The organisers of the first edition of the Africa Economic and Cultural Week said the event would hold virtually from May 24 to 26 due to coronavirus pandemic protocols.
The event otherwise known as ‘Nzuko 2021’, is hosted by AfricaFora, an organization founded by Winifred Uloaku-Gaillard, a trained journalist and a certified Life Coach from New York Institute of Technology.
The event, which was scheduled to begin in Paris on May 20, is being held in commemoration of this year’s Africa Day and is expected to be a “momentous occasion for Africans and their friends”.
AfricaFora is an outfit dedicated to the promotion and universal propagation of Black and African culture and products, and most importantly, committed to strengthening the relationship between Africa and the world in general, but especially between France and its black African citizens.
According to the organisers, the event will feature an exhibition of a broad range of African products by the different African countries, as well as top-level speakers on various topics such as Governance, Education, Trade & Economic development, Oil and Energy, Health, Agro-Food products, Youth and Information Technology, and sundry matters concerning Africa’s culture and heritage.
Confirmed key speakers include Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor, a Senior New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity at the George Washington University; Gloria Ukwenga, founder and director of Africana League and H.E. Olivier Rajohnson, Ambassador, Republic of Madagascar.
Other are: Dr. Ugo Nwaogu, Kadiatou Kante, Krystal Gaillard, Phillipe Garnier, Dr. Louis Ogbeifun, Mawuko Adjaho, Dr. Collins Nweke, Jude Eze and Dr. Jude Osakwe.
Africa’s culture had been attacked and disparaged for too long, citing as an example what she called the ongoing campaigns against some of the continent’s foodstuffs like palm oil and cassava which are portrayed as “unfit for human consumption”.
The project has generated a lot of enthusiasm, adding that this is the time for Africans and Afro-descendants to own their narratives.
“To this end we hope that each African and diaspora country will participate and showcase each country’s contribution to Africa’s multi-faceted natural, economic and human wealth,” the organisers noted.
AfricaForas’ most memorable events so far include Asampete 2000, which paid tribute to the black and African woman.
