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The Nation's
Capitol Becomes Center Stage as Eighteen African
Countries Celebrate History and
Culture WASHINGTON, DC:
Thousands cheered as
women from eighteen African countries showcased
their talents, brains, beauty and culture inthe
inaugural Miss Africa International Pageant on
November 1, 2003 at the Washington Convention
Center in D.C. Pageant founder and executive
producer Ellen Dunbar declared the program a
success, stating that the pageant's purpose of
promoting the African culture had been
served. The social Who's Who were
all present, including members of the African
Diplomatic Corps. A panel of six celebrities
including Rockmond Dunbar (who plays Kenny Chadway
in the popular Showtime series Soul Food) judged
women from Liberia, Nigeria, Eritrea, Angola,
Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Senegal,
Guinea, DRC Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon,
Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone in a colorful display of
cultural heritage. Nigerian candidate Adenike Taiwo
Ariyo was crowned Miss Africa International 2004
after a stiff competition. Each contestant introduced
herself stating an issue confronting Africa that
she would be advocating. Miss Demoratic Republic of
Congo International stole the hearts of her
listeners as she told of her parents dying of
HIV/AIDS when she was only thirteen. Unlikely to
escape attention was the absence of swimsuits, a
traditional essential in other pageants, setting
Miss Africa International apart from other pageants
around the world. Instead, the contestants
performed a unity dance wearing halters and sarongs
of rich, colorful fabrics hand woven in Africa.
Pageant organizers and contestants were advised by
elders. Outstanding contestants
received awards such as the Maya Angelou
Congeniality Award and the Mamadi Diane Industrial
Award. The honorary chairlady of the event, Her
Excellency Mme Aude Ndayizeye, First Lady of
Burundi, was unable to attend the
pageant. During her reign as Miss
Africa International, Ariyo will serve as
international spokesperson for hunger and HIV/AIDS
in Africa. The other queens will also promote
issues relevant to Africa. Dunbar expressed
her hope that the pageant, to be held annually,
will inspire a renewed interest in a continent
greatly affected by war, hunger, disease and
poverty, problems wreaking havoc in many of the
countries represented (Miss Democratic Republic of
Congo lost both parents to HIV/AIDS at age 13; Miss
Rwanda International is an orphan of the Rwandan
genocide; Liberia has been in turmoil for over a
decade.) Produced by Mokoli
Productions, Inc., the Miss Africa International
Pageant is a springboard for the Miss Africa
Diaspora Pageant, open to all women of African
ancestry regardless of citizenship. The Miss Africa
InternationalOrganization sponsors charity
organizations that benefit Africa. The next Miss
Africa International Pageant will be held on
November 13, 2004. For more information visit
www.missafricainternational.com or
contact: Toutou Abraha
202-415-2641 Ellen Dunbar 240-462-4645 or
301-603-9262 or email info@missafricainternational.com |