Day: May 23, 2022

One of the most prominent events in the world of contemporary African art is kicking off in the Senegalese capital after a four-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 14th edition of the Dakar Biennale features the work of hundreds of artists from around the world, ranging from immersive installations to costumed performances.

About 100 spectators gathered on Dakar’s ocean walkway as dancers outfitted in traditional West African costumes gyrated to the sound of djembes. One dancer, dressed as a broomstick, twirled about, while another, donning a mythical lion costume, approached those filming on cellphones to offer a roar. Behind them, a young woman covered in mud held still as an artist covers her in powdered pigments.

The event is one of hundreds set to take place in Dakar over the next month.

The official 2022 biennale selection includes 59 artists from some 30 countries, but hundreds of other spaces, both in Dakar and throughout Senegal, are showcasing art. Even restaurants and hotels have converted their walls into miniature museums.

“The Dakar biennale is unique because it brings together the great majority of audio-visual creators from around the African continent and its diaspora,” said Khalifa Dieng, a scenographer for the National Gallery exhibit. The gallery is hosting works by Senegalese painter El Hadji Sy for the event.

Nigerian painter Tyna Adebowale traveled from her home base in the Netherlands to show her work. She completed an artist residency in Dakar and said she was inspired by the sense of community she found.

“I love the creative vibe of Senegal as a whole,” Adebowale said. “There’s no ego, it’s towards one goal, which is art and culture for the sake of the whole country, the community, the people. I love the collective support that I see. It’s a very beautiful spirit, very vibrant. I really admire it.”

The energy at the festival is perhaps more amplified this year as the 2020 event was postponed due to COVID19, making this the first biennale in four years.

This year’s theme is “Ndaffa,” which means to forge out of the fire in Serer, one of the languages spoken in Senegal.

It refers both to the need to recalibrate as we emerge from the pandemic into a new world, as well as to the history of African creation and its influence on contemporary African art.

Lou Mo is one of four official international curators. Her exhibit, “Havana: Forge of the South,” seeks to link Havana with Dakar via shared themes of migration, race and creolization. Dakar, she said, has become one of Africa’s leading art hubs.

“Both with the biennale that’s now 32 years old, to different institutions, different artists,” she said. “And I think there’s definitely an international trend of raising the importance of African art. So, I think there’s many possibilities for Dakar in the future.”

The event will continue through June 21.

Source: Voice of America

The unprecedented Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak of 2014 in West Africa and other recent health emergencies revealed that the IDSR and IHR (2005) had not been fully implemented in many Member States. This necessitated the review of the 2nd edition and development of 3rd Edition IDSR technical guidelines. Consequently, member states were expected to adapt the 3rd Edition IDSR technical guidelines to their country contexts.

On Friday 20th May 2022, Eritrea Ministry of Health finalized the adaptation of the World Health Organization (WHO) 3rd Edition IDSR Technical Guidelines (TGs) and Training Modules. The Ministry of Health (MOH) authorities with support from WHO convened two back-to-back meetings:

From 9th to 13th May, a workshop comprising of twenty (20) multi-disciplinary expert stakeholders from the national and subnational levels to review and adapt the WHO technical guidelines and training modules to Eritrean context. This workshop allowed participants to contextualize important elements in the third edition IDSR technical guidelines to the Eritrean situation while leveraging their experiences and lessons learned during implementation of the second edition IDSR TGs and COVID-19 pandemic to enhance IDSR systems responsiveness in Eritrea.

From 18th to 20th May 2022, a core team of five (5) reviewed all the inputs and recommendations provided by the team and finalized the 3rd Edition IDSR technical guidelines and training modules.

Eritrea is now poised to join the growing list of countries in the African Region that have successfully adapted the IDSR technical guidelines. The revised technical guideline will serve as a working reference document for the Eritrean health workforce at all levels of the health system and will facilitate early detection, notification, and timely response to public health events. The training modules which comprise of facilitators manual, participants manual and training slides will be utilized to build capacity of health care workers at all levels of the health system.

The IDSR technical guidelines clearly describe the roles of the different actors at all levels with regards to the surveillance functions which includes detection of priority diseases and conditions, reporting, data analysis, investigation of suspected outbreaks, preparing to respond, responding, monitoring, evaluation, and supportive supervision. The guidelines also recommend thresholds for action for identifying and responding to the threats.

A successful adaptation of the 3rd Edition IDSR technical guidelines is a key milestone towards strengthening IDSR implementation in Eritrea. Furthermore, in partnership with WHO, a follow up training of trainers (TOT) is planned as part of systemwide capacity development including specific job aids for surveillance actors and regular conduct of monitoring and evaluation.

Source: World Health Organization

For the past six months Ugandans have been forced to spend twice as much to afford necessities like fuel and food, among other commodities. Addressing the country Sunday night on how to survive the high cost of living, President Yoweri Museveni noted that Europeans have caused what he called an artificial problem leading to the higher cost of produce.

To this regard, Museveni said it was time to stop depending on who he called “mistake makers” in Europe, the United States and Russia — who have caused the high prices.

“The Russians have blockaded the Ukrainian ports,” Museveni said. “And I hear within the ports there are 25 million tons of wheat, the petroleum, and even the fertilizers. Remember, the fertilizers are also a problem because they are produced by Russia, I hear. If these people, if they are a bit humble. … We need to advise our friends, the bazungu (whites) to please, find other ways of how to solve these problems.”

Museveni argues that cutting taxes on commodities such as fuel, which has a ripple effect on the economy, will only cripple the economy.

Ziana Aigaru, an agriculturalist, disagrees. She said for nearly two years now, sales have been so low and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She hopes Museveni will announce a tax cut to help businesses.

“Not only fertilizers by the way, even the herbicides — all have hiked in terms of prices,” Aigaru said. “For example, Bukoola (local agricultural produce manufacturer) is hiking the prices because of the tax that he incurs in importing the chemicals. So, if the taxes are reduced, that means the cost price will reduce.”

As a solution, Museveni asked Ugandans to be frugal in their purchases of imported goods, stop depending on “rainfall agriculture,” increase production and use locally made materials.

However, economist Madina Guloba said the president needs to show by example his own frugality through government expenditures that are not proportionate to government income.

“These industries need produce to continue functioning, especially agro-processing industries,” Guloba said. “So, the moment we increase production but for home, it doesn’t help. Then definitely commodity prices will also still stay high even if global patterns improve. You know, we need to think also (about) jobs. The moment you do all these things, the jobs are going to be lost. So, who are you going to tax in this time?”

Currently, fuel is selling at $1.56 per liter, and the cost is expected to increase.

Museveni said Ugandans will need to be patient until Uganda starts its own oil production in 2025 for prices to go down, which may also decrease the cost of living.

Source: Voice of America