discussion on African literature Lángh with writer Júlia Lángh, editor Rácz I. Péter Rácz, and Kata Gyuris, about African women and girls with
Andrea Morris (Close to Africa) and Zsófia Szilágyi- Könczöl (Africa Born in My Heart), about children with Rebeka Kárpáti and France Mutombo (Foundation for Africa), on volunteering with Dominikka Marek (Blythswood Romania), Hilda Szabó (Asante For Kids Association), Aliz Németh (Close to Africa), Richárd Schneider (Foundation for Africa) and Zsolt Molnár and on chimpanzees with Kata Marokházi, Pal Aczél and Máté Halmos.
- African buffet with Kingson Kitchen,
- drumming with Ballet Camara and Afrobreakz and singing with Márk Szász Boka.
In addition, on Friday 16.09., at Kristály on Margaret Island joined the Hungary-Africa Week and organised an Afro party on the sports and African movement culture day!
In the Budapest Music Center and H13, art made by African artists or African-inspired artwork adorned the walls. Among the artists: Noémi Ács Kinga, Richárd Horváth, Gábor Kalácska, Júlia Kuzma Eszter, Faye Mor “Murf”, Aliz Németh, Viktória Szunyogh, Marina Vincze and Ágnes Zászkalicky.
Thank you for joining us! Thank you for letting us travel around Africa with you! Thank you that for a week Budapest was loud from Africa! Thank you to our speakers, performers and exhibitors!
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Our co-organisers:
Close to Africa, Coulibaly Miriam, I do it 4 You Foundation, Africa stories
Our sponsors:
Tempus Public Foundation, Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, Agfrofeed Hungary Kft., GED Africa, Duna Group, Uniqalis Consulting, Hungary Helps, HAND Hungarian Association of NGOs For Development and Humanitarian Aid, University of Pécs, HEPA, Kokilla Prec KFT, Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, MTA Africa Subcommittee, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Exhibitors:
ZOO GYŐR, Cotton and Cashew Council, Rejoignez-Nous, Asante For Kids, Africa Another Way, Kingston Kitchen, Ingrid Lengyel, Africa Born In My Heart, Travel To Africa, African Art Gallery and Shop, Africatextile
Afrofusion fashion show designers:
PANAFRICA, Largo Collections, Anikó Fekete & the Ebony, Izaura Sachicola, Alfred Belcanto, Hint of Africa Africa Morris-Németh-Csorba design Close to Africa
Choreography designed by:
Rea Milla Kafiya
Our exhibiting artists:
Miriam Coulibaly, Kinga-Noémi Ács, Andrea Puhl Bihari, Richárd Horváth, Gábor Kalácska, Eszter Júlia Kuzma, Mor “Murf” Faye, Aliz Németh, Marina Vincze and Ágnes Zászkalicky
The Sports Day and “This is Africa!” Community Day participants:
Kingston Kitchen, Ballet Camara, Vandorboy – The most traveled Hungarian, Afrobreakz, Blythswood Romania, Around the word with Hungarikums, Hungarian Puppeteers Association, Marianna Bajczi, Bedo, Boglárka Balogh, AYÉ! Free Singing Circle, Rebeka Kárpáti, Zoltán Papp, Danny Storytelling, Andrea Ynda Bihari, Kata Gyuris, Júlia Lángh, I. Péter Rácz, Peter Nashoni Mhagama, Nicolet Hamvas, Teamgravity, Mariann Szmodics, Divin Ngamba