Sudanese Cultural Festival To Attract Visitors

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- A first-ever Sudanese Cultural Festival opened here Tuesday to introduce the north African country's culture to Malaysians. Head of the Sudanese Community Association Dr M.A. Hamed said that between 2,000 and 3,000 people were expected to visit the two-day event held in conjunction with the 60th Sudanese Independence Day celebrated on Jan 1. "We want to give some side of Sudanese culture to Malaysians since they know very little thing about Sudan," he told Bernama at University Malaya, the venue of the festival. Hamed said Sudan-Malaysia relationship had long been established with Malaysian students going to the country to study and Sudanese lecturers coming to Malaysia to teach. The festival showcases Sudanese folklore, arts and musical performances at the university's Dewan Tunku Canselor. The association's Social Welfare Deputy Director Dr Hanadi Haydar Hassan said some 20 bazaar booths were set up at the festival featuring Sudanese food, beauty and health products, clothes and jewellery. "Our main objective is also to develop more entrepreneurs among women and we are very much interested to learn from the experience of Malaysian women," she said. "We are very keen to engage with Malaysian women in every aspect so as to enhance the capabilities of Sudanese women," she said. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA