Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

African News

Hotel with a view:
The Sheraton Gambia Resort, Gambia

Where is it? Sheraton Gambia Resort, Brufut Heights, Serrekunda; tel. , sheraton.com/serrekunda

What’s the view? Perched on a cliff surrounded by lush Baobab groves, the Sheraton offers marvellous views of the beach below and the ocean beyond.

What to expect? Vibrant African décor effortlessly melding southern and western architectural influences. All the rooms are understatedly luxurious.

What you need to know? Newly opened this month, the hotel boasts a fitness centre, spa and two restaurants serving pan-Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. Every room has an ocean view.

Why go there? To soak up the winter sun on one of Gambia’s unspoilt beaches – the country enjoys almost uninterrupted sunshine from November to June.

What can you expect to pay? Rooms from €80 per night, subject to availability and season.

Cultural exchange

In 1985, Cameroonian writer Werewere Liking founded Ki-Yi M’Bock (which means ‘ultimate knowledge’ in her native Bassa language), an artistic production group whose work ranged from theatre and film to literature. Eventually, the production group morphed into Village Ki-Yi, a centre initially intended to provide a base for artists who were living in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It has since grown into a community of around 50 artists, and is a place where dancers, actors, puppeteers, sculptors, painters and musicians live and work together. In 2001, it officially opened as the Pan-African Ki-Yi Training Centre.

Werewere herself not only writes, but also designs jewellery, paints and plays several African instruments. She has recently revived an old west African art form, too, staging shows with huge puppets and marionettes. In keeping with her eclectic approach, the centre offers training in all disciplines from across the region.

One to watch…

Although rap group Wonderful One have already released two albums in their native Angola, Géneses 2000 and Polémica 2004, they’re not widely known outside the Portuguese-speaking world.
But that may be about to change after their performance at the Angolan Embassy’s Independence Day celebrations in Cairo (pictured left).

“We got a great reception, not just from the Angolans based there, but also from the Egyptian and foreign communities. Frankly, it was an excellent experience and it was great to have the opportunity to promote Angolan music,” says TJay. Watch this space…

Power surge

Like many African countries, Rwanda suffers from a serious shortage of power; less than 5 per cent of the population has access to electricity, which in remote villages can often mean cycling many kilometres just to recharge a mobile phone. But the Weza, a foot-powered generator that can charge a car battery in 30 minutes and a mobile phone in five, is kick-starting a quiet revolution. It can be used to power medical equipment, charge electric fences and light homes, enabling children to study after dark. The Freeplay Foundation, a humanitarian organisation, is currently using the Weza in projects throughout Rwanda. See freeplayfoundation.org for more details.

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