US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI175

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
State for AF, AF/E, AF/PD 
London/Paris for Africa Watcher 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, PGOV, SCUL, DJ 
SUBJECT: FORWARDING THE MPP THROUGH BLACK HISTORY MONTH 
PROGRAMMING 
 
1.   (U) The Public Diplomacy section's Black History Month 
programming continues to engage Djiboutian citizens with 
such events as a gospel concert, a traveling poster show, 
conversation groups, an essay contest and receptions. These 
events have been successful with youth and have promoted 
mutual understanding while forwarding our human rights and 
good governance MPP goals. 
 
2.   (U) Embassy Djibouti opened its Black History Month 
programming at the country's only university with a 
traveling poster show featuring famous black Americans and 
their biographies (in French). The show, which lasts a week 
at each of its three venues, is in each case accompanied by 
an event designed to bring Americans and Djiboutians 
together. French language flyers chronicling important dates 
in the American civil rights movement are distributed at 
these events. 
 
3.   (U) To close first phase of the poster show, Public 
Diplomacy held a concert at the University that featured 
live, traditional African music, American gospel music and a 
short discourse on the connections between the two. 
Performers were a well-known Djiboutian musician and 
soldiers from CJTF-HOA's Camp Lemonier. About 160 people 
attended, including Djiboutian students and members of the 
American civilian community. 
 
4.   (U) On February 10, the Embassy closed its essay 
contest. High school and university students were invited to 
submit 250 words on one of two themes: "How can education 
influence positive change" or "How can tolerance encourage 
progress?" The essays will be judged by a panel of American 
staff and International Visitor alumni and prizes will be 
awarded at a luncheon at the Ambassador's residence on 
February 28. 
 
5.   (U) On Monday, February 14, the Public Affairs Officer 
attended the inaugural meeting of an English language 
conversation group aimed at English language teachers. 
Topics included famous Black Americans and the point of 
Black History Month, as well as the need to unify English 
language curriculum in private night schools. 
 
6.   (U) Also on February 14 the poster show opened at 
Embassy Djibouti. It was accompanied on February 16 by a 
reception at the Ambassador's residence for all those 
Djiboutians who have traveled to the U.S. on an USG-funded 
program in the past five years or received U.S.-funded 
training in Djibouti. Attendees included political figures, 
teachers, military members, police officers, business 
leaders and other members of civil society. In her speech to 
the assembly, the Ambassador urged the formation of an 
International Visitors alumni group, which would be involved 
in Embassy programming and would independently develop means 
of sharing their IV experience with fellow Djiboutians. The 
idea seemed to be warmly received. 
 
7.   (U) Black History Month programming is continuing on 
schedule, with the poster show moving on February 22 to an 
artisan fair jointly sponsored by the Public Diplomacy and 
Self-Help sections of the Embassy. A smaller version of the 
show will be disbursed to the districts at that time. On 
February 23 the Embassy will host a viewing of the film "To 
Kill a Mockingbird" followed by a discussion panel. Finally, 
on February 27, Djibouti Telecommunications will host a 
reception to mark the poster show's last venue. 
 
RAGSDALE