NCA turns up the volume in Luanda
Source: Norwegian Church Aid - Norway
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The largest sports stadium in Angola's capital Luanda will be the stage for a historic music festival, arranged by Norwegian Church
Aid, on Saturday 25th November. Fourteen of Angola's best-known artists are to perform to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
"We decided the time had come to make a splash and do something really huge to fight discrimination and stigmatisation," explains Berit Strømme, Norwegian Church Aid's country representative in Angola.
"In this country, where the vast majority of citizens belong to a church congregation, the churches do a lot of talking about abstinence and faithfulness. But that's where it stops. It is wholly taboo to discuss what happens once a person has become infected with the HIV virus. We wish to break down this barrier and get people talking about how we can take care of those living with HIV and AIDS," continues Strømme.
This is why Norwegian Church Aid's employees in Angolan capital Luanda have been working hard to bring together fourteen of the country's best-known artists for a concert that will be held at the city's main stadium on Saturday 25th November. Topping the bill will be popular music from Angola, with rhythms from Kizomba and Semba. In addition, church groups and choirs will be singing gospel music.
Entrance is free – in an attempt to encourage as many people as possible to come along. Many of the artists are to perform at a fraction of the price they would normally charge for such an event, and all security has been provided free of charge.
Action now!
"The stadium has a total capacity of around 4000 people. We hope, of course, that as many people will be able to make it. This is an extremely important issue, and one which requires urgent action now," says Berit Strømme.
In addition to music, several appeals are planned for between the various acts. Well-known men and women will speak to the gathered crowd and encourage the people of Angola to come together and combat stigma and discrimination of those living with hiv and aids.
"The churches have a role to stand up for those that are marginalised by society. The Bible tells us that the church must be open for all. At the moment this simply is not true. We must break this taboo. I hope and pray we can help contribute to creating a lasting change in people's attitudes towards those who are living with hiv and aids, so that they too in the future can live as valued and included members of their own communities," concludes Berit Strømme, Norwegian Church Aid's country representative for Angola.
For more information, contact:
NCA Luanda office
Tel: (+244) 222 333 419/335 387
Fax: (+244) 222 335 816
E-mail: ain.nca@snet.co.ao
"We decided the time had come to make a splash and do something really huge to fight discrimination and stigmatisation," explains Berit Strømme, Norwegian Church Aid's country representative in Angola.
"In this country, where the vast majority of citizens belong to a church congregation, the churches do a lot of talking about abstinence and faithfulness. But that's where it stops. It is wholly taboo to discuss what happens once a person has become infected with the HIV virus. We wish to break down this barrier and get people talking about how we can take care of those living with HIV and AIDS," continues Strømme.
This is why Norwegian Church Aid's employees in Angolan capital Luanda have been working hard to bring together fourteen of the country's best-known artists for a concert that will be held at the city's main stadium on Saturday 25th November. Topping the bill will be popular music from Angola, with rhythms from Kizomba and Semba. In addition, church groups and choirs will be singing gospel music.
Entrance is free – in an attempt to encourage as many people as possible to come along. Many of the artists are to perform at a fraction of the price they would normally charge for such an event, and all security has been provided free of charge.
Action now!
"The stadium has a total capacity of around 4000 people. We hope, of course, that as many people will be able to make it. This is an extremely important issue, and one which requires urgent action now," says Berit Strømme.
In addition to music, several appeals are planned for between the various acts. Well-known men and women will speak to the gathered crowd and encourage the people of Angola to come together and combat stigma and discrimination of those living with hiv and aids.
"The churches have a role to stand up for those that are marginalised by society. The Bible tells us that the church must be open for all. At the moment this simply is not true. We must break this taboo. I hope and pray we can help contribute to creating a lasting change in people's attitudes towards those who are living with hiv and aids, so that they too in the future can live as valued and included members of their own communities," concludes Berit Strømme, Norwegian Church Aid's country representative for Angola.
For more information, contact:
NCA Luanda office
Tel: (+244) 222 333 419/335 387
Fax: (+244) 222 335 816
E-mail: ain.nca@snet.co.ao
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
