Happy Birthday to Panama!

Congestion at a market in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire. *Photo from Wikipedia August 7 is Republic Day of Côte d’Ivoire, which commemorates its freedom from France, gained in 1960. Prior to its colonization by Europeans, Côte d’Ivoire was home to several states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. Two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi, attempted to retain their separate identity through the French colonial period and after independence. Côte d’Ivoire became a protectorate of France in 1843 – 1844 and was later formed into a French colony in 1893 amid the European scramble for Africa. Côte

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Hector Sierra (Colombia) Founder of “Artists Without Borders” （He’s been in Japan since ’93) We can’t say that we’re in peace. The guns never fall silent and people release gunfire in any number of places. There is a man who walks through the conflict regions with crayons and drawing papers. His name is Hector Sierra, the founder of the Tokyo-based organization called “Artists Without Borders”. Sierra is from Colombia, a country struggling with civil war. The reason he came to Japan is because he was attracted to security and prosperity of the country.

A view of Nevis island from the southeastern peninsula of Saint Kitts. *Photo from Wikipedia September 19 is Independence Day of Saint Kitts and Nevis, celebrates the independence of the two-island country from the United Kingdom in 1983. The islands were discovered by the Europeans through a Spanish expedition under Columbus in 1493. In 1538, French Huguenots established a settlement on St. Kitts. The settlement was destroyed by the Spanish soon afterwards and the survivors were deported. In 1623, an English settlement was established. This was soon followed by French settlements, and the island being divided by an agreement between