Tuesday 29 April 2008

Adrienn Nyisztor Is On The Right Path

By Vincent Nnanna
Commentary

I completely agree with Adrienn Nyisztor regarding her project of documenting her personal experience with a view to instructing others against falling victims. Although she has not introduced herself as a Journalist, but what she has embarked upon is a journey into one important aspect of journalism. If I have my way, I would certainly lend some helping hand to facilitate Adri's bold project.

If someone had done some documentary on the human face of XENOPHOBIA, we would have been spared of the many lives that have been lost and all the mayhem against strangers in South Africa.

I live in a society outside of my home state. Here, the first language is not English. My first language is English. And everyone who speaks English in this place is automatically given a derogatory nomenclature that makes you know that you are not welcome. It doesn't matter what commitment you make socially, economically or morally to the upliftment of their environment.

Yet, they cannot boast of self-sufficiency in any area. They certainly need us (strangers), to open their hearts and eyes to the good that lie behind and beyond their primitive ideology. Unfortunately, even most of their intellectuals are not exempt from this xenophobic intimidating attitude.

The only way to get by in this tumult is to learn to speak more than one of their local languages in addition to their lingua franca.

I have had to speak publicly in condemnation of this attitude. I have gone on air several times to argue that they are many of their own people in other countries who are enjoying first class hospitality irrespective of their class, culture or language. But because the xenophobic tendency is deep-rooted in them, there is little respite from an insignificant number of the population.

I feel sorry to say that most of my co-strangers are not helping matters because of the way and manner they conduct themselves in this environment. There is so much arrogance, selfishness and dishonest practices among my kins over here. I believe that this is what they have exported to Hungary that makes Adrienn Nyisztor want to cry out.

Let her cry if that will bring about any positive results. She has my blessings, and I am ready to give her material some professional touch if she asks me.

Vincent Nnanna writes in from Cotonou



Monday 28 April 2008

Africa Day Marked in Hungary

Archie Bonka Reports
Africa Day


This year's Africa Day was celebrated in Budapest by several civil societies connected with African activities on May 23 in Hungary at the Painters Club.

The occasion was used as a platform to discuss some of the issues affecting immigrants and minorities, especially the best way for their integration.

Participants include Gabriel Deen of Mahatma Ghandi Foundation, Lorince Marcel from the Art Mission Foundation, Zoltán from the Immigration Head Office, a representative from MENEDEK and a refugee from Sudan.

The participants debated on language barrier, lack of jobs, racism, and detaining of refugees in Hungary

Gabriel Deen seemed unhappy that refugees are not being adequately protected. "Refugees should not be sent to prison," he argued, adding that they should be protected because they left their different countries in order to escape from brutality.

A representative from the Immigration Head Office, Zoltán, disagreed saying, since most of those who applied for asylum came into the country illegally, they must face the law for illegal entry should their application be rejected.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese refugee appeared unimpressive during the debate. It was apparent that he was naive about the topic in question. For example, he seemed to lack knowledge about the happenings in Sudan - his country.

Business and Aid also feature during the debate. Many participants believed that before the aid packages could be meaningful, transparency and good governance must first be the priority otherwise most people will have died before the arrival of the aid packages.

Apart from debate, about three hundred school children from various Primary and Secondary schools around the country seized the opportunity to learn about Africa, especially paintings from TINGATINGA art collections in which Dr. Sarungi Emoke of KIKOA Art explained in details with so much enthusiasm.

However, the turnout of Africans were so poor that prompted a Hungarian lady who had spent thirty-six years in Lagos, Nigeria to ask a pertinent question as she registered her disappointment.."Where are the Africans?"

Even without many Africans in attendance, AFRICA-HUNGARY PLATFORM which was housed in a nomadic tent, took the participants to Africa through a big screen showing African films from Cairo to Cape Town.

Both Afro Magic and Chalaban Bands provided entertainment.

SAHARA FOUNDATION, AFRICAN-HUNGARIAN UNION, HELLO AFRICA, AFRIKAERT FOUNDATION and the AFRICA-HUNGARY PLATFORM are some of the organisations that grace the occasion.


Saturday 26 April 2008

Nigerians Are Ungrateful People

By Hakeem Babalola

Past leaders are expected to be widely known and esteemed like a glorious harmattan morning. But in the case of Nigerians, they have assumed an attitude of thankless towards their leaders. They often perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure among their past leaders. Nigerians have wilfully turned their past leaders into villains. Ironically, they believe every preceding regime is always better. What’s the matter with Nigerians?click to read story

Thursday 24 April 2008

A Night Out at an African Party


Archie Bonka recently attended an African party where he marvelled at the way the Masai tribe managed to keep their culture and ways of life in this era of American culture that pervades our world. "I am proud of them," he says. Roll along with Archie in this detail account of the night in question click to read the full story

Tuesday 22 April 2008

MENÉDEK promotes integration with refugees’ self-portrait

By Hakeem Babalola
News Report

As part of the celebration for the Refugee Day, MENEDÉK Hungarian Association for Migrants exhibited paintings and pictures of Refugees at the Millenáris Park on June 18 to educate Hungarians in a campaign to make them more open to different races and cultures.

Although the turnout was below expectation, the organizers used the occasion to inform the audience about the significance and consequence of xenophobia which they say is getting momentum across the European Union.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Dr. Kőszeg Ferenc, former Hungarian Helsinki Committee President, told the audience that integration is the key issue in the future which will usher peace between the refugees and the Hungarian public. “This is why little thing like exhibition of pictures and paintings of refugees are very important”.

The guest speaker noticed that the asylum policy is better compared to what manifested in the 1990’s. He said that the procedure is fairer now than up till late 1990 when there were thousands and thousands of asylum seekers, especially from Yugoslavia. He attributed this to the proportion of asylum seekers which is relatively low now.

Dr. Kőszeg went on to pat Human Rights Movements on the back saying, the advent of different Human Rights Organisations in Hungary has contributed immensely to improve the situation of asylum policy. “The MENEDÉK is doing a lot for the integration of refugees and intolerance”.

He explained further that before Hungary joined the EU, those seeking asylum in Hungary were always ready to be trafficked to the European Union zone where they hoped to get better treatment, adding that at least 80% of asylum seekers left the country.

However, the asylum procedure has changed drastically since Hungary joined the European Union in 2004. The new rules categorically prevent the possibility of seeking multiple asylums in the European Union territories. This has made it difficult for asylum seekers in Hungary to flee to other EU zones.

“It doesn’t work anymore because according to the EU rules, everybody has to have the procedure in the country they applied first, and the person must be integrated in that country”.

Many participants also believed that pictures say a lot about the issue in question which is basically to integrate the refugees to the Hungarian society where they could enjoy most of the things that led to their escape from their different countries.

Várdi Zófia, an artist, who spent five days with the Refugees in Bicske, said that she liked the idea of Refugees Self-Portrait Project, adding that “everyone says Hungarians are not very open so this is a great opportunity to learn about integration”.

Várdi described her experience as really shocking and interesting because the refugees have terrible stories of their escape, adding that it was difficult to get to know the refugees but after the initial scepticism, they opened up and they were happy that others are genuinely interested in them.

The refugees most of whom are from Iraq, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Pakistan, expressed different emotions in their paintings or pictures.

Omar from Somalia who now lives in Bicske would like peace to return to earth where everybody could help each other. Sarah from Iraq cries for freedom. Khada from Somalia is happy that Hungary has finally given her good life including getting married to Hada, her lover whom she met on Somalia Chat.

Lara, 16, from Iraq is happy that she could now wear whatever she likes unlike when she was in her home country where she didn’t feel pretty because “everything is forbidden”. Her brother Al-Jari Rami, 19, says “it is simply good for one to have the right to speak freely without fear of being killed”.

Val lives in Bicske and his message is simply “A Tear Drop for Iraq”. Eleonora from Kosovo cries to heaven, “This is my portrait”. Shahzad from Pakistan uses mountains, sunshine, boat, trees and parrot to tell the story of his home country.

The pictures and paintings by the refugees are expected to be placed in the metro, on post cards and billboards around the country in the hope to reach at least 1.5 million Hungarians.

Many asylum seekers from African countries have refugee status in Hungary.Some are still living in Hungary while some have since re-located to other European Union countries, especially England where they hope their lives would be better.

Copyright 2008

mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Saturday 19 April 2008

The Meaning of African Dance





By Dan Gorlin
Arts & Culture


Dance in Africa is not a separate art, but a part of the whole complex of living. For an African, the magic of all life is experience.

African dance is basic, vital and complete. It varies from the slowest and stateliest of court dances to those which move so rapidly that ones eye cannot register what is happening.

In all, it is the concept of beauty and beauty is primarily in the rhythmic action, composure, smile, body decoration, prose and so on.

Traditional dance in Africa is the integrated art of movement controlled by her music which is governed by her languages. Its relationship to music is what distinguishes it from any other art.

African dance is also a source of communication through which it is possible to demonstrate emotions, sentiments, beliefs and other reactions through movements.

African dance can be traced to many modern movements for example, martial arts self-defence movement are common movements found in Nigeria among the KOROKORO dances.

Also the samba was originally a generic term designated the choreography of certain round dances imported from Angola and the Congo and it’s the most favourite dance in Brazil.

In African funerals, the music and dance tell a sort of story of the deceased; his or her occupation, successes, or social position in life. The cause of death is reflected in the music and dance.

The funeral dances express the importance of the community in traditional African life, in which people are bound by a shared respect for their heritage and a pride in the accomplishments of their fellow members.





Dan Gorlin of Alokli West African Dance wrote in from San-Francisco, USA

Tuesday 15 April 2008

Self-Portrait Programme for Migrants

By Hakeem Babalola

The Hungarian Association for Migrants (MENEDÉK) is currently organising a self-portrait project at SRLY Restaurant on Király street 50. The event is expected to take place every Sunday from 10-4 pm and will last for five weeks
click to read the story

Re: My Darling British Airways

By GEORGE IHEANACHO

Right to Reply


I read your piece with the above heading published in Daily Champion of Tuesday 13,2008. Frankly speaking, I do not subscribe to your line of argument.

I have read several of your articles and always appreciate your sense of duty and critical solutions you offer in issues of national interest.

However,the paramount concern that the current issue involves the life of a fellow Nigerian being deported.The Nigerian (the deportee) deserves a little respect despite any circumstance.

The story was that British Airways officials called in the London Metropolitan Police to contain Nigerian passengers who were visibly unhappy with the inhumane way a Nigerian was handcuffed and pushed around.And these Nigerians were prevented from flying their scheduled flight and one of them barred from travelling with the British Airways in future.

Sir,I agree with you that our government in their myopic and vision less leadership has contributed to this shameless ill treatment meted to Nigerians but the person in question is not a government official but a fellow(ordinary) Nigerians.

There is one adage in Igboland there one who has been rejected can not reject himself.We suffer all these humiliation,injustice and ill treatments in the hands of foreigners because our government has failed to put things right.

If the government has failed to so,then what of us. We can change our destiny,can't we?.If we can boycott the British Airways for a while and was able to make a statement then they will sit up too and know how to treat Nigerians.

Inasmuch as you are entitle to your opinion and can decide to boycott or not,this can of view will deter other Nigerians to remain lukewarm when they should react.

Please I hold you in esteem but really do not subscribe to your current opinion.

Monday 14 April 2008

Hungarian Minister Inaugurates African Hungarian Platform


By Archie Bonka

The Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister, Gönc Kinga, on Thursday April 10 officially opened another forum in which Hungarians and Africans could share mutual ideas in the hope to improve the lot of their "people"click to read the story

Thursday 10 April 2008

Na Lie, He No Dey Kampe


Though his false pride has blinded him to reality, his ruggedness will help him to understand that, for him to “dey kampe” there must be chaos or near anarchy in the society he lives. This man arrives at this precarious truce because he often reminds himself that his people are largely responsible for his ruined state of mind. He loathes them for this and he'll revenge. But he must fake happiness for it enervates his "foes". Nigerians must protect themselves click to read the story

Wednesday 2 April 2008

Anti-Racism Concert Held

By Archie Bonka

Answering questions why she prefers musical concert to lectures and symposium in schools, colleges and universities, Obazeh Zsuzsanna said that she chose musical concert because it has a unique way of uniting different races
click and read more