VOA慢速英语2017 时装秀给刚果带来希望

Fashion Show Brings Hope to Congo

Miki Sikabwe is a fashion designer from Congo. She has trained in Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya. She has never had the chance to show her work in Congo because of security issues.

米琪·斯卡碧唯是一名刚果时装设计师。她曾在卢旺达，布隆迪和肯尼亚接受过培训。由于安全问题，她从未有机会在刚果展示自己的作品。

But that changed over the weekend.A handful of designers presented the first fashion show in the eastern Congo city of Beni in years. It was a welcome distraction¹ for residents who have faced attacks by Allied² Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels and other armed groups.They have killed thousands of people over the past three years.

但这周末，一切都改变了。少数几位设计师在刚果东部城市贝尼展示了多年来的第一场时装秀。这场时装秀受到了当地居民的欢迎，这里的居民饱受民主同盟军反叛者和其他武装组织的袭击。过去三年，已有数千人遇害。

Sikabwe said, “I am happy to be exhibiting my necklaces and clothes made with local products here in Beni and I believe this will give hope to the people here.”

斯卡碧唯说：“我很高兴能在贝尼展示我的项链和服装，我相信这会给这里的人民带来希望。” 

She and thousands of others in eastern Congo wonder when the violence will end.Earlier this month, the ADF attacked a local United Nations peacekeeping group.The attack killed 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers and five Congolese soldiers.It was the deadliest attack on a U.N. peacekeeping mission in nearly 25 years.Uganda and Congo have launched a joint³ military offensive against the rebels.

她和成千上万的刚果东部的其他人都想知道暴力何时会结束。本月早些时候，民主同盟军袭击了当地的联合国维和部队。这次袭击造成15名坦桑尼亚维和人员和5名刚果士兵死亡。这是近25年来联合国维和行动遇袭最严重的一次。乌干达和刚果已经对反叛分子发动联合军事进攻。

Nyonyi Bwanakawa is the mayor of Beni.He said he believes the city is becoming safer.

尼翁伊·布瓦纳卡瓦是贝尼市长。他说他相信这座城市会变得更加安全。 

“We would like to show the world that in Beni, and in northeast Congo, there is life and tourists can come here,” he said.

他说：“我们希望向世界表明，在贝尼和刚果东北部，人们在这里生活，游客可以来这里。” 

Over the weekend, nearly 600 people attended the Beni fashion show. Some of the items on display were colored loincloths, masks and traditional materials designed into modern styles.

有近600人参加了周末的贝尼时装秀。展出的一些彩色缠腰带，面具和设计成现代风格的传统材料。

Roselyne Mbiya was the lead designer.She used Congolese fabrics⁴ mixed with flower designs and lace.

罗斯利娜·姆比亚是首席设计师。她将花朵图案和蕾丝融入刚果面料中。 

Mbiya said some of the show’s proceeds will go to women who have been raped⁵ by the ADF.She said the women need to feel they are still loved by society.

姆比亚说，这一时装秀的一些收益将捐给被民主同盟军侵犯的女性。她说女人需要感受到自己仍被社会所爱。

Words in this Story

distraction – n. something that amuses or entertains you so that you do not think about problems, work, etc.

lace – n. a very thin and light cloth made with patterns of holes

loincloth – n. a piece of cloth worn to cover the sexual organs especially by men in very hot parts of the world

proceeds – n. the total amount of money or profit that is made

1 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

2 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

5 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句