PrairieAFRICAN Issue #5 August, 2021 - understanding our roots, promoting our culture Page 2 “Coming from an Folklarama is here “I had to drop out underrepresented again. Where would of school because immigrant commu- you be partying? Culture I was always nity and taking a seat playing music, no at the decision-mak- homework” - 70 ing table in the year-old Canadian council, in a time who played 51 A conversation that started in when inclusivity is weeks in a year, only a coffee shop continuing in much needed.” break for Christmas. Diaspora Cafe, wonderful. PoliticsPage 5 MusicPage 9 LifePage 10 Brandon Gets Its First Black City Sunday Frangi Councillor (Councilor, Ward 5) he name Sunday Frangi will sales associate, had lost the opportunity be remembered for a very long to represent Ward 5, in 2018, to Mr. Why The Hue And Ttime to come, particularly in LoRegio, in his first attempt, and May’s the city of Brandon and Manitoba at by-election afforded him another large. Mr. Frangi made history, in May, opportunity to step up as councillor as one of the ten ward councillors to seat representing Meadows - Waverly but Cry About Bill 64? with the mayor in their deliberations on the Sudanese immigrant thwarted that ne of the beauties of democracy is a partisan campaign sign for votes is so how to make Brandon city better. We chance. He, himself, having lost the that participants and constituents overwhelming that one wonders if the should also add that the newly elected chance to represent the Brandon West Oare free to hold and air contrary government did consult with stakeholders Ward 5 council man is, probably, the riding, in 2019, to the PC candidate, opinions to that of the government before churning out a bill that is so without fear of reprisal or attack. It is detestable first black person ever elected to serve Reg Helwer. Councillor Sunday Frangi The Nielson Global Trust against this backdrop that the current that reported that 65% of print as city councillor in the entire history who flew the Liberal flag then was behemoth opposition to The Education parents, readers typically take some of the city, at least, as far as records can very grateful to the people of Meadows Modernization Act otherwise known as teachers, form of action after viewing show (CBC). Mr. Frangi, a healthcare - Waverly who voted “strategically” Bill 64 can be better appreciated. One can school a newspaper ad. worker, defeated Gordon McRae, at for him. The Sudanese-born politician hardly go anywhere these days without board the just concluded by-election to fill in joins Mayor Rick Chrest on the board coming across a lawn sign denouncing trustees, for former council man, John LoRegio, of the Brandon City Council, and we, Bill 64 and with all manner of innovation and now, Advertise who stepped down on health grounds, at Prairie African, say congratulations - some simple; others complex. The signs city after serving for over 7 years. McRae, a to Mr. Sunday Frangi for achieving which now dot every single street like councils continued on page 7 with us Our focus is Manitoba and the prairies ...then, news from around the world. prairieafrican.com PrairieAFRICAN 2 - understanding our roots, promoting our culture August, 2021 Folklorama August 6 - 8 2021 - The Importance Of Keeping Culture Alive The Caraballo band in 1975 s Folklorama restarts this of Manitoba” a promise to return to the usual format goers.” Folklorama is usually scheduled August, after ending its and was to be a one-time event marking by next year. The board was already for two weeks in August every year to Arunning streak due to the Manitoba’s 100 years, by bringing looking at July 31st to August 13th, for celebrate the cultural and ethnic heritage Coronavirus pandemic that necessitated various cultures together to colour the next year’s event, and one hopes the of all immigrants. As contained in the a cancellation of last year’s event, the event. Since then, immigrants who pandemic would have become a thing of organizer’s vision statement, the idea is annual festival actually relaunches with reside here in the city of Winnipeg the past with normalcy taking root again. to promote “the ethno-cultural diversity a new format this year. Like most other come together, yearly, to put up displays Meanwhile, the organizers have made of Manitoba through entertainment world events affected by the prevailing showcasing their mastery of cultures sure to leave no stone unturned in their and public celebrations of culture and times, this year’s festival, which the where they emigrated from and better quest to entertain a growing number of education.” The festival contributes organizers have christened “One Multi- appreciate the diversity that is Canada, festival goers who are becoming restive. to the city’s economy, each year, as Cultural Fusion Event” will be held or, in this case, Manitoba. The two-week Ms. Cotroneo, in a news release, said that the number of tourists who grace the online between August 6th - 8th and event, which usually takes place in they are “thrilled to be able to deliver a performances continue to increase. broadcast from the Burton Cumming’s August, provides festival goers with unique Folklorama experience to festival Theatre. According to the Folklorama various colorful options as they sample website, cultural performances have both cuisine and arts in addition to been grouped by continents of the world. being entertained by exotic dance Beginning August 6th, performances will forms from the participating countries. showcase African and Asian cultures, It has since grown to an annual festival and migrate to the Americas on August with the longest-running streak - 50. 7th before rounding off with European The organizers say over 40 pavilions themed cultural performances on the 8th are set up each year with an average of August. Arrangements have also been of 400,000 visits. Last year’s festival made to stream these performances live which should have been the 51st on YouTube. You can see a complete edition was cancelled and replaced by schedule online on the organizer’s a community scavenger hunt. That was website. For a festival that began timidly, the first time in 50 years that festival in 1970, the annual Folklorama festival goers were denied the opportunity has indeed come a long way. Even the to comingle in a festival setting - organizers never saw that coming. it the same fate befell other notable had no spine and no future at inception Manitoba festivals like the Dauphin but went on to become the world’s Countryfest and the Ukrainian Dance longest-running multicultural festival Festival. According to news monitored (CIOFF). The Folklorama festival was on the CBC, the executive director in started, in 1970, “as a Centennial Folk charge of the festival, Teresa Cotroneo, Festival sponsored jointly by the City blamed the current pandemic for of Winnipeg and the Folk Arts Council taking this year’s event online with - The Main Express band in 1978 - PrairieAFRICAN August, 2021 - understanding our roots, promoting our culture 3 1486 Regent Ave West, Winnipeg, MB 204-944-6600 JPToyotaRegent.com 4 PrairieAFRICAN - understanding our roots, promoting our culture August, 2021 Prairie ongratulations to the Canadian team even in death? I know he led by example by AFRICAN currently at the Tokyo Olympic games Our Mission teaching black people what they need to know. - understanding our roots, promoting our culture C – among them many of our brothers and sisters supposed to feature stories of black, African, What do you know? Brother man, know thy is published by - doing us proud by showcasing their skills; and people of colour prominently across the roots. Page 6 some of them winning medals also. They have prairies, first, and then the rest of Canada And in sports, Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou R Yeast Communications Inc. now joined a long list of black people who and the world. This is our own. In Brandon, looks set to defend his UFC heavyweight belt, through generations have shown that they are we scored another first - the election of the or is he? The forces that be in the organization talented just like anybody on the planet. first black city councillor to the board of the seem to be pulling all the strings. See page 11 A people are the sum total of their actions. city council, in addition to the first black also “In case you missed it” (below), is where we Available at: As black or African peoples, what actions do elected to the school board trusteeship in the present various successful African and Black we take on a daily basis to improve our lot? It same city. Are things beginning to change over people who continue to do us proud in spite of Community Centers is true that we all have to work but going to there? Why not hear from the horse’s mouth the discrimination they face. Remember, “All Local Libraries work alone will not make the white, Asian, or on page 5? that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that Gas Bars East Indian see you as an equal. I don’t mean Bill 64 should be the most popular bill out good (people) do nothing” (Edmund Burke). Local Sports Shops that you don’t best them in the office, of course there today. What is it all about and why are There must be something new that we can do Hotels you do but lack the results to show for it. Black people denouncing it? Some say the timing is to dissuade racists amongst us.