Over 1000 people attended a musical spectacular called “Voices for Africa” yesterday in Rome, produced by Harambee at Rome’s Olympic Theater.

After Paris, Madrid and New York, it was Rome’s turn to celebrate Harambee with a jubilant musical presentation where “all sang together” for Africa. The spectacle was presented by Maximo Santero, with the participation of schoolchildren from secondary schools in Rome. For them the songs and dances they composed, taking their inspiration from African tunes and rhythms, were the culmination of a year’s work on themes of solidarity and better knowledge of Africa.

“These young people are very interested in Africa, its problems and its culture,” says Rosella Villa, Harambee spokesperson in Rome and compère of the spectacular together with Giovanni Castellani. “They really want to discover its richness and values, and that is why so many of them have taken part in the different educational and awareness-raising activities we have organized locally: gospel music, African spirituals, documentaries and competitions, all aiming to spread the positive aspect of African cultures and the values of solidarity.”

During the evening four new educational projects in Africa were presented, for which Harambee is raising funds internationally in 2006. Each was presented by a special witness. First, Josiane Mpeye, hospital doctor at Monkole in D. R. Congo, described the projected creation of a medical clinic in a rural zone of Kinshasa, and thanked Harambee “for the opportunity you give me of bringing the voice of Africans and my beloved Africa here.” Another was Sister Liliana Ugoletti, a Canossian Sister, who explained the job-training project for women that the Canossians aim to carry out in Sudan, where the Josephine Bakhita Center offers young women education and training, and also “gives them a space where they can express themselves freely, in a country where that is not easy.”

Antonella Aiesi and Raymond Anagboso delighted the audience with renderings of “Over the Rainbow”, “Smile”, and “Lean on Me”. Then Jennifer Gitahi, a Kenyan lawyer, outlined the social work being undertaken by Strathmore University, Nairobi. Harambee proposes to support the University’s programme of ongoing training for teachers and head-teachers, to help raise the standard of elementary schooling in Kenya. Next, Eschender Ylma Enghiba presented the fourth project, aimed at craftsmen in Madagascar. Finally, the spectacular concluded with a stirring Gospel Medley by Anagboso, and “Happy Day”, sung with great zest by all the singers together.

Harambee wants to give a voice to all those Africans who are working together to develop their continent: “Communicating is a real way of cooperating,” as Rosella Villa expresses it, and this evening’s success was a fine example of it.