Culture

Moroccan artists hold auction to raise funds for earthquake victims

Published

1 year ago

September 17, 2023

Top Moroccan artists have responded to appeals by the government for donations to victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the country last week by organising auction sales to raise funds.

The country’s most prominent art collector specializing in renewable energy, Youssef Bennani was the first to heed the call when he staged an auction to raise much-needed funds for the quake victims.

The collector organized a special art auction that took place on Saturday, where all of the proceeds went to the victims of the earthquake, through an NGO by the name of JOOD.

The Casablanca-based art collector told journalists that he was combining his passion for art and his ambition to help raise money for the victims.

“The fundraiser is a spontaneous initiative because I wanted to participate in the national effort to provide my help to those who suffered from the earthquake,” Bennani said.

He added that he had used his connections with various artists in the country to get them to donate an art piece each for the auction held Saturday.

“Since what was most lacking at the local NGO level was funds, I decided to organize an art auction to raise funds for JOOD, an NGO that is doing a very good and efficient job on the ground.

“I am passionate about art and I know many artists who are always willing to donate one of their artworks for a good cause,” he said.

“The response from artists willing to donate an art piece free of charge has been overwhelmingly positive. All the artists accepted right away to donate one of their artworks to help JOOD in their actions.

“Many artists are from Morocco but there are also artists from Ivory Coast and France that wanted to help because of their love of Morocco and its people,” he explained.

Another artist, who donated an art work to Bennani’s fundraiser was Chama Chraibi, a Moroccan contemporary visual artist.

Chraibi said he decided to participate in the initiative “to help raise funds in any way I can for JOOD NGO, who are doing incredible work in emergency aid and support for the victims of this devastating earthquake.”

Casablanca-based Youssef Douieb, who specializes in Abstract Expression and was among the artists who participated in the auction, explained why he wanted to participate in the fundraising effort.

“In the past, art had the purpose of painting an emphatic picture of the lives of those with power, leaders such as kings, popes, etc; and that can still be the case.

“Spreading happiness while Morocco navigates an unprecedented tragedy means donating works of art and raising money for the victims of the earthquake,” he said.

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Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

Culture

UNESCO lists Ghana’s Kente cloth as cultural heritage

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The iconic Ghanaian Kente, a piece of clothing, has been recognized as a cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The global recognition, according to the UN body, is coming under the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights the cultural and historical significance of the vibrant, handwoven textile.

In a citation on its website, UNESCO describes the Kente cloth as “originating from Ghana’s Asante and Ewe communities and renowned worldwide for its bold colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolic meanings, embodying the creativity and identity of the Ghanaian people.”

Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, described the recognition as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

“This achievement places Ghana at the forefront of global efforts to safeguard and celebrate cultural traditions,” he noted.

In a statement acknowledging the recognition, Mercer said the “Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, UNESCO, and the artisans, cultural institutions, and traditional authorities who contributed to this milestone.”

“Special acknowledgement is given to the Bonwire and Agotime communities for their enduring role as custodians of the craft.

“As Ghana celebrates this historic moment, MoTAC reaffirms its dedication to promoting and preserving the nation’s rich cultural legacy.”