Beating the drums and the odds – Grandmothers’ African dinner party

Sep 29, 2011

Photo: Detail of Thelma Robbins’ quilt

Over 100 diners packed the hall at Trinity United Church in Verona on September 24 for the first-ever African dinner party called “Flavours of Africa”. Organized by Grandmothers-By-The-Lake, the South and Central Frontenac branch of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmother to Grandmothers Campaign. The event was completely sold out. The Frontenac grandmothers’ group founded by Carol Southall aims to raise awareness and funds for the thousands of African grandmothers single-handedly raising 13 million children orphaned by the HIV AIDS pandemic there.

Diners paid $25 per ticket and tucked into a sumptuous six-course meal that included an assortment of African dishes prepared by members of the group. Prior to dinner, guests perused an assortment of African crafts and art for sale, including two African-themed quilts made and donated by award-winning master quilter Thelma Robbins of Ottawa. After the meal diners enjoyed a selection of African songs courtesy of Verona’s five-piece vocal ensemble, The Kangaroos, and the toe-tapping percussive sounds of the all-female drumming group, Get in the Car.

The evening ended on a more serious note as Adele Colby, chair of the group, spoke of both what has been accomplished and what still needs doing. Adele was chosen to attend the first ever "Grandmothers’ Gathering" in Swaziland in 2010, and the trip left her more passionate than ever in her efforts to raise funds and awareness for the cause. She spoke of the enormous task the African grannies are faced with and the grace and courage with which they are striving to do that. “Prior to the trip I thought I understood why I was doing this work but after meeting and talking to these indomitable women I now know the true meaning of what we do …. One thing that came through loud and clear on that trip was that these women didn't need us to tell them what to do; they knew exactly what needed to be done; what they did not have were the resources to do it and that is what they desperately needed from us.” Adele spoke of the positive results of that conference, one being the fact that the grandmothers’ pension of $28 every three months has since been increased to three times that amount. She also touched on what remains to be accomplished. “Despite the fact that there are now six million African people receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS, there are still ten million more who require treatment. This is crunch time for the AIDS pandemic and although we are on the verge of a breakthrough we are running out of money. The global fund is in deep trouble and the recent Canadian bill to restore the efforts to allow for the distribution of medicines to underdeveloped countries, though passed in the House of Commons, went to the wayside in the Senate.” She encouraged people to put more pressure on the Conservative government during this next session of parliament.

Colby ended the evening on a positive note. “On the ground in Africa an extraordinary thing is happening at the grassroots level. People are coming together at the community level and hope abounds and much of that hope is the result of Canadians working hand in hand to provide those critical resources these grandmothers need to succeed.” Anyone who would like to donate can visit www.grandmotherscampaign.org. To join the Grandmothers by the Lake, contact Adele Colby at 613-375-8845.