President Park Geun-hye speaks after the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29. The president said that she hopes the two countries would become closer through similar cross-cultural exchanges and performances.
A performance featuring musicians, dancers and athletes from both Korea and Uganda — the K-Culture in Uganda concert — was held in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on May 29. President Park Geun-hye, on an official state visit to Uganda, attended the show where Korean and Ugandan musicians, dancers and athletes performed both traditional and modern acts, bringing to the stage a cross-cultural potpourri that had the audience cheering with applause.
The concert began with the breakdancing, or B-boying, troupe, the Jinjo Crew. A traditional Ugandan dance by performers from the Acholi Culture Foundation and a modern interpretation of a traditional Korean mask dance followed. The mask dance performers wore LED costumes and drew a huge applause with their modern media art performance. The audience gave an even larger and louder applause when a group of Ugandan children, performing alongside the K-spirits Taekwondo Demonstration Team, took to the stage with their kicks, punches and high-flying jumps.
Takwondo atheletes both young and old show off their kicks during the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29.
“I’ve never seen such Korean dances or performances. I couldn’t take my eyes off all those B-boy dancers and taekwondo athletes,” said Kityo Joseph, who described himself as a “beginner” in all things Korean. Another audience member, Samuel Niiwo, said that the taekwondo moves were his favorite that day. “In fact, I really enjoyed all the performances during this show,” he said.
President Park Geun-hye, who was in the audience at the concert, said, “Art and music have the power to break down the barriers between people’s hearts and allows them to become close friends.” She said that she hopes the two countries would “invest more effort in such cross-cultural exchanges and communicate with each other more.” She also said that the Korean government would keep working on developing more such opportunities to forge communicative and artistic bridges between Koreans and Ugandans everywhere.
About 1,600 people attended the concert, including Ugandan Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Maria Mutagamba and Ugandan Minister for Trade and Industry Amelia Kyambadde.
By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han, Korea.net Staff Photographer
icchang@korea.kr
An Ugandan dance troupe from the Acholi Culture Foundation performs a traditional dance as part of the K-culture in Uganda concert that took place in Kampala on May 29.
A traditional Korean mask dance is performed wearing LED costumes (top) and during the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29.
President Park Geun-hye applauds during the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29.
Audience members pull out their phones to snap some photos as they enjoy the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29.
A long queue of concert goers lines up for the K-culture in Uganda concert in Kampala on May 29. About 1,600 people attended the show.
