Africa Society beckons Malawi arts

Africa Society, the continent’s Egypt-based arts, culture and political encyclopedia, has called on all African countries, including Malawi, to play their part in establishing Africa Art Museum.

Africa Society general secretary Ahmed Haggag made the call on Sunday evening in Cairo when lecturing 15 participants to a three-week 41st training course for young African journalists under the Union of Africa Journalists and the Egyptian government.

“My hope is for Egypt to have a proper Africa art museum; this is not a good collection. We will ask every African government to donate pieces of art. I was very impressed with museums of Africa in Washington DC in America,” Haggag said.

So diverse in arts and politics is the society visitors are thrilled with a collection of photographs, art work from across the continent. Africa founding presidents such as Hastings Kamuzu Banda have their photographs plastered all over the walls. Such leaders as Dr Kenneth Kaunda have a room named after them.

The building tucked deep in Cairo was turned into a society as it used to host the then Africa liberation movements leaders in the pre-colonial era. Now African students studying in Egypt do their research at the society.

Malawian student in Cairo Ayyam Jumah heads the Africa Students Union’s communication section, according to a wall poster.

It is for this reason that Haggag concluded his lecturer by saying: “Try to draw attention of this society in your respective countries. The best way of bringing people together is through art and not politics.”