World Book Day at the Embassy of Spain

The Embassy of Spain in Abuja hosted readers, authors, and publishers to a reception celebrating the World Book & Copyright Day on Friday evening, the 23rd of April 2010. On this occasion, the Embassy took the opportunity to award the winners of the Children’s Stories Competition and the Spanish Texts Competition, both of which were organized by the Embassy. Goodwill messages were delivered by Mr. Hassan Abdi Keynan of UNESCO and Miss Paula Fedeski of UNICEF. Mr. Xose Tomas, a Spanish illustrator, gave the closing remarks on the children's stories illustration workshop.

Headed by Ambassador Angel Losada (assisted by Eva Barta Martin, Cultural Officer, and Monica Dominguez, Spanish language lecturer), the Spanish Embassy is one of the few organizations in the FCT that promote art and culture (Nigerian and Spanish) on a regular basis, having successfully hosted and organized the very entertaining and informative Spanish Cultural Week for the past four years, which included a painting competition and exhibition, drama, musical concerts, and the popular flamenco dance, featuring music and dance artists from Spain. In November last year, the Spanish Embassy participated in the European Film Festival held at the Silverbird Entertainment Centre. Early this year, the Embassy exhibited works of Spanish Comic Illustrators at the Thought Pyramid Gallery in Wuse. A Children’s Stories Illustration Workshop held earlier in the week was part of the activities lined up by the Embassy to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day.

The following photos were taken by Inside Track Magazine at the said reception.

CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS

 Ambassador Losada and Miss Fedeski

 Ambassador Losada, Miss Fedeski, Eva Barta Martin and Mr. Hassan Abdi Keynan\

 Miss Fedeski, Eva Barta Martin and Mr. Xose Tomas

Eva Barta Martin and Xose Tomas

 A member of AWF receives an award on behalf of the winner, Tunji Ajibade

Eva Barta Martin and Monica Dominguez

 Monica Dominguez reads a winner's name

 Monica Dominguez and 3rd prize winner of Spanish text competition

 Ambassador Losada and the winner of Spanish Text Competition

 Spanish Text Competition First Prize winner receives her gift

 Mr. Tomas, Mr. Keynan, Ambassador Losada, and Miss Fedeski

 Miss Fedeski with the 2nd Prize winner of the Spanish Text Competition

Eva Barta Martin and Mr. Keynan

Bibi Bakare of Cassava Republic with other guests

Mrs. Juliet Chukkas, CEO of Pen and Pages, with another guest

Below are photos during the cocktails...

Spanish Exhibition

The Embassy of Spain held a Comic and Illustration Exhibition at the Though Pyramid Gallery on Amino Kano Crescent, Wuse, on January 18 to 29, 2010. The Embassy of Spain is one of the most vibrant organizations in Abuja in terms of art and culture activities, having recently held the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week featuring a variety of activities including a painting exhibition and a flamenco dance show. These photos were taken at the exhibition.

One of the illustrations exhibited

The Ambassador of Spain, H. E. Angel Losada (2nd from left) chatting with a reporter and other guests

Ambassador Losada being interviewed at the opening of the Spanish Comic and Illustration Exhibition held in Abuja on January 18-29, 2010

Grand Finale: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The grand finale of the week-long Spanish Cultural Week (4th Edition) took place at the Musa Yar'dua Centre on Friday, October 16, 2009. Flamenco dance artists Dario Alanis, Leticia Calatayud, Maite Maya and Javier Sainz came all the way from Spain for this event. In his message regarding the cultural week, the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Angel Losada Fernandez, said this "has been enthusiastically organized so that together we can enjoy the folklore and culture of Spain." In addition, he said he hoped "you enjoy these days of music, color and dance which, from a Nigerian perspective, will bring a little Spanish Culture to you all."


It was indeed a fullfilling week and we look forward to the 5th Edition next year.

Day Four: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

One of the activities of the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week was a Visual Arts Competition with the theme Nigeria vs Spain: Football Passion. The winner will travel to Spain as part of the prize. The awarding ceremony took place at the Mezzanine Floor of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on October 13, 2009.

\

lIFE IN aBUJA

Day Three: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

Day Three of the 4th Spanish Cultural Week took place today (October 12) at the Musa Yar'Adua Centre, featuring a play entitled FUENTEOVEJUNA, written by Lope de Vega in 1476 and based on actual events that took place in the Spanish town of Fuenteovejuna.

Adapted for Nigerian stage by the Jos Repertory Theatre, FUENTEOVEJUNA (The Fountain of the Sheep) depicts the wicked ways of Commander Fernan Gomez, who ruled the people with tyranny and who dies at the hands of those he has oppressed.

Photo shows scenes from the play (top) and the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Angel Lozada and Madam Lozada (bottom left) with other members of the audience (right.) Those who missed the play will have a chance to watch it on October 17 at the Merit House in Maitama.

Day One:4th Spanish Cultural Week

The first in a series of activities lined up by the Embassy of Spain for the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week in Abuja took place on Friday, October 9, at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, featuring a classic guitar concert by ARMANDO JULIAN ORBON FAES (photo on the left). A grandchild and nephew of musicians, Armando Orbon was born in Gijon (Spain) and started studying music at the age of 9. He continued his musical studies in Madrid with the Maestro Regino Sainz de la Maza. He has performed in various concerts with chamber and symphonic orchestras, as well as taking part in important festivals. The classic guitar concert, tagged UNA GUITARRA:DOS MUNDOS (One Guitar: Two Worlds) began at 7 pm and ended about an hour and a half later.

Spanish Cultural Week Photos: Day One

Photo Gallery: Day One of the 4th Spanish Cultural Week...
Click on image to enlarge