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<title>CANADA CO-SPONSORS ENSEMBLE NOIR TOUR IN AFRICA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>June 25, 2003 <em>(3:35 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 92</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA CO-SPONSORS ENSEMBLE NOIR TOUR IN AFRICA</strong></font></p>
<p>Jean Augustine, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister
Bill Graham, today announced a contribution of $60,000 to co-sponsor the Toronto-based contemporary classical ensemble
Ensemble Noir on its first-ever tour of Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa from July 1 to 8, 2003.</p>
<p>"This African tour by Ensemble Noir demonstrates Canada's commitment to promoting Canadian culture and values in a
new partnership with Africa," said Ms. Augustine. "Culture influences the way people see Canada and is an important
element of Canadian foreign policy."</p>
<p>Entitled "Open Doors," Ensemble Noir's African tour will begin at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra on July 1 and
then move on to the Canadian High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 2; the MUSON Centre Recital Hall in Lagos on
July 3; the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa, on July 4; the UNISA Conference Hall in Pretoria on July 6; and
the RAU Art Gallery in Johannesburg on July 7.</p>
<p>Led by award-winning South African-born composer and conductor Bongani Ndodana, Ensemble Noir combines
contemporary Western and African music as it performs sounds, rhythms and melodies of traditional African music on
Western orchestral instruments. For this historic tour to Africa, Ensemble Noir will feature new music by composers from
Africa and Canada, including J.H. Kwabena Nketia and Akin Euba, both deans of African classical music.</p>
<p>Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal
framework.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
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<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123040327/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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