I always say that we are One people although we come from different Nations. We are connected in may ways. This Sunday I witnessed it during the Multicultural Colourful Cultures Festival in Liendert.
I remember sitting with Paul Liklikuata and Liekje Hoffoman at the Huis van Bartels, drinking our coffee, and we started with this first idea of creating something to connect as many nationalities as possible. Liendert has 80 Nationalities while the whole of Amersfoort has 132 Nationalities. This festival idea start like a dream, and putting it in action was a great honour. It was my first time to help organising a Festival. I cannot be more proud than what we have achieved yesterday on such a hot day!
The Colourful Cultures Festival had a lot of activities for young and old. Gospel Kidz, Liendert Orkest, Evangelique Rap, Indonongo, Suzuki Guitar groep, and Duze Nomshikashika a choir which sings South-African Songs in the native language, unique in Amersfoort. This choir is very special to me as they sing about the struggle for peace and fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa. As HIV stigmafighter I joined this choir since March this year and yesterday I performed two solo songs with the choir.
During one song I was talking about HIV and Aids killing people, let’s fight it before it finishes us all. I could read people’s faces while I sing with an open heart to the public, and how people where touched by the message. This is a message I will also bring to South Africa in October as I am travelling with the choir to Soweto and Cape Town to perform in different Townships, and to sing and give HIV education where I will share my real HIV story and give hope to people. During our show they were fundraising to help me join the choir for this Project. It was a great performance and I am thanking all who donated to make my dream come true.
Another activity that kept me busy the last few weeks as well was the Fashion show. I managed to bring together 11 Nationalities to present their traditional outfit . We had a beautiful Dominican Republic group MODESTO AQUINO, and people from Morocco, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Yemen, Netherlands, Indonesia, Burundi, Congo, Kenya, and South-Africa. We pulled together a great show where everybody showed with pride something original and beautiful from their country of origin.
Burundi was represented by me and my Son Akira. Something I am very proud of as a mother, to teach Burundian Culture to the new generation. Akira is born in the Netherlands and has a Dutch father, and it was very special to see him in traditional cloths made of wood (INYAGITI) which is the first outfit worn by our great great parents before modern clothes were available. I was dressed in ‘modern’ clothes with traditional prints, like a local woman in a village. We walked together waving the burundian Flag. What else can I say? A great Honour! I loved the way we ended the show, 11 countries coming together and dancing our colourful dance. Smiling, having fun, that is what it is all about, right? We are One colourful people!
Thank you for being there and see you next year!
