Has the African Woman a Voice?

With over 200 people in attendance, the debate 'Mama Africa: Has the African Woman a Voice’ went underway at Cafe Kulturalna, Warsaw, July 20th. There was a compelling representation of the African Community in Poland, creamed by diplomatic missions. Among them was the South African ambassador to Poland Her Excellency Mrs. Febe Potiegier-Gqubule, who was accompanied by first secretary Zola Nkatchani. There were two representatives from the Libyan embassy as well as the first secretary of the Angolan embassy.

The debate opened with a poetry performance by Warsaw-based Vietnamese poet Lang Quan My, who came to give moral support to the organizers.

Adam Leszczyñski whose article ‘A Black Woman in Africa is not a human being’ provoked the debate made a surprise appearance at the debate venue. He was given a seat among the panellists and the privilege to have the first word. “If my article did hurt the feelings of anyone, I deeply apologise,” Leszczyñski opened his dialogue, further stating that his original title for the article had been ‘The Forgotten Heroines of Africa’. “The title ‘A Black Woman in Africa Is Not a Human Being’ was the choice of the publisher not mine.”

However ethnographer dr. Marciej Z¹bek (University of Warsaw) brought out another article written last year by Mr. Leszczyñski under the caption ‘Modern-day cannibalism in Africa’; “In my opinion the story under this caption is worst than the current one. According to a Polish journalist ‘Journalists are like pathologists who seek only illnesses. Concerning Africa and the media in Poland, you either write about her the way it is currently done or there is nothing to write about; this is what the readers want’.”

Newly-arrived South African ambassador to Poland Her Excellency Mrs. Febe Potiegier-Gqubule, took the podium to point out “Problems faced by women is a universal issue and not limited to Africa only. In spite of the problems, one has to acknowledge the tremendous progress the continent has made under the current circumstances, taking into consideration what the continent has been through. African we should remember is a continent of 53 nations with enormous diversity. It is impossible for even an Africa to boost of knowing everything about every single country in Africa, not even in his/her own country. Journalist could do better by consultation in order to get facts straight. Such a title ‘A Black Woman in Africa Is Not a Human Being’ doesn’t help in fostering unity between races.”

According to 30-year old Leszczyñski, “I spent 18-months in Africa and travelled through 30 countries.” This statement discharged a heated argument merged with emotions; “how could someone who speeds through 30 countries in the space of 18 months, spending an average of 2 weeks in one country claim to be an authority over those countries?” Mamadou Diop, Warsaw-based Senegalese DJ blustered. Australian journalist Alain Neuvonen said under the current situation vis-à-vis the article the best thing would be for the publication to write a retraction. The said article published in Wiedze I Zycie (Knowledge and Life Magazine) No. 6 of June 2005, opens with the sub-caption, African Women of the 21st Century in bold red letters splashed on what could be described as a humiliating photograph of a group of African women. The story which is accompanied by a photo reportage comprising 17 colour photographs shot by Pascal Maitre (Cosmos East News), is more of a sociological analysis of the situation of African women than a journalistic piece and it could rightly be described as dots of facts merged in an ocean of controversies. Leszczyñski avers in the article that ‘Africa is a continent for men. Women have no say in decision-making; politics, the economy, the military, journalism, the clergy, professorship are all areas under firm male domination. Women live in privacy; between the house, the field and the Church and bare the brunt of HIV through their unfaithful husbands who habitually cheat on them.

The organiser of the debate Simon Mol, opened by stressing that Africa and Poland have much in common, having identically been manacled with the yoke of colonisation; “It is better to emphasis on those things that strengthen ties between African and Poland rather than on those that divide.” A 30minute theatre performance of the poem Africa… My Africa by Simon Mol by Migrator Theatre Group graced the evening.

“I honestly think the debate was a great success. Listening to the speakers I have learnt quite a lot about the real situation in Africa today,” said a waiter who works for Café Kulturalna.

In a related development Mol and members of the Association of Exiles in Poland have been extended an invitation by an alleged pro-African NGO to share views on how the Polish media covers Africans in Poland. The forthcoming session slated for July 29th, equally promises to be another convulsive eye-opener.

Comments

[ursula troche]

I would very much like to know more about your organisation.
Do you have a mailing list which i can join?

keep up the good work,

greetings, Ursula

[joanna]

"Africa is a continent for men. Women have no say in decision-making; politics, the economy, the military, journalism, the clergy, professorship are all areas under firm male domination."
---
As a young Polish woman I must admit that I am waiting for the day when somebody will publish a book called "Woman in Poland is not a human being."