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The "Domination" group during the concert (Photo: yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

Celebration of the Black History Month at the US Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire

The US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire organized a beautiful concert at the Ambassador’s Residence on March 1, 2008 in Abidjan to round off a month-long Black History Month Celebration. The show featured an Ivorian renowned gospel group called "Domination", which sang in duo with "A Medley of Voices", the US Embassy’s vocal group. After Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt’s welcome address, the two groups entertained the guests through songs like "Down by the riverside"; "Go down Moses"; "Rock my soul"; "Soon and very soon"; and "Thanks you very much."

This concert was past of a series of activities including conferences and film shows organized by the US Embassy to honor and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments and the rich heritage of African Americans who helped bring the United States closer to fulfilling its founding ideals.

On February 13, Ambassador Nesbitt underscored the legacy of Rosa Parks and the impact of the civil rights struggle on the life of African Americans in US. The US Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire was speaking during a film show and a conference organized by the embassy to commemorate the African American History Month at the English Department of the Teachers' Training College in Abidjan.

The event brought together more than 350 people including lecturers, teachers, and the management of the school, and featured an historical documentary entitled: "Rosa Parks – Mighty Times." The aim was to reach out at students as well as teachers whose major topics focused on American culture and history.

To give American Corner patrons the opportunity to test their English speaking skills and their knowledge of the American history, the US Embassy organized a conference at the American Corner in Tiassalé; a city located about 130 km north of Abidjan. The Deputy Chief of Mission, Cynthia Akuetteh, who spoke during the conference emphasize the role of African Americans in the civil rights movement.

Mrs Akuetteh focused her presentation on seven prominent African American women including Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, and Shirley Chisholm. More than 80 people including students, teachers, headmasters, civil servants, the local council members, the mayor, Yapi Lambert, and his town council attended the program, which allowed a direct contact between the diplomats and Ivorians in an informal setting.

The US Embassy also organized a film show that was followed by a debate at Corner-CIRES Abidjan on February 2. After viewing the video entitled: "Martin Luther King Jr., A Man of Peace," participants examined the civil rights leader's non-violent philosophy. Panel participants included the Embassy's Administrative Officer, Marcia Norman who had marched with Dr. King; the Head of the English Department of the National Teacher Training School; and the Secretary General of the ED Congress an association of English clubs.