Joe Osae-Addo
1 / 2014 THE GEOGRAPHICAL ISSUE
For so long Africa has depended on certain groups
to shape the agenda. I am appealing to the creative
community: we need to engage; we need to be part
of the change.We will not be listened to if we do
not take our rightful positions in the economic
develop­ment agenda, because, after all, we can offer
development clear advantages: conceptualisation,
intuition, and the ability to visualise and document
ideas.This is what Africa needs: vision, documentation
and most importantly, culturally enhanced passion
to deliver tangible change.
1 / 2014
THE GEOGRAPHICAL ISSUE
REVIEW
2013 AFRICA CALL FOR PROPOSALS
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PRINCE CLAUS FUND
2013 AFRICAN CALL
FOR PROPOSALS
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ALA KHEIR, SUDANESE PHOTOGRAPHERS GROUP
SUDAN
S udanese culture is formed the same way the White Nile and the Blue Nile meet in the centre
of Sudan and form the Nile. It is the mixture of west and central African heritage with Arab,
desert culture. And this makes it so rich in terms of culture bringing all these elements together.
In a single world: Diverse.
OUÉDRAOGO ABLAS, SOKAN THEATRE
MALAWI
Cosmopolitan.
MICHAEL PHOYA, WIKIAFRICA
MALAWI
What makes Malawi unique is the fact it has the friendliest people on earth. And for such a small
country, it is so varied in terms in topography and other natural features. The Malawian culture
is rich and diverse with numerous cultural expressions and locally based heritage groups often
organised along ethnic lines displaying rich cultural traditions and interest in safeguarding and
the protection of cultural heritage. Malawi in one word? Awesome!
KHALED MATTAWA, ARETE FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
LIBYA
It is our wish that our country, Libya, stops being so unique for a little while. It was strangely unique
during Qaddafi’s time, and it is now unique in a different way after him. The same problems are
still there – lack of order, corruption, and dysfunction – but they’re not quite the same. But it is also
a dynamic situation and there’s still a great deal of hope that it could still turn for the better. One
word to describe Libya is ‘harissa,’ the hot sauce that is exciting, pleasurable, fulfilling, and searing.
PANDORA HODGE, KRITERION MONROVIA
LIBERIA
Resilience!
DANIEL TOUBA,YEYOKUN
IVORY COAST
Ivory Coast has the best cuisine on earth;
taste it once and you will become addicted!
YACOUBA SANGARE, CINE DROIT LIBRE ABIDJAN
IVORY COAST
hat makes my country unique is its cultural diversity. It is a meeting place for peoples from
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diverse horizons. We are 62 ethnic groups, with very different cultures, but we live together.
TUNDE JEGEDE, LIVING LEGACIES
THE GAMBIA
Gambia is one of the most welcoming countries, especially to strangers! It is a very good window
into the essence of West African life and culture.
ABEL ASRAT, WIKIAFRICA
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is unique as a country which remained free of colonialism. It is culturally rich, has its own religion
and has humble people. It has a unique calendar, unique Phonetics. Ethiopia in one word: beautiful.
ELIAS ABA MILKI, AZMARI FILMS
ETHIOPIA
linguist once said that all Ethiopian leaders have tried to change their population’s behaviour
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and traditions; and all have failed miserably. Even with all of the development we are experiencing,
Ethiopia is still a very traditional place. I see this as a great treasure, since it allows us to preserve
some of our rich cultural heritage and translate it into new forms of media like film as it becomes
more and more accessible. The one word is therefore traditional.
MIHRET KEBEDE, NETSA ART VILLAGE
ETHIOPIA
ur country is unique in its cultural and social activities, as well as its independence from
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other African countries. In one word: ‘complex’.
AIDA MULUNEH, DESTA FOR AFRICA
ETHIOPIA
Renaissance
STAR RUGORI, LUTTRE CONTRE LE SILENCE
BURUNDI
Geographically, Burundi is landlocked, at the intersection of Anglophone East Africa and Francophone
Central Africa. We remain the only Francophone country of the African Community that has to find
its place and impose its presence on linguistic, cultural and political levels. It has one national language
(Kirundi) and the absence of dialects facilitates communication. In a word, I would say that Burundi
is untapped/unexploited.
SABIMBONA FREDDY,TROUPE LAMPYRE
BURUNDI
My country is unique because it has an unshakable faith in the future. Whatever happens,
a Burundian’s greatest strength is his ability to never bend. In a word my country Burundi is ‘proud’.
SALAH IMÈNE, RAFIK OUADI, CINÉ-FIL, ASSOCIATION CINÉMA ET MÉMOIRE
ALGERIA
Potential. Huge Potential!
YASMINA REGGAD, /A.R.I.A/
ALGERIA
Authentic and generous.
MOHAMED AIT AMRAOUI, CINÉ+
ALGERIA
Algeria is a multicultural country, contrary to popular beliefs, it is not entirely Arab or Muslim.
There are many marginalised cultures that are now returning to the front of the stage. Algeria has
also several cultural affiliations. Algeria is a rich country for its human resources and promising
young talents. In a word, Algeria is a promising multicultural country.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN
CONTEXT WITHIN AFRICA?
REVIEW
THE BARN – TALKING DOORS AT MTN BUSHFIRE 2013
SWAZILAND
Paradoxical.
AHMED ELMAHDI, AL KHATIM ADLAN CENTER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT (KACE)
SUDAN
The cultural and ethnic diversity of Sudan reflects that of the entire African continent. This separates
Sudan from any other nation in the world. Sudan in one word: Karam (generosity)
TALAL AFIFI, SUDAN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
SUDAN
S udan is a country that is still going through the process of identifying itself culturally and socially;
this makes it a very fertile and interactive place. Sudan is an African, Arabic, Islamic country that its
culture takes features from the Red Sea, Sahara, Nubia and equatorial Africa. I would describe Sudan
with the word: Diversity.
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PANDORA HODGE, KRITERION MONROVIA
LIBERIA
LR
CI
LR FILM FESTIVAL: IMAGE OF
LIBERIA
CI | MR FEMMES EN SCENE
ET DFA PHOTOGRAPHY
WORKSHOP SERIES
ET WAX AND GOLD
ET | MW THE
WIKIAFRICA PROJECT
SZ TALKING DOORS AT
MTN BUSHFIRE 2013
SD MOBILE CINEMA:
TAKING FILM TO THE MARGINS
IN SUDAN
SD SUDAN INDEPENDENT FILM
FESTIVAL
ET LONG LIVE THE GIRLS:
A MANIFESTO!
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GM LIVING LEGACIES
ET YEYOKUN
(LET’S BOND TOGETHER)
SD TRANS-AFRICAN
PHOTOGRAPHY MASTER CLASS
LY REVIVING THE ARTS IN LIBYA
CM LUTTE CONTRE LE SILENCE
DZ CINÉ-FIL ALGERIE
CI CINÉ DROIT LIBRE ABIDJAN
DZ CAFÉ LITTÉRAIRE
SZ
MW
BI BUJA SANS TABOU
BI
ET
ET AZMARI FILMMAKING
WORKSHOP
LY
DZ /A.R.I.A/
PROJECT ORGANIZERS
GM
MR
DZ
NL
SD
By giving young people a voice in the cultural climate they will also take ownership of their society
and that will stimulate innovation in the cultural sector.
MIHRET KEBEDE, NETSA ART VILLAGE
ETHIOPIA
Different art practices and festivals are flourishing on our continent. And also a newly developed trend
of using our own professionals like curators, writers and critics will open up our artistic practices
to the outside world… it is important to have international exchanges and exposures for the wider
development of the art practices in our continent of Africa.
SABIMBONA FREDDY, BUJA SANS TABOU
BURUNDI
Within five years Africa will be essential in culture and for a simple reason. There is such a desire,
such a thirst for knowledge that at some point it can only explode – in a good sense!
CULTURE IS A BASIC NEED
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