Africa Live Event to Promote Cross-Cultural Exchange between UAE and Africa

Cultural similarities between the UAE and Africa will take centre stage at Dubais Madinat Jumeirah as the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosts the first edition of its Africa Live event on the sidelines of the 4th Global Business Forum on Africa.

The Forum will be held November 1st-2nd, 2017, under the theme Next Generation Africa. The global event is being organised by the Chamber under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Drawing young participants from across the UAE and the African continent, Africa Live and its accompanying shows highlight the everyday cultural practices and traits of each of the two regions, underlining their many similarities.

H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Africa Live event brings a new element to the forum that would encourage an open dialogue between the two countries.

The first-of-its-kind event will create a platform for cultural exchange, and promote knowledge sharing in a creative and innovative way. By building bridges between our societies, we can establish a stronger foundation for economic cooperation and long-lasting partnerships, H.E. Buamim added.

The two-hour programme will include performances which combines music with folklore. A number of talented musicians are slated to take part in Africa Live, including Hamdan Al-Abri (UAE), Victor Sitali (Zambia), and Kakembo Shariff (Rwanda).

The event will also feature live food stations serving up traditional Emirati dishes, while Nigerian chef Gbubemi Fregene will be revealing the secrets of African folk cuisine.

Another corner of the exhibition will be reserved for authentic handicrafts made by creative young innovators, such as Affiong Williams, Founder of Reel Fruits (Nigeria), and Kathy Johnston, COO of Mirzam Chocolates (UAE).

Traditional handicrafts will be on display that boast old-age charm with a modern touch, created by Emirati designer Khalid Shafar, along with Burkina Fasos Hamed Outtara.

Clothing designs will be showcased which highlight locally sourced material and traditional techniques to create modern fashion with youthful ideas. Tamashee Co-Founders Mohammed Kazim and Muneera Al Tamimi from the UAE are set to take part in the event, along with Rwandan designer Matthew Rugamba, Chief Designer at House of Tayo.

In addition, the winners of the Next Generation Photography Award will be announced during Africa Live. The award, launched by Dubai Chamber in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), sheds light on the cultural similarities between the UAE and Africa from the perspective of the younger generations.

Africa Live is part of the Chambers Global Business Forum series, which focuses on Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Latin America. The series has hosted 10 heads of state, 74 ministers and dignitaries, 5,400 executives, and decision makers from 65 countries.