Avainsana: News on Villa Karo

After a long silence that prevailed due to annual holidays and repairs, daily operations of Finnish-African Cultural Centre is due to resume very soon.

A lot had gone under the bridge related to commercial activities in Grand-popo with those who do business with the centre. Hotels, Restaurants, supermarkets, guides & zemidjans all complain of our long holiday. One can hardly get potato on the stalls due to the absence of stipendiates and the kitchen of Villa karo who patronize all these places to buy water, wine, bread, fruits. Even the lady next to Villa karo who sells cooked rice and beans personally complained by stopping me on my way home one evening. In her words “ quand est-ce que les Yovos vont arriver” she even mentioned names like Miikka , Joona, Valteri, Johanna Salo & Katia, Anna Ovaska who were regular costumers. In short the whole Grand-popo is longing to see Finns back to business.

Inside the premises of CCFA, the whole staff timidly resumed essentially taking stock of equipments that need upgrading and maintenance like fridges that work ten months non-stop, washing machine and other electrical appliances. Edoh, Papa, Bonaventure full of enthusiasm led by in fatigable Boniface try to comb every sector in the whole house under the keen eyes of the Chief operating Officer just to make sure nothing is left unchecked. Ladies at the administration, Georgette Museum caretaker, Yvette responsible for kitchen, and Agathe cleaning lady, regrouped themselves under the supervision of Syvie Ahouangassi to access the situation concerning their respective sectors. I counted ten dogs that regularly come to Villa karo, turn over baskets and dustbins in search for leftovers. Alphonse the transport manager is timing his turn to meet stipendiates in Cotonou via Aeroport Bernadin Gantin on the 30th of august and Richard the bookkeeper waiting his turn to bill them for services like laundry, excursions and drinks. Aboudoulai and Boube are expecting to make new friends.

Come the 1st of September, the first stipendiates will be privileged to receive all the good energies stored for the past two months via sodabi fish soup and fufu. Adieu les Vacances.
Kwassi

It won’t be long before the first of this fall’s scholarship holders will arrive in Villa Karo. Before that the annual preparations will begin. Rooms have to be tidied-up, the lawn of the garden has to be cut down, all sorts of small things have to be made. An energetic buzzing in the now empty rooms shall start again when Villa Karo’s driver, Alphonse, will steer VK’s grey mininus in front of the main entrance and the first comers will be welcomed by director Kwassi, program manager Sylvie, Richard the accountant, museum responsible Georgette, caretakers Boniface and Bonaventure, Yvette the cook, cleaning lady Agathe, gardeners Papa and Edoh and the new finnish trainee among others.

At the same time, the cultural program offered by Villa Karo for the people of Grand-Popo this year will commence. Live music or theatre once a month, weekly movie nights, the museum and the constantly growing library will give a sheerful taste to Grand-Popo’s life again this year. And who knows what else will come? Last year VK organised a drawing competition for local kids and a workshop was held for the winners of the competition for them to pursue their creative work on the stories and myths around the birth of the world. The outcoming of that workshop was displayed in the art museum of Ateneum in Helsinki last spring. Will friends of Villa Karo see more of young african artists in finnish museums this year? That is to see!

But let’s wait just another few weeks and stay tuned on Africa and Villa Karo. In the mean time, we can lend some of that never-ending African energy by watching Antti Seppänen’s fantastic film on Grand-Popo’s football school. Antti is a filmmaker by trade and he was one of last spring’s scholarship holders in VK. Thank you, Antti!

Cheers! A bientôt! Here you go!
Grand-Popo école de football!!!

Miikka