Kanagawa, Japan - An “African Soul Party” was held on the theme “Reconciliation by Apology and Forgiveness” in Yokohama city, Kanagawa on June 20. This party was hosted by the “Africa, America, Asia Recon Group (AAA Group),” a group led by a Beninese Ambassador for Peace in Japan, Mr. Emmanuel Gbevegnon, and was sponsored by UPF-Japan. Nearly 70 people, including Africans and Americans in Japan as well as Yokohama citizens, participated.
First, Hon. Jean Claude Bordes (Ambassador for Peace), the Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti, mentioned in his remarks about the history of Haiti, which was established by Africans who were brought to the Western hemisphere as slaves, and about the reconciliation and peace work among Africans scattered and dispersed in the world (African Diaspora).
Then, Rev. Cheryl Jackson (Ambassador for Peace), minister of the Atsugi Community Christian Fellowship, gave a speech on reconciliation. “We need courage and tolerance to apologize and forgive. If everybody in the world shared such heart, I am sure there will be peace,” said Rev. Jackson.
After a gospel song performance by the Atsugi Community Christian Fellowship Choir, a reconciliation ceremony took place. Representing the Africans in Africa, who sold their fellow Africans as slaves, Mr. Gbevegnon conveyed his apologies to Rev. Jackson, representing the African Diaspora. Rev. Jackson expressed her forgiveness to Mr. Gbevegnon, and the two of them embraced each other.
The party moved on to a social gathering afterwards, which included performances on drums by Beninese in Japan and African dance by an African dance group organized by Yokohama citizens.
In closing, the Secretary General of the UPF-Peace Diplomats Forum, Mr. Shigenari Kato gave his remarks. “The year 2009 is an International Year of Reconciliation. As a United Nations NGO, it is our pleasure to support a reconciliation event of this kind. There may be many conflicts around us, but we can promote a better society and create a peaceful world if we can ‘love our enemy’ as Jesus Christ told us, and if we can share the heart of forgiveness and reconciliation as Rev. Jackson mentioned today."