IWG wraps up season with African-themed celebration
Guests were welcomed into a ballroom decorated with imagery representing Africa's diverse landscapes and traditions, accompanied by traditional African music that set the tone for the day's cultural program.
The event opened with a keynote speech by IWG President Polina Dlamini, spouse of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Eswatini. In her address, she highlighted Africa's cultural and geographic diversity, describing it as 'the cradle of humankind' and 'a land of promise and power.' She underscored the continent's global importance and rich potential.
Dlamini also paid special tribute to IWG Honorary President Sheikha Hanouf Al-Bader Al-Sabah, acknowledging her continued support of the organization's mission.
One of the central segments of the event featured the spouses of African ambassadors, who introduced their respective countries - Burkina Faso, Egypt, Eswatini, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe - while showcasing traditional attire and joining in a celebratory group dance.
Guests participated in an interactive quiz titled 'How Well Do You Know Africa?' that highlighted both fun facts and deeper insights into the continent's history and culture.
The IWG also introduced its 2025–2026 board members during the event, followed by a tribute video reflecting on the highlights of the past season. The video featured key moments and personal reflections, with a particular focus on Dlamini's leadership.
In her closing speech, Dlamini reflected on her presidency, crediting the teamwork of IWG's Executive Board and volunteers for the year's success. She expressed gratitude to all who supported the organization, including embassy staff, sponsors and service providers.
The event concluded with a raffle draw, featuring prizes donated by participating countries, and an African-themed buffet lunch. Attendees described the gathering as a joyful and memorable conclusion to the season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
20 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
‘Shop local': Bad Bunny brings tourism surge to Puerto Rico
The day before Bad Bunny kicked off his blockbuster residency that's expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars to Puerto Rico while showcasing its rich culture, he posted a simple message: Shop Local. The ethos is core to his 30-show concert series in San Juan which, after nine performances exclusive to residents, will open up to fans from elsewhere - what many Boricuas, as Puerto Ricans are known, are hoping will serve as an exercise in responsible tourism. 'It's an incredible moment for the island,' said Davelyn Tardi of the promotional agency Discover Puerto Rico. The organization conservatively estimates the residency will bring in some $200 million to Puerto Rico over the approximately three-month run, which falls during the typically less-trafficked summer months. Azael Ayala works at a bar in one of San Juan's popular nightlife zones, telling AFP that business was already booming even though the residency was only in its first weekend. It's 'completely changed,' the 29-year-old said, as crowds buzzed about La Placita where some bars were slinging Bad Bunny-themed cocktails. 'We're thrilled,' Ayala said. 'The tips are through the roof.' The fact that people are coming from across the globe to see Bad Bunny 'is a source of pride for Puerto Rico, too,' he added. Arely Ortiz, a 23-year-old student from Los Angeles, couldn't score a ticket to a show - but said Bad Bunny was still the draw that prompted her to book her first trip to Puerto Rico. 'I really love how outspoken he is about his community,' she said. 'Just seeing him, that he can get so far, and he's Latino, it encourages more Latinos to be able to go for what they want. He has for sure empowered Latinos, like 100 percent.' People sit in front of a mural of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny at La Placita de Santurce in San Juan, Puerto Rico.--AFP photos Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs on stage during his 30-concert residency opening at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. People play dominoes outside the Coliseo de Puerto Rico before the first show of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's 30-date concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This aerial view shows people queing to attend the first show of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's 30-date concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. People on their way to the beach walk past a mural of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, the municipality where he grew up. This aerial view shows people at the beach in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, the municipality where Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny grew up. Puerto Rican influencer Astrid Nahir poses for a photo in front of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny (left) and Puerto Rican flag murals in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican artist Humberto Olivieri paints a sapo concho (Puerto Rican toad) mural in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tourism: It's complicated But while tourism has long been an economic engine for the Caribbean island that remains a territory of the United States, the relationship is complicated. Concerns around gentrification, displacement and cultural dilution have magnified on the archipelago beloved for stunning beaches with turquoise waters - especially as it's become a hotspot for luxury development, short-term rentals and so-called 'digital nomads' who work their laptop jobs remotely while traveling the world. Visiting foreigners sample the island's beauty but are shielded from the struggle, say many locals who are coping with a chronic economic crisis exacerbated by natural disasters, as rents soar and massive blackouts are routine. Bad Bunny - who was born and raised Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio - himself has pointed to such issues and more in his metaphor and reference-laden lyrics. 'In my life, you were a tourist,' reads one translation of his track 'Turista.' 'You only saw the best of me and not how I was suffering.' Historian Jorell Melendez Badillo told AFP that Puerto Rico by design has long catered to foreign investment: 'A lot of people see tourism as sort of like this colonial undertone,' he said. But when it comes to Bad Bunny and his residency at the affectionately nicknamed venue El Choli, 'we cannot negate the fact that it's going to bring millions of dollars' to the island, he added. 'We can celebrate what Benito is doing while also looking at it critically, and having a conversation around what type of tourism will be incentivized by this residency.' Ana Rodado traveled to Puerto Rico from Spain after a friend native to the island gifted her a ticket. She booked a five-day trip with another friend that included a visit to beachside Vega Baja, the municipality where Bad Bunny grew up and worked bagging groceries before gaining fame. After posing for a photo in the town square, Rodado told AFP that she'd been trying to take the artist's 'shop local' plea to heart. 'Tourism is a global problem,' she said. 'To the extent possible, we have to be responsible with our consumer choices, and above all with the impact our trip has on each place.' 'We try to be respectful, and so far people have been really nice to us.' Ultimately, Bad Bunny's residency is a love letter to his people - a show about and for Puerto Ricans whose narrative centers on heritage, pride and joy. 'We're here, damn it!' he shouted to ecstatic screams during his sweeping first show, which at times felt like a giant block party. 'I'd come back for the next 100 years - if God lets me, I'll be here.' — AFP
Kuwait Times
15-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
Kenya's plus-size fashion show says 'big is beautiful'
In African wax print dresses and tight-fitting evening wear, the "plus-size" models strutted up the runway in Kisumu, western Kenya, in a special event designed to celebrate the beauty of larger women. Started nine years ago, the East Africa Plus Size Fashion Affair is, according to founder Winnie Wenga Walcott, the only event of its kind in Kenya despite the fact the region "has mostly really plump women". "We have seen the media really trying to focus on a certain body type of women," she told AFP. "And in so doing, this has really affected their self-esteem." In front of more than 300 screaming spectators, a dozen amateur models walked and danced their way along the catwalk this weekend. Unlike traditional haute couture shows, there was a lot of smiling. Among them was Oprah Odhiambo, a Kenyan entrepreneur, who wanted to show that "plus size can do what the petite can do, so I feel joyous." "There are those plus-size women who are in hiding because they are afraid that people will body shame them," she said, adding that she hopes the show will make them reassess their self-image. Singer and model Rosemary Odire, stage name Nyakusa Nyamama, spoke of the sneers she has faced when performing. "I have encountered so many problems... people are like 'Yo big mama, what are you going to do there, you cannot dance, get off the stage,'" she said. "But I am here portraying... not just any beauty, not just plus-size beauty, but the African beauty in me," added Odire, who swayed her hips on the runway in a leopard-skin skirt. Coming from all walks of Kenyan society, the models did not have this level of confidence when they started training in March. "They were very timid about their body sizes," recalled Walcott, adding that there was now a "huge difference". The fashion show addresses health issues but also focuses on "accepting curvy women" and "celebrating their appearance by blending it with fashion due to the difficulty they face finding clothes," said Walcott. Walcott created the show to honour her own mother -- so she could "see herself as beautiful." 'You see how big I am, I really hated my body, but she really encouraged me," said Walcott's mother, Seline Aoko, speaking at the fruit stall in Kisumu where she works. "Big is beautiful!"--AFP
Kuwait Times
05-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
IWG wraps up season with African-themed celebration
KUWAIT: The International Women's Group (IWG) concluded its 2024–2025 season with the IWG Farewell Event 2025, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel under the theme of unity, culture and sisterhood. The gathering paid tribute to the African continent while celebrating the group's shared achievements and connections throughout the year. Guests were welcomed into a ballroom decorated with imagery representing Africa's diverse landscapes and traditions, accompanied by traditional African music that set the tone for the day's cultural program. The event opened with a keynote speech by IWG President Polina Dlamini, spouse of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Eswatini. In her address, she highlighted Africa's cultural and geographic diversity, describing it as 'the cradle of humankind' and 'a land of promise and power.' She underscored the continent's global importance and rich potential. Dlamini also paid special tribute to IWG Honorary President Sheikha Hanouf Al-Bader Al-Sabah, acknowledging her continued support of the organization's mission. One of the central segments of the event featured the spouses of African ambassadors, who introduced their respective countries - Burkina Faso, Egypt, Eswatini, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe - while showcasing traditional attire and joining in a celebratory group dance. Guests participated in an interactive quiz titled 'How Well Do You Know Africa?' that highlighted both fun facts and deeper insights into the continent's history and culture. The IWG also introduced its 2025–2026 board members during the event, followed by a tribute video reflecting on the highlights of the past season. The video featured key moments and personal reflections, with a particular focus on Dlamini's leadership. In her closing speech, Dlamini reflected on her presidency, crediting the teamwork of IWG's Executive Board and volunteers for the year's success. She expressed gratitude to all who supported the organization, including embassy staff, sponsors and service providers. The event concluded with a raffle draw, featuring prizes donated by participating countries, and an African-themed buffet lunch. Attendees described the gathering as a joyful and memorable conclusion to the season.
