Editor of the Reporter newspaper, Anne Marie Williams went to Nairobi, Kenya for an international women's summit from July first to the 11th. But more than just work-shopping, she went with a journalist's eye and a camera. And now with the assistance of NICH, she's mounted an exhibit which she says should give Belizeans a more enlightened view of the African continent.
Ann-Marie Williams, Back from Africa
"I feel it was important because in a sense it shatters the myth of what many Belizeans feel Africa looks like or what Africa should be. And where the conference took place in Nairobi, Kenya, Nairobi is one of the most modern big cities in Africa. I saw the huge majestic buildings, reminded me of Manhattan; nothing short of Manhattan and I am saying is this Africa. I am saying people need to see this because Western media don't usually show you that about Africa.
I felt a sense of awe because I didn't know what to expect and to know that as a Creole woman, part European and part African, we share a common ancestry. As we said before, Africa being the cradle land, it was good to see a bit of my early beginnings."
Jules Vasquez,
Did you see anyone that looked like you? Did you see anyone who looked like anything recognizable to you?
Ann-Marie Williams,
"Well I'll be the first to say the men in Africa look like the Belizean men but the women in Africa don't look so much like the Belizean women."
The show is curated by Gilvano Swasey. It will be open for a month at the Bliss Center. After that it goes to the House of Culture for the "Emancipation Collection," and then to the Gulisi Museum in Dangriga and the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
