April Festivals and Events in Africa (2008)

April brings spring to northern Africa and fall to South Africa. A form of Easter is celebrated by Coptic Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt; the Ethiopians will break a 55 day fast on Easter Monday. Runners have their pick of interesting marathons in the Sahara Desert and the South African bush. And there's an international Jazz festival in Tunis. For details see April Festivals and Events in Africa (2008).

When writing these events calendars I tend to list the major festivals and events, the ones that will draw visitors from around the world. But a smaller event caught my eye this week that will take place in Luanda (Angola) on April 4th. This is the "Miss Landmine Survivor Beauty Pageant". A unique event, meant to raise awareness for landmine victims who are still suffering despite a peaceful end to their brutal civil war in 2003. You can vote for Miss Landmine Survivor 2008 by clicking here. Each candidate's profile states what they do for a living (many are unemployed, or street vendors), where they were hurt, and poignantly, where the mine that destroyed their limbs was manufactured. The idea seems a little odd at first, but when you read into a little more, it's a good one. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

_{Image of Angolan Lady © Robert Eilets}