Uganda Celebrates Pushkin’s Legacy with Pan-African Poetry Contest and “Russian Alphabet” Exhibition
Uganda recently played a central role in celebrating the 226th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin, the revered Russian poet, with a series of cultural events that underscored the growing cultural ties between Russia and Africa. The celebrations included a regional “Pushkin Is Ours! Russia-Africa” contest for reciters and artists, culminating in an online awards ceremony on June 6.
The competition, which accepted entries from May 7 to June 1, invited participants from across the region to submit works in both art and recitation categories. The winners represented a diverse geographical spread:
Art Category Winners:
- Sssebinu Emmanuel (Uganda, 26 years old)
- Patricia Valeriani (Rome, Italy, 16 years old)
- Sofiya Drobynina (South Africa, 15 years old)
- Belgit-Allaoui Nora (Rabat, Morocco, 12 years old)
Recitation Category Winners:
- Kais Alsheikh (Ramallah, Palestine, 15 years old)
- Khudiyev Oktay (Baku, Azerbaijan, 13 years old)
- Maria Abushaver (Jordan, 11 years old)
- Rustamli Aylin (Baku, Azerbaijan, 11 years old)
The event was a collaborative effort, organized by the Association of Russian-Speaking Women of Uganda “Rosinka” and the Regional Coordination Council of Russian Compatriot Organizations in Africa and the Middle East. Significant support was also provided by the Russian Embassy in Uganda and the Moscow Government.
Adding to the festivities, the Russian World Center in Kampala hosted the opening of a unique art exhibition titled “Russian Alphabet in the Drawings of Marina Khankova” on the same day. This project is part of the “Fairytale Code of the Russian Soul” initiative, implemented by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the “Russian World” Foundation.
The exhibition showcases the captivating illustrations of the Russian alphabet by Marina Khankova, a Moscow-based artist renowned for her distinctive style, reminiscent of Russian folk artists Viktor Vasnetsov and Ivan Bilibin. Her drawings draw inspiration from rich Russian folk tales, legends, and epics, providing a visual journey into Russian cultural heritage. The timing of the exhibition thoughtfully coincided with both the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture and Russian Language Day, further emphasizing the cultural significance of the celebrations.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
