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BFU-USA Visits Smithsonian Museum of African Art |
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On Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, BFU-USA visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC as part of an entourage led by the Cameroon American Council. The purpose of the visit was to meet with the Management of the National Museum of African Art to discuss collaborative opportunities in promoting the culture and arts of Cameroon.
Though this opportunity arose very quickly, BFU-USA was ably represented by the following esteemed persons at short notice: Clarice Kilo-Odupitan (DC-Metro), Valentine Seghanka (DC-Metro), Yesum Gladys Lafon (DC-Metro), and Tarbinlam Lafon (National President).
Other members of the Cameroon American Council entourage included the Bali Cultural Association (BCA) - USA Publicity Secretary Lora Fogam and the Executive Director of the CAC, Sylvie Bello, who organized this very important meeting.
The group was first given a private tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Thereafter, the group met at the Museum's research library with members of the management team, including the Educator for Scholarly Programs, the Librarian of the Warren M. Robbins Library (the museum's research library) and the Museum's African Outreach Official.
The Librarian had displayed literature on Cameroonian culture on four different tables! The long discussion that ensued was very productive and focused on collaborative opportunities and a possible partnership on many areas of culture. Below are a few examples of the kinds of opportunities discussed:
- The possibility of creating a forum for cultural discussions and dialog between academic scholars and cultural artists, writers, etc.
- Explore the possibility of training our museum professionals, who will work in the cultural museums that we are planning in Bui. This essentially will be capacity building for museums.
- Explore the possibility of book exchanges between the Smithsonian and libraries in our communities in Cameroon.
As the meeting wrapped up, the National President expressed sincere thanks to the Museum management for taking their whole afternoon off to meet with the group. He underscored the importance of this meeting to BFU-USA and the Bui community in the US and in Cameroon and pledged to collaborate with the Smithsonian to preserve, protect and give our culture more visibility to the world at large. He also presented gifts to the Smithsonian team on behalf of BFU-USA. Gifts presented included 5 books on Nso culture, the Ngonnso Festival 2010 Magazine, BFU-USA 2010 National Convention Promotional Materials, a traditional bag and traditional hat. The books on Nso culture will be added to the Warren M. Robbins Library collection as a donation from BFU-USA and will be made available for research purposes.
The Smithsonian management expressed immense thanks in receiving the gifts. They agreed to work collaboratively with BFU-USA and were very happy with the discussions.
For and On Behalf of the National Executive
Yaya Sendze-Moussata
National Organizing Secretary |
Press Release 
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