African Youth Festival

African Youth Festival
By Christopher Adams

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Mt Albert War Memorial Hall was packed to capacity Sunday night as the African Youth Festival warmed up an otherwise chilly evening.

The event, organised by the Ghanaian Association of New Zealand, aimed to highlight Africa’s cultures, as well as the issues affecting African youth growing up outside the continent.

The festival’s motto was “empowering tomorrow’s leaders today”.

Ghanaian association president Dr Charles Dwamena made a challenge to young African Kiwis in his opening address – that in the future New Zealand will have its first African Member of Parliament.

“For young Africans – even the sky is not the limit,” said Dr Dwamena.

Auckland city mayor John Banks spoke at the festival.

“I’m glad that Africa has come to Auckland,” said Mr Banks. “I’m fond of African people that live on the continent of Africa and African people that live in New Zealand.”

Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong and Mt Albert National Party candidate Melissa Lee also attended the event.

In her address to the crowd Mrs Wong said that the energy and colour of the African community “lighten up” Auckland.

Mrs Wong added that she is also looking forward to seeing the first African MP in the New Zealand parliament.

Zimbabwean Getrude Matshe was another guest speaker at the festival, who described her experiences since arriving in Wellington in 2001, which included starting her own medical recruitment agency and writing a recently published autobiography.

“ A lot of us [Africans] don’t realise the resources we have,” she said.

The festival also saw musical performances by the Zoh Zoh Ensemble and Young Sensation, as well as a traditional Zulu dance performed by South African group Taste of Africa.

The African Youth Festival is set to become an annual event.

ENDS

Christopher Adams is a journalism student at AUT

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