Success of the 7th HTCC Africa Expo in Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY
During seven years, 136 exhibitors and 26 different African countries have represented themselves at the Africa Expo in Budapest. Quarter million visitors were interested in the event that took place in the Travel Exhibition this year as well. Globoport.hu wrote about the occasion.
Sándor Balogh, the chairperson of the African Hungarian Union, opened the event with a thought:
“People are not African because they were born there, they are African because Africa was born in them.”
According to him, the Africa Expos aim to charm the visitors with Africa’s beauty and show them what a diverse continent it is. Leading decision makers of the world have realised that Africa is home to such natural treasures that are important for the other continents as well.
Culture and business
Africa has a growing interest in our country and many African people want to get to know our culture or even study in Hungary. Curiosity works in the other way as well since HTCC (Hungarian Trade and Cultural Center) help Hungarian people meet the African culture and build successful businesses there.
“Botswana, South-Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and Uganda already have Hungarian houses in the continent that is not only diverse but can also be the economic centre of the next quarter or half century.” – said Sándor Balogh.
He also quoted a Mandinka saying:
“A lot of small people in a lot of small places doing a lot of small things can change the world after all.”
Programmes
The Expo had a rich scale of programmes such as informing the visitors about business opportunities from Malawi to Morocco. Additionally, African born celebrities like Sena Dagadu, Kembe Sorel, and other famous experts and writers. Abdoul Camara, a Senegalese prize-winner dancer, entertained visitors with his bafalon play and acrobatic dance.
Children could admire the African four-toed hedgehog and the curious chameleon changing its colours thank for the Kaméleon Sziget (Chameleon Island). Moreover, Taita Foundation entertained the smallest ones with crafts and pearl beading besides African board games and mask making in the kids’ corner.
There were two special exhibitions at the expo as well. Little kids from Malawi could photograph their everyday life after a crash-course. The Földkelte Alapítvány (Earthrise Foundation) showed the best photos at the Ismerd meg a Világot (Get to Know the World) exhibition. One could also look at the Masks of Africa: the valuable and most beautiful pieces of a private collection called Burkina Fasótól Kongóig (From Burkina Faso to Congo), that were never presented before.
Photos: globoport.hu/KONKOLY THEGE GYÖRGY
Source: globoport.hu