“African Week”

Luxembourg. Last week I visited the cultural centre Hariko in Luxembourg-city and its African Week. During this project week several workshops gave participants the possibility to gain insights concerning African music, culture or food.

Saturday a free Djembé-Workshop was offered by the Kenyan guest Kevin. In the following hours one could hear different ways of drumming in Hariko’s building. Kevin stressed out, that there is no right or wrong way to play the drums; one had to stay just in the rhythm. He himself never attended music lessons and learned what he can play nowadays by himself on alternative and self-build instruments.

For the beginning the participants stuck  to the basic rhythms which were later on enriched by remixing and singing. Every participant liked the workshop a lot and for this reason the following dance-workshop was spontaneously transformed into a Djembé-workshop as well. Some people danced anyway: the Urban Flamenco group of Hariko joined the African group and some drumming participants were motivated to dance with them, too.

In the evening hours, the exhibition of cns (cooperation nord-sud) was officially opened. The cooperation was partner of this Africa week and made it possible for us to enjoy the workshop of one of their members, Kevin. The exhibition showed the organisation’s work in Kenya: different posters showed schools, daily life, slums, rehab centres, garbage dumps and working projects. Many large-sized photos were added to the posters and gave a visual impression of the described situation, person or institution.

While reading and discussing the posters, an aromatic smell was coming from the kitchen. Interest and appetite was more and more noticeable. The prepared Senegal dish was eaten by all the participants together and seemed to be tasty for everyone: many asked for a refill.

All in all a successful day of workshops, which could have had a few more participants.

Further events at Hariko (weekly workshops and more) can be found on their website www.hariko.lu.

photos: Luisa Schulte