Having met Iolanda Banu Veigas of CLPW (Wrexham Portuguese Language Community), Councillor to the Portuguese Communities and Race Council Cymru several months back I was delighted to receive an invitation from her to attend Wrexham’s own Black Women Black History event as part of Black History Month.
The event was held on Sunday 25th October 2016 and was an overall success. Everyone who attended was able to sample traditional food and cakes from Portugal and São Tomé e Principe (island state south of the Cape Verde islands). Additionally there was a dance workshop for experienced and novice dance would-be’s to learn a few steps and practice kizomba, a dance style that originated in Angola, south west Africa, a former Portuguese colony.
Friendships were made between all ages and there were impressive displays of handmade clothing, traditional gift items, clothing, jewellery and more.
Presentations were made conferring community awards to various women from the North Wales BAME community for their efforts and particular thanks went to Iolanda Banu Veigas for organising this innovative event. What’s more, tribute was paid by way of poetry and prose, some musically and all passionately, to the strength of women whatever their religion, language, cultural roots or skin colour.
Particular emphasis was given to the Ghanian women, used as an example, thanks to whose strength, Ghanian communities nationwide were single-handedly rebuilt by them following the enslavement of husbands, sons, brothers and fathers but of whom little, if anything, is spoken of when mention is popularly made of slavery.
All in all this was an enjoyable event that was open to everyone to attend and paid homage to the contribution made by women across the world. Furthermore, it was an interactive and enjoyable experience of several aspects of Portuguese culture and particularly African culture and a highly fitting way to highlight the good that comes from celebrating multiculturalism in the UK. By opening our minds, our hearts open far more easily.
The event was held on Sunday 25th October 2016 and was an overall success. Everyone who attended was able to sample traditional food and cakes from Portugal and São Tomé e Principe (island state south of the Cape Verde islands). Additionally there was a dance workshop for experienced and novice dance would-be’s to learn a few steps and practice kizomba, a dance style that originated in Angola, south west Africa, a former Portuguese colony.
Friendships were made between all ages and there were impressive displays of handmade clothing, traditional gift items, clothing, jewellery and more.
Presentations were made conferring community awards to various women from the North Wales BAME community for their efforts and particular thanks went to Iolanda Banu Veigas for organising this innovative event. What’s more, tribute was paid by way of poetry and prose, some musically and all passionately, to the strength of women whatever their religion, language, cultural roots or skin colour.
Particular emphasis was given to the Ghanian women, used as an example, thanks to whose strength, Ghanian communities nationwide were single-handedly rebuilt by them following the enslavement of husbands, sons, brothers and fathers but of whom little, if anything, is spoken of when mention is popularly made of slavery.
All in all this was an enjoyable event that was open to everyone to attend and paid homage to the contribution made by women across the world. Furthermore, it was an interactive and enjoyable experience of several aspects of Portuguese culture and particularly African culture and a highly fitting way to highlight the good that comes from celebrating multiculturalism in the UK. By opening our minds, our hearts open far more easily.
