Culture

Tunisian Muslims join hundreds of Christians in interfaith procession for peace

Published

4 months ago

August 16, 2023

The annual Feast of the Assumption in Tunisia took a whole new dimension when hundreds of Muslims in the country joined their Christian counterparts in an interfaith ceremony outside the capital where the sermons harped on peace and tolerance.

During the Feast which held at Tunis’ La Goulette suburb on Tuesday, Catholic faithful and Muslim participants marched behind a Madonna statue as it was carried to the town hall where they were recieved by the Catholic Archbishop of Tunis and the Bishop of Trapani, Italy, Archbishop and Bishop of Trapani, Pietro Maria Fragnelli, who delivered sermons alluding to Tunisia’s tense migration politics and the recent riots that have led to the death of more than five persons in Sfax.

“Let us not forget that the statue of the Virgin Mary made the journey from Trapani to La Goulette 100 years ago where she was so well received and respected,” he said.

“We are delighted that the Madonna can walk the streets to bless all the inhabitants of La Goulette and Tunisia. This procession aims to show that La Goulette and Tunisia are a model of coexistence between religions and countries of origin,” he added.

Hundreds of Catholics, including many black Africans, and Tunisian Muslims took part in the procession behind a statue of the Virgin, to call for “living together” after strong tensions in the country around the issue of migrants.

The tradition of the Assumption march dates back to the mid-19th century when La Goulette was home to Sicilians, Sephardic Jews, Maltese, Greeks and Spaniards. It was started by Sicilian fishermen.

The ceremony was halted by Tunisian officials in 1964 but was revived in 2017, and since then, the Virgin Mary figurine has been carried slightly farther from Tunisia’s oldest church which was consecrated in 1879.

Related Topics:Christians Feast of Assumption Featured Interfaith Procession Muslims Tunisia

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Culture

Koffi Olomide’s Kenyan show suffers setback over 2016 debt

Published

21 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

A highly anticipated concert that was to feature Congolese Lingala maestro Le Grand Mopao, Koffi Olomide, in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday has been thrown into disarray after Kenyan show promoters, Jules Nsana and Noah Auma Muga of Nsana Production, demanded to be paid compensation for a 2016 show that ended in chaos and refund of debt of $65,000 they had allegedly incurred.

In the letter of demand through their lawyer, Thiong’o Gachaga of Githumbi & Achoki Advocates firm, Nsana Production say they are seeking a refund of $50,032 and an additional Sh1,410,000, along with interest at the current rate from the date of the performance to full payment, citing a breach of contract by the 67-year-old rumba star for a March 2016 concert.

The letter stated that the 2016 show ended in chaos when Olomide was deported from Kenya for allegedly assaulting one of his female dancers after footage of the assault at Nairobi’s international airport was posted online, sparking outrage on social media.

But Olomide has assured his fans that the peace concert will go on despite threats from the show promoters.

Olomide, who spoke through his lawyers, termed the debt allegations as frivolous and without merit.

Culture

Ghanaian actor Don Little arrested for knocking down motorcyclist

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Dimunitive Ghanaian actor, Stephen Atangah, popularly known as Don Little, was reportedly arrested by the police in Accra on Friday after he allegedly knocked down a motorcyclist.

Media reports in the West African country said the actor knocked down the rider with his car while driving in the Kasoa Area A, with videos showing him protesting against his incarceration while in police custody.

According to a report by an online platform, the actor was transporting a friend to the hospital when the incident happened.

“According to Don Little his friend called him that one of their friends wanted to take his life so he should intervene,” the platform said.

“On the way to the hospital, he met some motor riders so he blew the horn for them to give him way but they refused.

“In a bid to manoeuvre, he knocked down one of the motor riders with his mirror.

“Unfortunately, there was an officer at the scene. The officer claimed that Don Little slapped him twice but the actor denied the claims. He was taken to the Kasoa police station”, it added.

The video also showed Don Little behind bars at the police station and interacting with some of the officers.

“He was lamenting why he had been arrested and the person he was involved in an accident had been left to go home,” the online platform narrated further.

“Some of the police officers were also heard wondering why a person with the stature of Don Little would be allowed to drive in Ghana.”