With revolutions in the Middle East and the United States’ current Occupy Wall Street movement dominating media reports throughout 2011, the International Year for People of African Descent  as declared by the United Nations has received little attention but that didn’t stop the traveling photo exhibition “WoMen in Africa - No Color One Color," from launching November 2 at the Italian Institute of Culture in Nairobi, Kenya.

The show marked the second major exhibition within two weeks to launch in honor of the International Year for People of African Descent. A multimedia display of works by different artists and photographers, “The African Continuum: Celebrating Diversity, Recognizing Contributions of People of African Descent”, opened at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City on October 19. For that occasion, Time Magazine photographer Chester Higgins Jr. addressed attendees on behalf of the participating artists.

In addition, the venerable Maya Angelou recorded her poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth,” for the occasion. The following is an excerpt:

“When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear…”
     –– Maya Angelou

Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity

“WoMen in Africa - No Color One Color" (the capital “M” in WoMen is correct) features the work of Ludovico Maria Gilberti, an Italian photographer who has adopted Kenya as his second home. Gilberti’s approach to his subject is particularly interesting in light of the current social, financial, and political upheavals rocking various continents.

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by Aberjhani