Albert Taabu and Crew, Party venue and horse riding
Of late, many social events have been taking place in Stockholm. The tempo has been so fast that sometimes, there is hardly any time to stop and reflect. The latest news is about an “African Cultural Party” that is scheduled for October 30th at Skalmstagård in Märsta. The Party is unique because of the circumstances surrounding it.
First, it is taking place at Skalmatagård, a different setting where a Party has never been organized before. The venue sits on a 200 acre farm owned by a Swedish family and where many activities take place. Within the farm, there is a Coffee shop where visitors or acquaintances engaged in different activities can relax during interludes from work.
There is also a holiday resort cum In-House where rooms are available for hire at very reasonable prices. The In-House comes with a swimming pool and during summer, it could be the right destination for someone looking for an isolated point of relaxation, away from the buzzy city.
The Inn-House is very popular with travellers to and from Arlanda International Airport which is only a few minutes-drive. The rooms are clean, exotic and affordable. With a spacious kitchen, you can even cook your own food. It is the kind of Inn-House you can recommend to a contact stuck at the airport or to someone who needs emergency accommodation at reasonable prices.
The Africa Cultural Party at the venue is unique because the Swedish owners of the huge farm have opened it to activity to anybody wishing to do anything constructive in the farm. The inspiration flows from the need to make the huge farm more productive because currently, it is idle and the owners feel that it could be put to good use. Utilization of the farm by those interested is absolutely free and because of its vast expanse, your imagination is the only limit.
The purpose of the October 30th Party is to introduce people who are interested in carrying out projects in the farm to the major players. Already, there are several activities underway at the farm but these activities still leave room for even more Projects.
For example, a Project leader has set up a horse training camp in the farm and it has been doing quite well. People who want to learn how to ride horses can link up and do it in their own way at a quiet corner of the farm.
A group of Africans from Uganda is currently constructing an “African Village” in the farm. The purpose is to set up a replica of an African village where interested people can come and have a taste of the African village right here in Sweden. When complete, the village will have a complete “Africa setting” and it will even be possible to taste the “African life” at the village for travellers wishing to travel to Africa, say for holiday. The village could also be a destination point for people who just want to get a taste of Africa without travelling down there because of various reasons.
For example, if you just want an “African week-end” in Sweden without travelling to Africa, the African village will be a place worth visiting. In Sweden, there are many children born out of Africa/Mixed relationships and they occasionally travel to Africa. The African village could be a good training ground for children to have a taste of Africa on a regular basis before they even arrive in the continent.
In fact, the concept behind the utilization of the farm is so unique that only those who have understood it are currently moving to exploit opportunities. The African Cultural Party is meant to introduce people who are interested into what is possible at the farm and so far, there has been no limitation on what can be done.
Children’s Party and Further Opportunities
Africa village, In-House and swimming pool
There is a rabbit farm at the vast expanse of idle land. The idea with rabbits is that they are being bred for commercial purposes and the end product may be converted into meat for sale or house pets to keep rabbit lovers happy.
When KSB visited the farm, there was a large herd of sheep that was grazing in the huge pens that had been fenced off to limit the movement of the animals. In summer, the sheep is slaughtered and meat sold at affordable prices to interested people. In this way, the farmer responsible for the sheep project makes some money while enjoying a hobby. On 30th October during the Party, Nyama Choma will be available so if you need to close the summer with some Nyam Chom, Skalmstagård is the place to be.
If your mind is still rolling, the farm could be used for mixed farming for financial rewards. For example, one could set up a Sukuma Wiki farm (Kales) and once harvested, the product could be dried, stored and sold through different Immigrant consumer product outlets in Sweden. This could provide a good market especially to the African community addicted to Sikuma Wiki. Since the land is free of charge, Sikuma Wiki farmers could as well be interested.
Another project that could be set up in the farm is a flower farm. In this kind of project, one could grow some of the most popular flowers using established “In-House farming systems” then sell the produce to Swedish flower distributors. The only investment as far as the owners of the farm are concerned is your labor and personal in-put!
Currently, flowers have to be transported from Kenya (the biggest exporter of flowers in the world) and if a business man could set up a local farm, the produce could attract local market because flowers could be ordered directly from the farm while at the same time eliminating several expenses like storage and transport. This could bring down the cost of flowers to florists whose interests is in making money and make the flowers grown at the farm marketable in Sweden and Scandinavia.
Although sheep is already being bred at the farm, there are no goats. Goat meat is very popular in Sweden and this could also provide an area where one can do business. Through the African Cultural Party, it will be possible to meet Swedes in charge of the farm, have a tour and examine what is possible. In fact, it is even possible to breed beef animals at the farm if one is interested in “beef made in Sweden”. One could then begin to fill up Swedish supermarkets with meaty stuff!
The Party will begin at 15.00 Hrs and this is because during this period, children will be playing under a special arrangement where Albert Taabu and Crew will be the main attraction. In many Africa functions, organizers have always tended to ignore children and the point with setting up a children’s event on this day is to allow the family to have its own fun before adults take over until morning with DJ Jimmy spinning.
The Märsta Party is unique because it is targeted at people who are interested in doing their own things using their free time or making real investments through Projects and other undertakings. Africans (from all over the continent) are already involved in the Project and in case of interest, it will just be a question of taking contact to find out what is possible. Those without cars will be able to be picked up from Märsta station to avoid the hassles of taking a bus then trying to navigate to the venue.
Because of the novelty of the concept, those interested will have to work harder to introduce others to the pillars of the main idea. This time, it will not just be a question of having fun but having fun within an environment of opportunity, investment or Project management. For further information about Skalmstagård, the African Party, how to get there by car, transport from Märsta Station, business opportunities, Project management at the farm or other details, call 0737394258 or 070495447.
Okoth Osewe
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