Culture

Moroccans begin online campaign for return of historic letter exhibited in Austria

Published

3 months ago

February 10, 2024

Moroccan activists have launched an online campaign demanding for the return of a letter that dates back to the 18th century which they see as an important part of the country’s history.

The historic letter which is currently being exhibited in Austria was reportedly written by Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif to Charles Stewart of the United Kingdom in 1720.

According to media in the North African country, the letter was a diplomatic correspondence that was sent in December 1720 by the Sultan to Stewart who was the English Ambassador at the head of a mission sent under the reign of King George I tasked with negotiating peace with Morocco.

A social media influencer in the country, Monir Doli, who is one of those leading the campaign, wrote on X:

“Message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Morocco in Austria to intervene to stop the sale of our documents and our history.

“It concerns a handwritten letter from Sultan Moulay Ismail being offered for sale at a price of €28,000 euros at an exhibition of antiques and manuscripts in Austria.”

The post garnered thousands of reactions from Moroccan netizens who lamented the sale of Moroccan heritage and even offered to set up funding campaigns to raise money to buy the historic letter.

Another influencer who also denounced moves to auction the letter, wrote:

“Ohhh Mehdi… has this news reached yet? A handwritten letter from Sultan Moulay Ismail is up for sale for 28,000 euros at an exhibition of artifacts and manuscripts in Austria.

Moroccan history narrates that the letter referenced prior communications through notable figures such as Pasha Hamet Ben Ali Ben Abdallah and Ibn al-Attar, affirming that its message had been ratified and agreed upon by relevant authorities.

“In the letter, Sultan Moulay Ismail said he hoped that the proposed agreement would meet the ambassador’s expectations. He underscored the longstanding diplomatic ties between England and Morocco, citing the relationship between his cousin, Ahmad Al Mansour, and Queen Elizabeth I as a historical precedent,” a local media wrote.

“In addition, Sultan Moulay Ismail extended an open invitation to renew the covenant and treaty between the two kingdoms, stressing his willingness to facilitate and encourage bilateral relations.

“The correspondence was sent during the English ambassador’s journey to Morocco in 1720.

“A small squadron, led by Commodore Stewart, set sail from England on September 24, 1720, with Stewart authorized as a minister plenipotentiary to negotiate with Sultan Moulay Ismail. Their mission culminated in the signing of a pivotal treaty of peace in January 1721 at Ceuta.

“The terms of the treaty were significant, securing the release of 296 British slaves, granting free movement for British ships in Moroccan waters, and offering access for Moroccan ships to trade with Britain.

“Prior to their return to London, a conference took place in May 1721 with Pasha Hamet Ben Ali Ben Abdallah, further solidifying diplomatic relations,” the publication said.

Related Topics:Featured Letter Morocco Sultan Moulay

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Culture

South African actor dies tragically in car accident

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

South African actor, Mpho Sebeng, has reportedly died in a ghastly car accident in in Potchefstroom, North West province, his family said in a statement on Monday.

The actor’s family which confirmed that the 30-year-old died in the tragic accident which happened on Sunday, has appealed for privacy as they grapple with this devastating news.

“The family of the South African entertainer, Mpho Sebeng, are saddened to confirm, to the public and media, that their son has indeed passed away,” the family statement said.

“Mpho met his untimely death in the early hours of Sunday, 5 May 2024, due to a tragic car accident in Potchefstroom.

“Whilst the family appreciates the immense outpouring of love and condolences, the family requests some space to process the news,” the statement added.

According to local media, Sebeng, a celebrated figure in South Africa’s entertainment landscape, had a career spanning nearly two decades, marked by remarkable performances and accolades.

His journey in acting commenced at the tender age of 12, catapulting him into the spotlight of television.

“Among his notable works are appearances in TV dramas like “Justice For All” and “Zero Tolerance,” both of which received widespread acclaim and numerous awards.

“During his high school years, he portrayed a role in the 2011 film “Winnie,” a biographical depiction of the late Winnie Mandela’s life.

“His talent was further recognized when he was nominated for Best Male Actor in a telenovela at the 2018 South African Film and Television Awards.

“Sebeng’s repertoire extended to international platforms, including roles in Netflix productions such as “Savage Beauty” and “Miseducation.”

“Sebeng was born in Soweto on 1 December 1992 and matriculated in 2011 at West Ridge High School. His achievements at school included full colours for drama.

“He made his television debut in the SABC drama series, Justice for All as well as Zero Tolerance.

“His first major TV role was in the Mzansi Magic drama, Ring of Lies, which earned him a Best Actor Safta nomination in 2018. Since then, Sebeng has showcased his talent in a variety of shows, such as “Savage Beauty”, “The Brave Ones” and “Miseducation” on Netflix, “The Queen”, “The Throne”, “Zbondiwe”, “Scandal” and “Hush Money.”

Culture

Burna Boy emerges Africa’s top earning artiste in the US from tours, concerts

Published

3 days ago

May 5, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation,
Burna Boy, has emerged as the first African artiste to stage the highest-grossing arena concerts and tours in the United States of America.

International rating platform, Touring Data, which provides a PDF and spreadsheet with ticket count information for tours in the US and Canada, in a post on X, said the “Common Man” crooner beat his record set in 2022 after he generated $1.593 million, (over N2 billion), at his TD Garden in Boston on March 2.

‘‘Burna Boy earns the highest-grossing arena concert by an African artist in US history with $1.593 million at TD Garden in Boston on March 2, 2024, surpassing his numbers at Madison Square Garden in 2022,” Touring Data stated.

The platform also noted that one of Burna Boy’s “I Told Them” tour sold out by large margins in Scotiabank Arena, Montreal and Toronto in Canada, Boston in the US, and Cologne in Germany.

Touring Data also stated that over 124,706 tickets valued at $93.50 on average were sold at the “I Told Them” tour.

“Revenue-wise, $11,659,531, or about N16 billion, was realised via the ticket sales,” the data platform said.

“Shortly after dropping the highly anticipated video for “City Boys”, Burna Boy announced his I Told Them… Tour.

“Produced by Live Nation, the 16-city tour kicked off on 3 November at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

“It marked Burna Boy’s first-ever performance in a Los Angeles stadium. He toured other American cities, including Houston, Chicago, Toronto, and more, before wrapping up in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on March 9th.

“Nine months earlier, the “African Giant” had a sold-out show at Citi Field, New York, making him the first Nigerian artiste to headline a stadium in America.

“BMO Stadium’s website said the singer commanded a crowd of more than 40,000 fans, including celebrities like Busta Rhymes, SZA, NBA star Mo Bamba, NFL Star Larry Ogunjobi, and British rapper Dave, who joined him on stage for a performance of his (Burna Boy’s) hit song “Location.”

“This history-making performance followed his landmark London Stadium performance, where Burna Boy made history as the first African to headline a stadium in the U.K.

“With his Madison Square Garden performance, the singer again made history as the first Nigerian musician to sell out The World’s Most Famous Arena.

“The global giant once again made history with his recently released album “I TOLD THEM…” after it debuted at #1 on the official U.K. Albums chart, making him the first international African artiste to earn the title,” it stated.