Video: Black - "On the Sunny side of the Alps" (Slovenia)

Because Slovenia has elected its first black mayor it's time for some African-Slovene cinema.

The short Slovene film (trailer) "On the Sunny side of the Alps" was a response to racist and xenophobic events in Slovenia. The name of the film refers to the slogan of a promotion campaign of the Slovene Tourist Board which wanted to present Slovenia in the best possible light.

The film is about two typical Slovenian families who live in an Alpine idyll, until one of them buys a new car…


The film is well meant, but it's clear that black people are a novelty in this part of Europe.

Official website at www.nasoncnistranialp.com

Slovenia elects first black mayor

Slovenia has its first black mayor. Dr. Peter Bossman, a Ghana-born physician known as the "Obama of Piran," has made history.

Bossman settled in this tiny nation just south of the Alps, in the 1970s to study medicine in what was then known as Yugoslavia.

Bossman, 54, is a member of Slovenia's governing Social Democrats. He won a runoff election in the town of Piran with 51.4 percent of votes.

Bossman runs a private practice and was previously a member of the Piran City Council. Following the vote, Bossman said he was "happy and proud." "The Obama effect" is worldwide.

It could be that Peter Bossman is also the first black Mayor
in Eastern Europe.

As he said on BBC World Service this morning, "It will take some time to see if there will be any real change.

All who know me, know that I'm not holding my breath. I'm just celebrating."

Read more at BBC

Black man running for Mayor in Slovenia

The Ghanaian doctor Peter Bossman is running for mayor of Slovenian seaside town of Piran. According Slovenia-based Blogger Camille Acey of the Blog Adventures in Wheelville who is following the story, Peter Bossman was in the lead with over 30% of votes after the election on Sunday October 10th.

The next round of elections will be up in up in 2 weeks on October 24th and it all seems like Slovenia will get its first black mayor then.

On her Blog she writes. " Quick follow up to July's post Wait! What? A Brother Running For Mayor In Slovenia ....

The race will now go into run-offs against the current sitting mayor (who had just over 20%) of the vote. Here's hoping Dr. Bossman makes it all the way through and becomes the first black* mayor in Slovenia! Let's goooooo!

In further news, journalist Vlado Miheljak puts forth a more ambitious proposition..."Peter Bossman For President" and much mudslinging in the comments ensues! (Slovenian only)

*yes, say BLACK/črn not temnopolt/ "dark-skinned". Black comes in many shades (from light to dark) and is an experience, not just a state of melanin."



See the Blog Adventures in Wheelville - Brainy, bigmouthed, and black by the Balkans at http://wheelville.blogspot.com