Africa hosts 2nd pan African cultural congress and celebrates centenary of birth of Kwame Nkurumah

 

 

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 10, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As Africa celebrates the 100th birthday of Kwame Nkurumah, delegates from African Union Member States are attending the 2nd Pan African Cultural Congress at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa from 9- 11 November 2009.

 

African Union celebrations for Mr. Nkurumah’s birthday were held after proceedings of the first day of the meeting on 9 November. Mr. Nkurumah was born on 21 September 1909. A former President of Ghana, his vision was to achieve a continental union government for Africa through Pan Africanism. He was also one of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Union, predecessor of the African Union, which came into effect in 1963

 

The 2nd Pan African Congress currently being held in Addis Ababa is an opportunity for delegates to reflect on crucial issues related to its theme “Inventory, Protection and Promotion of Cultural Goods”. It will discuss the following:

The inventory of cultural goods in Africa

The protection of cultural goods through building strategic partnerships

The promotion of cultural goods through activities undertaken by African governments, Pan African and regional cultural institutions and AU institutions such as the African Academy of Languages) ACALAN and CELHTO

 

AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Advocate Bience Gawanas said the Congress also aims to enable the African Union to follow up on decisions reached at the last congress in 2006. The three day meeting will hear and discuss issues arising from thematic papers focusing of different issues related to the theme of the Congress.

 

At the opening ceremony of the Congress on 9 November, the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr. Erastus Mwencha took stock of what has been achieved since 2006. He said the adoption of the Charter for Cultural Renaissance of Africa in 2006 and the Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industry in 2008 constituted significant achievements for the promotion of cultural diversity and African cultural identity.

 

Mr. Mwencha said cultural goods are commodities of a unique kind and as such “appropriate strategies, policies and mechanisms should be put in place for their protection and promotion”.

 

The Deputy Chairperson reminded the delegates to the Congress that the success of the meeting will be measured mostly by the implementation of its decisions and recommendations at national and regional levels as well as the popularization, ratification and translation into policies and strategies of the Charter for the African Renaissance, and international and legal instruments relating to the protection and promotion of cultural goods.

 

The opening ceremony was also addressed by the Minister of Culture of Ethiopia, a representative of the Minister of Culture of Algeria; and representatives from the Peace Journey in Africa Project, the Pan African Cultural Institutions; UNESCO, and the European Commission.

 

On day three of the Congress, 11 November 2009; a Caravan for Peace will depart Addis Ababa for Djibouti. An exhibition themed “African cultural renaissance and the spirit of Pan Africanism” is being held concurrently with the Congress.

 

At the end of the Congress, delegates are expected to adopt a report and consensus statement.

 

A press conference will be held immediately after the closing of the Congress at about 18:00 on November 11 at the AU headquarters. All media representatives are invited to attend. Media inquiries should be directed to Wynne Musabayana on 251 911 101466.

 

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)