The audience of several hundred people was treated to a very diverse, top-quality two-hour programme that included well-known black artistes such as second soloist of the Dutch National Ballet Michaela DePrince, Ladies of Tambú Giovanca Ostiana and Tamara Nivillac, percussionist Vernon Chatlein, spoken word artiste Sherwin Bonevacia, opera singer Anthony Heidweiler and writer Hélène Christelle Munganyende.
The audience responded very positively to all the performances and clapped along with the rhythm of the Ladies of Tambú and the traditional African dance of Jambo Africa. The presentation of a scene from the musical theatre piece “We have a Dream” with Bonevacia as Martin Luther King gave the audience goose bumps, as did the inspiring reading of Munganyende.
However, the biggest star of the evening for many was DePrince, a superb ballet dancer whose roots are in Sierra Leone. She danced a special piece as soloist that deeply moved the audience and left them in complete awe.
The programme was closed off with a scene from the successful musical The Colour Purple that involved the entire cast.
Amsterdam Alderman of Social Affairs and Diversity Rutger Groot Wassink’s welcoming words were well received. He spoke of the richness of diversity, the inclusion of everyone no matter where they came from, the acceptance of and respect for each other’s cultures and the importance of sharing each other’s stories.
Black Achievement Month, the third one since 2016, showcases the talent of black role models and achievers throughout October. The elaborate programme in four major cities – Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht – highlights black history and talent through exhibitions, debates, theatre, dance and films.
This year’s theme of Black Achievement Month, an initiative of the National Institute for the Netherlands Slave History and its Legacy NiNsee, is resistance. The project director is John Leerdam.
“It is a great opportunity to show what we have achieved. The younger generation also needs to feel supported in achieving their dreams,” ballet dancer DePrince told Amsterdam’s TV station AT5.
Bron: Daily Herald
@Henk, Wellicht weet je het niet maar de oorspronkelijke bevolking van Nederland is wit. Vandaar meerdere witte aangelegenheden. In Kongo zijn er vrijwel geen witte aangelegenheden. Grap is als men iets Wits in Nederland zou organiseren dan staan de Ocan losers en Sylvana Simons en groepies al klaar met racisme etc bla bla bla
Zolang wij deze zwarte gedoe organiseren blijven we mentale slaven!
Break FREE!!!
Verleden jr waren we in Amsterdam, het A’dams museum had een mooie tentoonstelling, veel aktiviteiten van Paradiso tot het Tropenmuseum. Erg leerzaam om van verschillende culturen te leren en wat de ‘white achievement month betreft; veel aaangelegendheden zijn al uitermate white. Overigens bestaat dit al vele decennia en pas de 2e keer in NL, wat rijkelijk laat is vergeleken net GB etc. Alleen jammer dat Leerdam de kar trekt, met die Vogel heb Ik erg weinig op. Maar dat is persoonlijk.
Maar Ik denk dat dit voor de azijnpizzers hier a bridge too far is-:)
En de lifetime achievement award gaat naar Marveline Wiels.
Black Achievement Month.. Straks White Achievement Month?