The article below is the Africa in Helsinki Week organised during the autumn. Wednesday 14.10.- Saturday 17.10.2020. Produced by Oge Eneh STOA Culture Centre (since 2003)
The production is the first of its kind, unique in Helsinki. It was very important to reach Puhos People ry, and the surrounding huge businesses of the Puhos Shopping Center of East Helsinki. The week program included eight workshops for children & family, drum workshop, Afrobeat workshop, Pop-up Sales for Africa textile, fashion designs, beads, in collaboration with Tamu Design Oy; that supports the empowering of young women in Uganda.
Fashion Show CatWalk, themed, It’s time for Africa – coordinated by stylist Irina Virtanen, showcasing five designers of African background living and having their business in Helsinki. Food vendors from Nigeria & Somalia kitchens were on board.
The impactful event was rounded up with an energising concert “Miriam Makeba“, translated by artist Sofy Kap, at Stoa Culture Centre. The Facebook streaming was watched by 3,000 fans, at Helsinki kanava 23 viewers ( Kanava is unknown to fans). “The Afro dance class was very good, and am happy that it was possible to arrange during these hard times. The second day was full. Thank you for arranging this for our people, you did a great job!” Dance Teacher.
There was a collaboration with the East Helsinki Library, which has book collections in English from various Africa countries both for children & adults. The Staff of the Library were very creative, active & welcoming during the Somali & Tanzania children folklores stories that were organized in the library for children on holiday. We had Gele-workshop, to show the different ways that ladies, women use scarf on their everyday life in Africa and diaspora.
The spotlight of the event was the Panel Discussion on First vs Second Generation immigrants of Africa background. Discrimination and racism should not have any place in our society especially in today`s globalised world.
Some of the models at the event.
Photo Credit: Jukka Luoma
“First-generation” or “foreign-born” refers to people born outside of Finland to parents neither of whom was a Finnish citizen.
The second-generation” refers to people born in Finland, with at least one first-generation (immigrant) parent”.
The Keynote:
The 15mins keynote in which we discussed on the topic of race, definition, history of race and the origins of racial stereotyping and its implication on social interaction and “integration.” Dr Aminkeng, highlighted that racialized – black people in Finland have high self-esteem and low racial esteem that affects their self-esteem and their relation and interaction with other whites. We highlighted that different generations of immigrants have different struggles and realities. We argued that Africans in Finland need to be takers and not receivers.
The panel discussion was great. I wish there was a chance for people to participate virtually, as this is the new reality.
Participants reactions
Wanda (Finnish/Ghana)
I was fortunate to get to participate in the panel discussion during Africa in East Helsinki event. My role in the panel was to represent the second generation of immigrants living in Finland. As the only second-generation immigrant representative, I believe my role was critical in the discussion to bring in a different perspective on the topics. Including the history of Finland when it comes to diversity. Also, the challenges of developing an identity when society wants to put us in a box and define one’s identity.
Oge Eneh, culture producer at STOA
The panel discussion focused on identity, integration processes, diversity in the Finnish context, and much more. I believe that such panel discussion should be held more for the community of Finland to facilitate an open conversation about the issues we are facing when it comes to equality and increasingly diverse Finland. As it comes to integration, it is about embracing our differences as people and not about tolerating each other. Such events will help African descendants with the ever more fluid identity and others to understand the lives of African descendants in Finland. The diverse backgrounds of the panellist allowed a conversation with many dimensions and perspectives.
Nimco Noor (Somalia)
“In my opinion, the panel was very interesting, I got a lot of ideas, how people are different and have a different story from their background. We need more panels, that we can talk about our deep problems”.
Dora Puhakka (Namibia/Finland)
I enjoyed being part of the panel discussion. It was great to sit amongst other panellists and listen to their views on parenting experiences as well as intercultural interactions. The facilitator had a wonderful way of ensuring that everyone felt safe enough to talk and we were able to share on some topics like identity, values, racism, integration, diversity and inclusion. The organizer (s) had kindly provided the means needed for the event to comply with the current corona directives, and there was space for the audience to air their views as well. It is my hope that similar events are organised in the future as well as they provide space for a much-needed dialogue in this society that we all live in. Thank you for having me.
Emma (Cameroun)
“You are a true community leader”.
Thank you for the opportunity to be one of the panellists. It was a very fruitful but also timely discussion. The panel discussion was well organised and the moderator did an excellent job. We need to have a wider audience for this kind of important topic because I believe that as panellists, we all spoke the mind of thousands of immigrants in this country. Thank you for a job well done.
Sara Salmani /Finnish/Iranian) Mistress of Ceremony
– The range of panellists was really great. I believe we had a good conversation.
– I could have saved more time for Q&A from the audience (we had 20 min, but could have been more!).
– Everything was organized well, the atmosphere was relaxed.
– For future panel discussions, maybe narrowing down the subject to a specific field/industry could work as well, for example focusing only on school institutions or working life.
– The event could have been live-streamed.
– Definitely would love to have more of these in the near future!
There were some Finnish teachers and activists in the audience. Their voice “all the panellist were amazing and very captivating to listen. Their stories amongst examples helped to see our society with different eyes. It is important for Finns, to build a society with equality and equity for all. I would have liked to hear more of the voices of second generation immigrants from all age groups – children in daycare, students in academia and young adults in all aspects of work-life, etc. – to hear how and if and in which forms they have experienced racism and unconscious biases in their lives, how they have coped/handled/managed those experiences. To hear how the experiences have shaped their self-image, self -confidence, sense of pride and belonging. What stories their identity grows and gains strength from and what stories they feel most comfortable telling about them to the world, to other people.”
“We will like to hear the academicians like teachers, who interact with immigrants daily, to have a two-sided conversation about thought, expectations and possible both sides”.
Finally we want to hear concrete ideas and steps on how to involve the Stoa Culture Centre, to involve East Helsinki dwellers, customer service, production content, to challenge the systemic problems, and change people´s way of thinking, the bias, to help end racism. We need the Helsinki City culture strategy, OAJ, the University of Helsinki to join the discussion, and perhaps also Li Anderson, the Minister of Education.
Finally I will start an art program or an association to support children and young adults to embrace their heritage through art and through making their art to find their own strong and proud identity in Finland as children from not just one, but many worlds.
African Cuisine
Nigeria Food: typical spices used in Nigerian cooking include:-uzuza seeds, uda/African strand pepper/eeru, uyayak/aidan fruit/aridan/oshosho, ehuru/calabash nutmeg, sukuni, alligator pepper/atare, turmeric/ata ile pupa, tsamiya/tamarind, onion seed spice.
Somali Kitchen Cumin seeds are a must, cardamom (hayl ) is the world’s third most costly spice, after saffron and vanilla, and one of our favourites in the Somali kitchen with cloves, called qorfo dhegeyere, are used for cuisines in Somalia.
Music
SOFY KAP starred Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa. Makeba was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil rights, activist. Sofy Kap, born February 20th 1985, is the third of seven children.
Her mother from Zambia, and her father from Congo, she was raised with her siblings between the two countries. From the age of 5, she began to sing, following her father’s footstep. As an African musician, she had her first performance on the stage in primary school.
In 2001 she moved to Finland with part of her family, she finished High school at Hämeenlinna.
A mother, an artist, a Soloist. She has performed with R&B and pop music covers. On her path to find her artistic soul she joined the music band Saïsba, an International group, where she sings Afrobeat & AfroFusion. She took part in the Finnish competition our vision in 2007 organised by Culture Centre Caisa, where she won the Second position singing her song composed by her dad. In 2008 she participated again, gaining the third place. During another competition in 2018, she won the first position.
Thanks to the award that took her to France to represent Finland. Against the other 51 countries and she got a place in the top 5 singers. In 2019 she released her first single, Leo, an afro-fusion song.
Cooperated with:
Myriam Munezero Think Africa ry
Chairperson
AhoeBand
Felix Adje https://www.facebook.com/
Africa in Finland ry
