COBAF2021:Building Bridges Of Unity For African Immigrants And American Blacks

As publish in Afrik Digest Magazine The long history of racism and anti-black inclination in the United States has caused so many Americans Blacks to be at the bottom of the economic and social ladders, concentrated in dysfunctional “hoods” and struggling to make ends meet. By Mohamadou Cisse Community leaders from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries of the continent engaged on July 9th with an audience composed of various segments of the African Diaspora of Colorado, in a conversation that was aimed at building bridges of understanding and developing friendship between people, for better living. The discussion panel was part of the agenda of 35th edition of the Colorado Black Arts Festival’s opening day; the day of celebration of the diverse cultures of Africa and its Nations.

Community members of various parts of Africa came together to showcase culture and share traditions. One cultural highlight in the program of the day was the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The audience watched Mikias and his crew demonstrate how coffee is traditionally made in his country and show some of the coffee rituals practiced in the East African country for ages. The freshly brewed coffee was passed around for tasting. Mikias owns Lucy Cafe, located in Denver metropolitan area.

Disk- jockeys and singers entertained the crowd throughout the afternoon. The culminating performance of the day was provided by the Sing Sing: A group of five incredibly talented-Senegalese -percussionists, based in Boston.

Colorado black arts festival is a highly anticipated three-day event which showcases black talents, cultures and traditions,. The festival draws visitors from all over the country, as a major venue to celebrate cultural and artistic contributions of blacks in the Rocky Mountain region.

In dedicating the opening day to the celebration of African Nations, the leadership of the festival asserted the importance to provide a dynamic space for Colorado African Diaspora and Americans to thrive and work together towards improving amicable relationship between the two groups. American Blacks and African immigrants have complex relationships, sometimes characterized by fear and ignorance, other times expressed in solidarity, based on the acknowledgment of a common plight.

As the result of the long history of anti-black hatred in the United States, so many American Blacks are at the bottom of the economic and social ladders, concentrated in dysfunctional “hoods” and struggling to make ends meet. Also, when they arrive here, most African Immigrants often find themselves living in rundown neighborhoods, the only places they can afford. So the first impressions these groups have of each other are mostly formed in competitive settings where they contend for scarce resources in order to make it through. Rather than a development of understanding and amicable relationship, competitors tend to engage in adversity, which can generate feelings of animosity.

Mainstream Media’s bias against Africa feeds the ignorance and prejudice, so prevalent in a country where a sitting president had no problem referring, publicly, to African nations as shit holes countries or calling a black athlete ‘son of a bitch’.

The audience enjoyed a highly electric drumming performance by the Sing Sing. The session reminded some in the audience when, in the 90s, legendary percussionist Mor Thiam and his wife, Ndeye Gueye, parents of Senegalese-American rapper AKON, played at the Colorado event.

Coordinated by Sharon D. Diop and fashion designer Amadou Dieng, who is also media strategist at ALG, the celebration resulted from a partnership between African Leadership Group and Colorado Blacks Arts Festival, based on exploring ways of building goodwill bridges throughout the diaspora, .

Founded in 2006 by Papa Marie Tew Dia, African Leadership Group is a Denver-based non-profit organization which provide support to various communities in Colorado and is also a strong advocate for the African Immigrant community.

Perry Ayers and his brother Baba Oya founded the Black Arts festival more than three decades ago to celebrate the dynamism of black heritage and Culture in the Rockies. In his welcoming remarks, Perry spoke of his dream of creating space for continuously strengthening relationship and of a greater collaboration between the African Diaspora and Americans. His dream is being carried on by niece Dana Manyhotane, who is working tirelessly alongside with many volunteers who made Colorado Blacks Arts Festival the success story it has become.