CinemAfrica Engages in High-Level International Meetings in Brussels!
During the first half of 2024, CinemAfrica actively engaged with African embassies, representatives in the Nordic countries, and ambassador colleagues appointed to the EU. High-level intercultural meetings and discussions were hosted at the Embassy of Ghana with the Honorary Ambassador Mr. McArios Akanbeanb Akanbong and at the South African embassy with Ambassador HE Tokozile Xasa.
The roundtable discussions covered various critical topics, including the current political landscape for cultural exchange, the representation of Black and African diaspora culture through film, and funding stagnation and intercontinental exchange challenges. The Ghanaian ambassador shared the government’s ambitious plans to strengthen ties with the diaspora.
Madam Ambassador HE Tokozile Xasa, the South African Ambassador to Brussels, welcomed us to the embassy and emphasized the significance of film and cultural exchange as a bilateral engagement tool and as a necessary update on Africa’s image in Sweden. We discussed South Africa’s booming film industry and the exciting potential for collaborations, sparking a sense of hope and anticipation.
The Brussels Times, a leading magazine in Brussels, hosted CinemAfrica’s Chairperson Maureen Hoppers and CEO Mam Foon. The event, attended by ambassadors of Egypt, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Jordan, Suriname, Azerbaijan, and Nicaragua to the EU, underscored the importance of cultural exchange with the African diaspora. The discussions were part of The Brussels Times’ new platform, aimed at enhancing political dialogue in Brussels. The platform seeks to provide insight into political developments in Brussels, fostering a deeper understanding among international stakeholders.
CinemAfrica looks forward to deepening collaborations and cultural exchanges centered around film, Africa, and the African diaspora. This first step marks the beginning of new and innovative forms of partnership.
// CEO of CinemAfrica Mam Foon & Chairperson of CinemAfrica Maureen Hoppers
