site.btaExhibition of Traditional Art Marks Africa Day in Sofia

Exhibition of Traditional Art Marks Africa Day in Sofia

Sofia, May 25 (BTA) - Leather paintings, wood carvings and traditional pottery from Algeria, ebony candlesticks, ivory jewels and snake skin sandals from Sudan were among the exhibits displayed at Sofia Hotel Balkan in the Bulgarian capital on Wednesday to mark Africa Day (May 25). The exhibition was organized by the Group of African Ambassadors in Bulgaria.

Egyptian Ambassador Manal El-Shenawy said that in recent years the African nations have achieved many goals in the field of economic development, democracy, stability and social policies and have advanced towards the vision of a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa. She said Africa is the second largest and second most populous continent, and 70 per cent of its 1.1 billion population is under 25 years of age. With their mineral and energy resources, fertile land and new infrastructure projects, the African countries offer many opportunities for partnership, Ambassador El-Shenawy said.

She recalled that 2016 is the African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the rights of women. Since 2000, the continent has seen a huge rise in women representation in national parliaments, and African women have reached high offices, Ambassador El-Shenawy said.

The diplomat pointed to the good cooperation between Bulgaria and the African countries in many areas, such as education, culture, trade and tourism.

Contemporary global challenges, including terrorism, human trafficking and illegal migration, require ever closer cooperation between Africa and Europe, she said.