BHM CELEBRATIONS DRAW HUNDREDS OF TANZANIANS

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000168

STATE FOR AF/PD PEHRNMAN AND IIP/AF CBERGIN

STATE ALSO FOR ECA ACROSS, MKIRSH, AND DYOUNG

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SCUL SENV OIIP OPRC TZ
SUBJECT: BHM CELEBRATIONS DRAW HUNDREDS OF TANZANIANS

REFTEL A: State 21427
B: 08 State 123909
C: 08 State 112714


1. SUMMARY: In celebration of Black History Month (BHM),Dar es
Salaam's Public Affairs Section organized activities around
"Nonviolent Civil Rights Movements in the United States" (Ref B).
We selected this theme to advance our MSP goal of "Governing Justly
and Democratically." Tanzania will hold national elections in late
2010, and citizens hope to see elections more free and fair than in
the past, especially on the semi-autonomous isles of Zanzibar. PAS
hosted a PA/OBS film showing and discussion of the President's
biography "Barack Obama"; offered two discussions (moderated by an
EMBOFF) featuring speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. on video; held
a program in conjunction with a visiting Citizen Exchange for women
artists; and hosted a jazz concert by visiting Navy band "Top Brass"
at the PAO residence. All events were supported by IIP pamphlets,
articles, paper shows, web postings, and mission press and photo
releases. Media coverage of our various events was excellent. END
SUMMARY.

Obama and MLK Stories Inspire Audiences
--------------


2. On February 10, BHM events were launched with a personal
presentation and 30-minute video entitled "Great Speeches: Martin
Luther King Jr" followed by a Q&A session with a second-tour
Pol/Econ junior officer. Forty-two students and teachers from
Al-Muntazir Islamic Seminary and Shaaban Robert Secondary School
asked Poloff Randall Robinson insightful questions, including, "Has
Martin Luther King's dream been realized by the election of
President Obama?" The students reported their motivation to
advocate for peace after listening to Martin Luther King's call for
non-violence. The successful program was repeated on February 26
for 50 Education-USA undergraduate and graduate clients of the
Educational Advising Center.


3. On February 18, we organized a program in conjunction with a
visiting Citizen Exchange (CE) Program of women artists from Ohio.
Two Tanzanian CE alumni helped organize the event during which two
artists gave a presentation entitled "The Underground Railroad Laid
Roots for Artists." AmCit CE participant Stephanie Matthews, an
African-American photographer, shared her inspiring personal story
and her focus on fine art, dance/movements photojournalism, and
showed her artful photographs to a captivated audience.


4. CE participant Joan Edwards discussed her twenty-five years of
quilting experience with the Black Swamp Quilters Guild of Ohio.
Edwards engaged the audience by explaining what different quilt
patterns meant to African American slaves, and how those patterns
helped slaves to escape along the Underground Railroad. The
capacity crowd included Tanzanian female artists selected to
participate in an upcoming Citizen Exchange, ECA Alumni, Fine Arts
professors, teachers and journalists. The CE group of six Americans
visited Tanzania February 10-27 to conduct professional arts and
women's issues workshops, exhibit their artwork in joint
exhibitions, and select eight women artists who will visit Ohio in
April for a 28-day CE program.


5. January's inauguration of President Obama lent BHM special
significance this year. On February 24, we showed the PA/OBS
biography "Barack Obama" (Ref C) followed by a moderated discussion
by Poloff. After the video, participants that included 50
journalists, NGO and civil society representatives commented
emotionally on President Obama's inspiring story. ECA alumni in the
audience requested follow-up programs outside the Embassy to offer
more Tanzanians the opportunity to see the biography. One attendee
noted, "I wish I could see more forums like this one to continue the
legacy of the community development President Barack Obama had shown
in Chicago." The eager audiences have encouraged us to continue
hosting moderated Obama biography showings throughout March outside
of Dar es Salaam.


6. On February 26, ECA alumni, NGO members, media, visiting ECA
Alumni Coordinator for AF Mallory Kirsh, and other guests convened
at PAO's residence to listen to a Black History Month jazz concert.
The "Top Brass" Naval Band, which was visiting Tanzania with the USS
Robert G. Bradley's training and partnership mission, played
traditional jazz and other favorites in line with the BHM theme.
Poster shows traditionally used for April's Jazz Appreciation Month
decorated the residence. Post also hosted video and photos of the
band's performances on our website.


7. Throughout February, we distributed over 360 BHM-related
handouts. BHM activities were supported by the following IIP paper
shows at the Embassy and PAO's residence:

--When the spirit moves: African American Dance in History and Art
--Duke Ellington Remembered
--Louis Armstrong
--New Visions: African American Artists
--Generation of Change: Legacy of Martin Luther King

Various IIP and other brochures, articles and publications were
given to the audience to support the programs, including:
--African-American History Month - IIP Pamphlet
--The Civil Rights Movements and the Legacy of Martin Luther King
IIP - IIP pamphlet
--Martin Luther King, Jr: a man who changed things - Houghton
Mifflin elementary readers acquired by PAS through donation
--America's Quilting History African American Quilting: A Long Rich
Heritage (article retrieved by IRC)
--America's Quilting History Underground Railroad Quilts &
Abolitionist Fairs (article retrieved by IRC)
--Underground Railroad Quilt Code (article retrieved by IRC)


8. Media coverage: Our BHM events were also supported by two press
releases. The first produced a story in "The African" (English
daily; circulation 5,000) on February 13, 2008 entitled "United
States celebrates Black History." Reporting on our BHM was also
carried by East African Radio, Clouds Radio and Radio One (ensuring
nation-wide coverage heard by several millions). A second press
release covering the Citizen Exchange's events, including their BHM
presentation, generated television and radio coverage on ITV, Radio
One, TBC 1, Clouds FM, Radio Kheri, Radio Quran, Radio Free Africa,
Star TV, Channel TEN and East African Radio and Star TV-Tanga, as
well as the following print articles:
-- The African, February 7, "U.S. Women artists to conduct art
workshops in Dar"
-- This Day (English daily; circulation 10,000),February 7, "U.S.
women artist to Tour Dar"
-- This Day, February 14, "United States Women artists visiting
Tanzania"
-- The Citizen (English daily; circulation 7,500),February 23,
"U.S. artistes (sic) call for cooperation."


9. Results and Comment: Over 200 Tanzanians, including many ECA
alumni, attended BHM programs held in the Embassy during February,
and an additional 50 guests attended our jazz concert. Many gave
positive comments about the various programs. Attendees asked for
similar programs to be held more often. Per Ref A, PAO visited the
Dar es Salaam School of Journalism March 13 and spoke with (and
listened to) 75 journalism students about Obama's foreign policy and
educational opportunities in the U.S. We will continue to pursue
opportunities offered by the inauguration of President Obama and
invite members of our target audiences to share their ideas for
increased mutual understanding with the United States. End
Comment.

Andre






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