I had read somewhere that there was a photo exhibition commemorating the 35th anniversary of the setting up of Diplomatic relations between the Popular Republic of China and the Republic of Cape Verde, being held at the National Library and so decided I was not going to miss it.
Right in front of the Library stood the statue of Amilcar Cabral considered as the "father" of the Cape Verdian nationality and still regarded as one of the most outstanding African leaders of all times.
The photo exhibition was particularly well organized and it allowed those who visited it to get a thorough idea of what life was like in China during various political approaches.
Taken in the Autumn of 1912 in Chengdu, this photo depicts children playing with copper coins. The fact that some children have long plaits and others short hair was then looked at as a phenomenon which anticipated a social turn (taken by Luther Knight).
Sun Yat-Sen, responsible for having written the fundamentals towards the building up of a Republic (Olive archive).
Collective wedding ceremonies - Nanjing (Qinfeng Photo Galery)
Child at a Children's Refugee shelter eating from a bowl of rice (Qinghai Photo Galery).
Agrarian Reform - Ye Jincai, Mogou villager - District of Minhe, Qinghai (1950 photo taken by Ru Suichi).
The introduction of electric light in the rural life - Fangshan villagers being told how to use it (1956 photo taken by Xue Zhang).
Old Wuhan villagers being taught how to read and write (1956 phto handed out by CFB).
Tibetans burning down their contracts (1959 photo taken in the autonomous region of Tibet by Chen Zonglie).
Primary school tutor Lei Feng, well known for his commitment towards helping others, particularly children (1960 photo taken by Ren Wong).
Wuhan workers during their break (1990 photo taken by Tong Jianguo).
Zhoushan villager returning to his native birthplace after the re-establishment of access between both Taiwanese sides (1987 photo taken by Yuan Xuejun).
Religious freedom (Photo taken by Ma Xinyun).
Ethnic minorities in the 2010 Shanghai Expo (photo taken by Guo Lei).
I took just a few photos from the hundreds being exhibited. Amazingly enough (or maybe not) the various foreign communities living in Cape Verde have been fairly active in letting the Cape Verdians know about their cultural habits and other issues which may be relevant in terms of exchange. I personally don't feel the Portuguese Cultural Centre has been as committed as others ... or maybe I have just been unlucky because everytime I set my feet in Cape Verde, there is simply nothing when it comes to this particular Centre, which I feel is a shortcoming on our part.
It was time to head to the French Cultural Centre near Prainha, which was holding an Art exhibition, but as it was nearing midday I decided to walk up to Achada de Santo Antonio, have something to eat and then walk down again.
Gamboa beach
Tony Kaya's paintings on the walls up to Achada de Santo Antonio.
Upon having reached Achada de Santo Antonio I walked towards the Parliament and sat at a small Café in one of its side streets, where I had some fish pastries and drank a mango juice. The heat was really intense by then and I honestly felt I wouldn't be able to make it down ...
Several views of the Parliament.
(to be continued)
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