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Friday, January 19th 2007, Laura Clarke.

World Social Forum 2007 comes to Africa.

The World Social Forum 2007 opens in Nairobi on 20 January under the clarion call “Another World is Possible”. Organised each year by civil society movements as a counterpoint to the World Economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, this is the first time that the meeting is being held on the African continent. Over 100,000 local and international delegates are expected to attend, making it the largest gathering the Kenyan capital has ever seen.

For six days human rights campaigners, peace activists, representatives of local, national and international non-governmental organisations and private individuals will debate some of the most pressing issues for humankind arising from the prevailing capitalist model of globalisation: civil and human rights, fair trade, access to precious resources, environmental conservation, gender equality, disenfranchised youth, poverty, food security and conflict.

The forum is taking place at Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, about ten kilometres northeast of the city centre, with opening and closing events in the central Uhuru park. The official programme includes panel discussions, workshops, symposia, processions, film screenings, exhibitions, performances and more; for full details see the WSF website (address below). High-profile speakers include the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu, freedom fighter and the first president of independent Zambia, Kenneth David Kaunda, Kenyan Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai and former Irish president and ex head of the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission Mary Robinson.

In addition, foreign cultural academies in Nairobi and other organisations have put together events programmes to coincide with the WSF.

The Alliance Française in central Nairobi has a full programme of music, film and theatre running well beyond the end of the WSF on 25 January, with a special focus on Kenyan artistic production. Highlights include an exhibition of painting and sculpture by three of Kenya’s leading contemporary artists, Jimnah Kimani, Patrick Mukabi and Maggie Otieno, titled “My world, your world” (until 18 February). Instead, the WSF concert series sees live performances from the pick of Kenya’s musicians; the programme includes Eric Wainaina (19 January), a joint performance by leading Afro-fusion artists including dancers Master Drummers, Spotlight for Kenya 2006 artists Abbi and Kikwetu, Barbara Guantai, Juma Tutu, Mutinda, Bakawola and Soul Force’s Natalie Warren and Denis Inyani Kuta (20 January; proceeds go towards Nairobi’s Gender Violence Recovery Centre for victims of rape), traditional folk music from western Kenya by Ingosi Stars (25 January), Suzzana Owiyo (26 January) and a blend of African drumming rhythms and traditional and modern wind instruments by Drum Café (27 January). There is also a series of documentary screenings followed by debates on issues related to globalisation, presented in partnership with the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of East Africa, the Festival Ciné Droit Libre of Burkina Faso and the French ministry of foreign affairs. For programme details and times see the Alliance Française website (address below).

The GoDown arts centre in south Nairobi presents “Moving people”, a programme of performances exploring the issues of migration, refuge and exile.

The programme opens on 19 January at 19.00 with “Poetry Africa: poetic perspectives on migration”; this is followed on 21 January at 20.00 by “Return to sender – letters from Tentland”, exploring the plight of six Iranian women in exile. On 22 and 23 January at 19.00 “Centaurs” by Indian company Vivadi takes a hard look at ever tighter international surveillance and its effect on the common man. Finally on 24 January at 19.00 Shaila Patel unravels the experiences of an Indian family living in Kenya as she goes through the contents of her battered red suitcase containing 18 heirloom saris lovingly collected by her mother for her trousseau over 30 years.

The Italian delegation to the WSF has made the most marginalized communities in Nairobi the focus of its activities during the course of the WSF. On 20 January Africa Peace Point, the Italian NGO Tavola della Pace and the national coordinating committee of local authorities for peace and human rights are organising a peace march from Kibera, the city’s largest slum, home to an estimated one million people, to Uhuru park, starting at 12.00. On 21 the plight of destitute youngsters is at the fore, with a festival for street children and the opening of a new shelter in Korogocho slum. Last but not least on 25 January starting at 07.00 there is to be a 15-km run from Korogocho to Uhuru park under the banner “Another world is possible even for slum dwellers”. The course will take participants through some of the main informal settlements in the city.

Numerous organisations and sites are offering coverage of the six-day gathering; for selected addresses see below. Wanted in Africa will also be providing news from Nairobi in the news section of the website.



www.wsf2007.org for the official programme of events.

Alliance Franaise, Loita/Monrovia Streets. Tel. +254 (0) 20 340054/79. Fax +254 (0) 20 315207. E-mail: info@alliancefrnairobi.org.

GoDown Arts Centre, Dunga Road, Industrial Area. Tel. +254 (0) 20 555770/227.

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