Councilmember Celebrates 5th Annual Culture Day

Over 100 folk musicians, dancers and singers from around the world performed at The Grove at Farmers Market on Sunday at the 5th annual Culture Day sponsored by Councilmember LaBonge and Los Angeles Sister Cities.
"We're here today to celebrate the diverse cultures of the world, all of which have found a home in this cosmopolitan City," Councilmember LaBonge said. "We are the world right here in the heart of Los Angeles."
Clapping and dancing crowds greeted dance groups from sister cities Jakarta,Indonesia; Taipei, Taiwan; Beirut,Lebanon and Mumbai, India. Drum ensembles from Nagoya, Japan and Lusaka, Zambia were followed by Berlin's recreation of 1930s German cabarets and Mexico City's Tenor of the Americas, Maximo. Irish singer, Ken O'Malley, emceed.
The Councilmember, President of Sister Cities of Los Angeles, Inc., at one point led the crowd and a group of performers in singing "We Are the World."
Presdient Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Sister Cities program in 1956 to build people-to-people relationships among Sister Cities and increase cultural understanding and awareness. Sister Cities of Los Angeles was formed in 1959 with Nagoya, Japan and Eilat, Israel. Today, Sister Cities of Los Angeles is a major force in international relations and trade with 25 member cities.