Marionettes in a pre-school on Åland

Pre-school marionettes 5

We were invited to perform for pre-school children on Åland. The children were fascinated and enjoyed meeting the marionettes and dancing to the music of the djembe.

Concert at Villa Karo, Benin 7.1

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On the first Saturday of 2012 we, together with CLAN, offered a big concert named “Lutte contre le racisme” at the Finnish-African Culture Center of Villa Karo, where special guest Sara Estlander (Finland) joined us on stage for a dance performance. Special guest in the audience was Mr Judes, the president of UNIMA in Benin, and a journalist from the news paper Nokoué. The spectacular backdrop had been painted specially for the concert by the artist Gabin Ayohouannon.

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Grand opening concert of Centre Académique des Arts Africains et d’Écoutes 29.12

Grand opening

Our doors are open! The people of Grand-Popo, staff and residents of Villa Karo (the Finnish-African Culture Center) and a journalist from the news paper Quotidien Nokoué enjoyed an evening with music, marionettes and theater where the children of our Christmas workshops were special guest stars, dancing, singing and performing with marionettes together with the musicians of CLAN. The beautiful back drop of the concert was made by the artist Gabin Ayohouannon.

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Christmas celebration for the children of Grand-Popo, Benin

Happy singers

On the Chrismas evening of 24.12 we celebrated the afternoon with 52 children in the garden of our Center, singing, dancing, practicing marionettes and contes (storytelling) and in the evening we offered entertainment in collaboration with the restaurant and hotel Saveurs d’Afrique and the musicians of the band CLAN. The children performed for each other with what they have learned to the accompaniment of CLAN, Papa Noël visited and delivered gifts to the accompaniment of the ballafon.

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Free workshops for local children of Grand-Popo Benin

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When the schools had their Christmas break 2011-12 we welcomed the local children of families of lesser means to participate in free workshops of marionettes, dance, singing, music and contes (storytelling). We offered food and enjoyment, but also a way for the children to learn and express themselves in different art forms. At the busiest days we had 50-60 children participating in the beautiful garden or underneath the mango tree of our Center. These workshops were also part of the festival Festimarch.
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Professional workshop in marionettes, Grand-Popo Benin

Marionett med skugga

Our Center opened up our doors and the festival FESTIMARCH with a free, professional, three-week-course in African marionettes for a group of local musicians of Grand-Popo in december of 2011. We invited Richard Ahoungassi from Mali to teach how to manufacture and manipulate marionettes. Our goal is to inspire and teach a way to make a living of the Art of marionettes.

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Concert at the Sibelius-Academy

World Music System

World music system performed at the Music house club at the Sibelius-Academy  in October 2011. Mr Agbazahou brought gasps from the audience when he entered with his stilts to start off the concert. Aleksi Saraskari joined with his tuba and Jeanette Heidenberg on backing vocals. The concert ended on a high with marionettes and the audience was on their feet dancing.
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