- 12 views
Brave, outspoken, visionary and forward thinking - these are just a few of the qualities that made Wangari Maathai a remarkable figure both at home in Kenya and across the globe. She was a political and environmental activist who understood the deep connections between environment, poverty and peace and who suffered for her strong convictions through political persecution and sometimes even physical abuse.
To be held in Toronto on the first anniversary of her passing, this Celebration of her life and work has been developed to keep the flame of her passions - environmental protection, peace, democracy and equality for women - alive even as her beloved Africa needs those elements more than ever.
In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.
Wangari made the statement when she became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. In fact, she lived a life of firsts. Born during colonial days in 1940 in a small village in Kenya, she took advantage of government programs and U.S. funding to attend school in the United States, where she studied biology.
• In 1971, she was the first East African woman to receive a Ph.D. in Anatomy from the University College of Nairobi
• Later, she was the first woman in Nairobi to take the position of senior lecturer, associate professor and chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.
Her commitment to social issues grew and developed alongside a budding career in academia, where she excelled. She lobbied for improved rights for women workers. She founded the Green Belt Movement to preserve local flora, in particular the forests of Kenya that she saw being cut down. The organization paid women a small stipend to find seeds and seedlings and replant them.
Celebrated outside her own country but not appreciated by the regime, she was divorced by a husband who said she was too strong-willed and arrested, tear-gassed and beaten unconscious during various protests for democracy under an oppressive one-party regime in Kenya. Yet, she continued to advocate for peace and the advancement of African women. The Green Belt Movement spread throughout African and led to the Pan-African Green Belt Network. United Nations figures estimate that the Green Belt Movement has planted over 30 million trees in Africa and employed nearly 900,000 women.
The movement’s basic activity - tree planting - helps to combat desertification, avoid water crises and the rural hunger that arises from these issues. Wangari’s work and her activism are needed even more today.
The Celebration is just one of the efforts being made to keep her dreams alive. A theatrical production - HUMMUNGBIRDS - is in the works, with a planned staging in November 2013 in Toronto.
African women in general need to know that its OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence. (Wangari Maathai)
At the Celebration, Sonia Aimiuwu (Aimy) a Nigerian- born via Italy songwriter, singer, actress and cultural/activist will launch African Women Acting (AWA), an organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering African women to act positively for the betterment of our motherland African without the distinction of nationality. AWA is founded by Sonia Aimiuwu in collaboration with Isoken Ibie & Wangari Muriuki. “To Empower African Women Artists and African Cultural Heritage through African Arts & Female Artistes.â€
This event initiated by Sonia Aimiuwu (Aimy) is produced in partnership with AWA and African Theatre Ensemble (ATE)
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble (ATE) was founded and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in Toronto in August 1998 by Prof. Modupe Olaogun with a mission to make African theatre accessible to the public through performance, education, community outreach, and professional development of classic and new creations originating from or inspired by Africa. Managing Artistic Director of ATE Muoi Nene was born in Nairobi Kenya to a family of story tellers and artists. Muoi has enjoyed a front row seat from both an African and now a Canadian perspective as he celebrates a decade in Toronto.
Program Activity
7.00 pm Welcome address by Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada and Mexico, His Excellency Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi
7.15pm Introduction of Prof. Maathai by Wangarĩ Mũriũki, President-ACSDC
7.30pm Music by Taté Nsongan
7.45pm Dance performance by Rasmi Inc. (Dance Showcase feat. Mafa, Pulga, Salé)
8.00pm Music by Marni Levitt
8.10pm Griot by Prof. Segun Ojewuyi
8.20pm Poem recitation by Fatouma Nakruma
8.30pm Music by Ruth Mathiang
8.45pm Music by Afrafranto
9.10pm Dance performance by Rasmi Inc. (Dance Showcase feat. Mafa, Pulga, Salé)
9.20pm Music by Njacko Backo
9.40pm Theatrical presentation on Prof. Maathai by Anna Aidoo
9.50pm Dance performance
10.00pm Sonia Aimy Oduwa in Concert
11.00pm Vote of thanks by Prof. Modupe Olaogun, Founder-AfriCan Theatre Ensemble
6.00 – 11.00pm Art exhibition by Nyakiringa-Sankofa Gallery and Jane Musoke
Media: Anya Wassenberg
Set designer: Gafar Madamidola
Sound/Light designer: Suliman Mohamed – MoSound Production
Event Ass Producers: Nadine McNulty & William N.
Event Producers & Artistic Directors: Sonia Aimiuwu & Muoi Nene
Contributors:
Duke Ongechi – Kenyan Community in Ontario
Farid Omar, Qaasim Farah – Somalis in Toronto
FEATURED ARTISTS:
• SONIA AIMY (NIGERIA)
• SEGUN OJEWUYI (NIGERIA)
• MUOI NENE (KENYA)
• MARNI LEVITT (CANADA)
• AFRAFANTO (GHANA)
• NJACKO BACKO (CAMEROON)
• TATE NSONGAN (CAMEROON)
• RUTH MATHIANG (SUDAN)
• MAFA/PULGA/SALE - The RASMI Group (Southern Africa)
• ISOKEN IBIE (NIGERIA)
• HUSSEIN ADANI (SOMALIA) & LOTS MORE
VENUE: JAMAICAN CANADIAN CENTRE
995 ARROW RD TORONTO
DATE: 25 SEPTEMBER 2012 TIME: 6.00 – 11.00 PM
ADMISSION: $35
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
- www.totix.ca:
http://www.ticketweb.ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4854735
- Toronto’s Official One-Stop Ticket Shop at 5 Dundas Square East Toronto ON M5B 2R8
- Open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00pm to 6:30pm
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT africanwomenacting@yahoo.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/africanwomenacting
TWITTER: twitter.com/AWAtweet (@AWAtweet)