Niamey-Niger
With a cup of tea and a smile on his face, this young man is doing the impossible.
Al-Hussein Sheikh, who hails from a tribe in Niger, has succeeded in beating all political, ethnic and religious differences, using very simple ingredients: a spoon of tea, a spoon of sugar and a small amount of water.
He goes wherever international and high level conferences and gatherings are held to offer his most cherished gift: a cup of tea.
He gives those entering and getting out of these conferences free tea, in his bid to spread peace and love.
He was seen in the corridors of the international conference centre where the 27th United Nations Climate Change Summit was held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Soon after the summit wrapped up, Sheikh headed back home, only to appear at the African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification which was held in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
He set up a tent outside the conference centre where he treated passers-by, including official delegates, members of the media and members of the African business community to tea.
He does this, he said, to spread peace and love and know people who belong to different cultures.
“Sometimes I treat people belonging to warring countries to tea at one and the same time,” Sheikh told the Egyptian Mail.
“They usually end up shaking hands and exchanging complimentary words by the time they finish their cup of tea,” he added.
This makes Sheikh confident that small things can solve big problems. He said Africa can enjoy a bright future, thanks to the skill of its people.
This content, he said, enjoys vast natural and human resources.
“These resources qualify to become a huge base, including for industrial production,” Sheikh said.
He called for the cessation of disputes, faulting those speaking in the industrialization summit for talking, without knowing the real problems of African countries.
He said he was introduced to Arab values and customs by his family, including generosity and hospitality.
Sheikh offers green tea to his guests as a symbol of peace. He is always keen to wear the distinctive costume of his tribe, which is known as the grand boubou, a flowing wide-sleeved robe. The robe is adorned with sliver lines. Together with the grand boubou, he wears distinctive accessories.
Sheikh also covers his head and face. Only his eyes appear from the cover.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, Sheikh invited climate conference attendees to unite to rescue the planet.
The success of solutions to climate change, he said, will largely depend on peoples’ solidarity.
“Climate change is a global crisis,” Sheikh said. “It affects us all mercilessly.”
He described Egypt as a ‘second home’ for all Africans. It is the country, he said, where Africans can take refuge when they have nowhere else to go.
“All Africans are proud of Egypt’s work to defend the content and highlight its problems,” Sheikh said.
He expressed deep admiration of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Sisi, Sheikh said, is a great role model for leaders in the content.
“I wish every country in the continent had a president like him,” he said. “This man is revolutionizing everything in his country.”
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