05.06.2017.
Exhibition "Serbian Afrikiade 1916-1919" opens
In the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club, tonight, exhibition entitled "Serbian Afrikiade: 1916-1919", prepared by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence, Odbrana Media Centre and Clio Publishing House.
The exhibition was conceived as a cultural event to mark the centenary of the First World War, but also as an opportunity for a wider audience to be introduced to the life of Serbian soldiers and civilians in North Africa. Their encounter with Africa is not only shown through the bare facts, scarce information or well-known narrative of exile and suffering, but also through the testimony of contemporaries - famous and less famous characters of "afrikiade".
Speakers at the opening of the exhibition were the Captain (Navy) Petar Bošković, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Zoran Hamović, Editor in Chief of the Clio Publishing House and Mr Miloš Ković, a historian, Chairman of the Managing Board of the Historical Museum of Serbia.
According to Captain Bošković, warriors who were in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia deserve that the memory of them does not fade.
- We are trying to do this not only for the generation that remembered the World War II far better, but that remembers the Great War when the heroic Serbia was inscribed in golden letters in history, Bošković said opening the exhibition.
Historian Miloš Ković reminded the audience of the historical data, how Serbian army appears in Africa, and said that "it is necessary to remember in order to really be their descendants".
- We have to remember these people, to think about our national history and ask ourselves the question of who they were. When we realize that, then we will be their descendants, because it is necessary to share their ideals, Ković said.
Editor in Chief of the Clio Publishing House pointed out that the exhibition was extremely important because it sent the message that "there is no situation that cannot ennoble us and indicate that after all, however, there comes the mental enlightenment and re-establishment of who we are".
The realization of the exhibition was supported - in exhibits, materials and technical support - by the Serbian History Museum, Serbian Theatre Museum and the Serbian National Library, and the concept of the exhibition was designed by Zoran Simjanović, Dunja Dušanić, Marijana Dujović and Danilo Šarenac. In an effort to offer the opportunity to visitors of the exhibition to approach the destinies of people who have stayed in North Africa with care that would be dedicated to heroes of the most exciting stories, a special place was given to their private writings - diaries, letters, postcards, personal and family souvenirs, photographs and memories.
The exhibition, which runs until 17 June, will be accompanied by guided tours and, during the exhibition, reprint edition of "Serbian Afrikiade 1916-1919" and the book "Immortelle and Sulphur" by Dunja Dušanić and Danilo Šarenac and "The Road to Sarajevo" by John Roll will be presented.
