Press Release for Ethnic Night - 23/12/2005

by John Paul Azzopardi on behalf of the Malta Anthropology Society

The Malta Anthropology Society, ZHN, Suret il- Bniedem and Moviment Graffiti organised a Christmas celebration with an Ethnic theme. The event was held at the Marsa Open Centre for Refugees, which hosts 400 refugees from 22 different nationalities. Traditional cuisine from Somalia, Eritrea, Malta, Congo, Pakistan and Palestine characterised the evening. This was followed by customary music and dance. The performances celebrated concepts of joy and unison, which are the principles of this season. It is incredible how such people, who have left their country to find work in order to send money back to their families, can still have a positive outlook to life. These unbelievable people have so little, but yet are so happy with what they have. In the performances it was evident that their ideal was not perfection, but merely to share happiness and fun. There is a lot for us to learn from such basic authenticity.