Mr. Aggo,

Thank you very much. You are a true wisdom in this whole issue. Long live
the Madison Afro Festival you founded for us and our children.

Sincerely,

Kervin Soko
Organizing Committee
2003 Miss Liberia Wisconsin






>From: Aggo Akyea <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "AAM (African Association of Madison)"
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
>Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 11:40:43 -0500
>
>I think we are being too judgmental about beauty pageants and African
>culture.  There are several examples in the myriad of cultures of Africa
>where there are competitions to show beauty of both men and women.  Think
>of the puberty rites of all the different cultures in Africa.  It’s all
>about showing off beauty in one form or the other – physical, intellectual,
>etc.
>
>The Fulani tribesmen of dress up and put on make-up to attract women.  As
>part of their puberty rites the young women of the Krobo people in Eastern
>Ghana dress up in the most attractive and provocative ways in competition
>to attract the opposite sex.  In Achebe’s “Thing’s Fall Apart” there are
>wrestling competitions.
>
>There is Mr. Universe competitions for men too.  How about all the fashion
>shows we do all the time?  The West has simply put a money making function
>on displaying women.  I do not agree with every aspect of it.
>
>We can do what ever we like within our own culture, whether it is a pageant
>to raise funds for a good cause or what not, so long as we do it tactfully
>and with class.
>
>Those are my two cents.
>
>Thanks.
>
> >
> > From: ALEX LAGIA REDD <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: 2003/04/29 Tue PM 11:31:40 CDT
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> >
> > NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> >
>
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