While I was at Addis Ababa University for my first-degree study, I was exposed to experience one very important lesson aside from my academic study. I was from the northern region where the Amharic language is my mother tongue. The culture I had been having was a bit different than the thing I faced on campus. It was the first time for me to leave my birthplace. After I got into campus, I was assigned a bedroom. The allocation of rooms was done randomly, and I was separated from girls who were hailing from my area. Different languages, styles, behaviors, eating habits, religious views, and moods were all going to be hosted in our narrowest room.
I was first nervous. I was almost giving up my studies. But one day I noticed that a girl who was from the Gambella region was trying to; communicate with me with broken words. I was very fascinated by her disorganized grammar and stylish pronunciation. Something intricate in me. That was affectionate love. I feel empathy. I saw her regard and value of my language. Instead of glooming my face, I felt togetherness. I hugged her and asked her to teach me her language too. While I pronounced some words, she laughed and hugged me in turn. Since then, she has explained to me her culture and respectable ways of acting in her society. I also dictated to her about my practice. We then started walking together, dining together, and studying together till she withdrew because of a health problem.
After noticing the attempt of the girl to know my language, the relationship we had was changed completely. The environment was drastically changed. Other dorm mates also started sharing their values. No more ignorance and individuality. All languages, styles, and moods were equally entertained with honest love and cooperation. Celebrations, fun, and even challenges were shared among us. We coexisted as a family. That time had laid down a base for me to adore and appreciate everybody’s culture. I raised this experience to show the power of cultural exchanges wield on human relations. Before the classification into various cultures, we are human beings. Thus we had shared natural settings that can bring us together and integrate us on certain issues. Let me see how cultural diplomacy plays an important role in creating integrity.
Though the universe is undergoing the impulsive technological and innovative transformations and modernizations, some issues are kept important even preferred over the advanced ones. Contrarily ,the rapidly changing human beings’ way of life and modernization has compelled people to get focused on their indigenous knowledge and distinctiveness. Thus, African people, who had their own knowledge and identity markings, which are displayed through culture, are progressively portrayed to be exemplary way out for the continents’ issues like diplomacy.
Diplomacy has been defined by various people from various backgrounds. “Diplomacy is the art and practice of building and maintaining relationships through tact and mutual respect.” Since it is the art of the two parties, the efficacy of each of them in creating and influencing the other is dependent on the skill of them. As scholars advised, to be successful in their approaches countries need be effective in knowing their potential and resource before designing their tools of diplomacy.
As it is evidenced from several sources, Africa is very rich and had untouched indigenous cultures, arts and heritages. Since diplomacy is about the efforts to influence the decision or conduct of foreign actors through dialogue, negotiation, and other non-violent means, African culture is the one to be used as a non-violent means. Antonio Mascaren has Monteriro (Former President of Cape Verde) had defined cultural diplomacy as, “the exchange of ideas, information and art in other aspects of culture among nation and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding.” The central point of diplomacy is making war unnecessary for ant type of relation.
More than 54 countries of the continent had their own cultures. That is they had unique, fascinating, historical, political, civilization and other markings which all are exhibited in a given culture. In each country again there are very impressing and exclusive cultures. Thus these cultures which did mean a lot about a given people are artistic and illustrative in their nature so that anybody from another origin can feel them without knowing the language or the people before. In relation to this ICD was conducting a conference with top officials coming from Africa. The former president of Burundi said that “people in my country who are very different in ethnic background and were not in a good connection were coming together with the cultural events, exhibitions and music concerts” Ministers in the conference commonly raised that cultural diplomacy is the best choice for the continent to succeed in good relations with the globe.
Cultural diplomacy was expressively said by H.E Navdeeo Suri (Indian ambassador to the UAE) as follows. “Diplomacy: for me is a dialogue between the countries, dialogue between the civilizations at the same time cultural diplomacy is also education. The more you learn the culture of other people the more you understand them. And if you understand the culture of other people you will always get soft. Always solve all the problems that may come in this or another situation. Cultural diplomacy is extremely important asset in the communication between the people.”
There is a saying that runs “music is an international language.” The art and creativity of a given nation is mostly attractive to any human kind. Thus this nature of the sector is the best means to create conducive environment and integration with different peoples of the world. The logical argument here is human beings have communal behaviors, feelings, emotions and threats which make us humans. The degree of incurring these natures may vary but still artistic approaches can catch people’s sympathy and pave the way for better understanding and togetherness. This understanding is the key for the wellbeing of a given nation. James R. Marie Manccam (Former president of Seychelles) had argued that “peace cannot be imposed, peace cannot be legislated that peace requires a change of art.” Thus it is possible to preserve peaceful environment as far as we are smart and effective in lining up influential tools of diplomacy.
In the process of using culture as a way of knowing other people, the logical premises is mutual cooperation will follow naturally. In the conference Adolphe Rukenkanya (Ministry of youth, sports and culture of Burundi) “sport and recreation can bring different people and the culture to work as a team with common goals.” In the same way Joaguim Alberto Chissano (Former president of Mozambique) had reflected the raised idea as, “people who have to live together, work together, eat together, think together, build together.”
The people that knows the culture of another people are very soft for integration and cooperation than the uninformed one. These means that the alerted people are ready and positive to extend their cooperation in to other sectors. This is the benefit that comes next to a peaceful stay of the two parties.
Cultural approach is very soft and attractive; it is a peaceful and easiest mechanism to address the need of a nation than other tools. Africa seems alerted on this as the top officials said it on the stage. Cirino Hiteny Ofuho (Minister of culture, youth and sports of South Sudan) “one of the debates we are making is sports and cultural activities have actually introduced in to life non-conventional means of diplomacy.”
These days Africa is passing through lots of ups and downs. The continent is showing some rises at the same time. With these tracks, adhering very influential tools to diplomacy like culture is very relevant. The technological advancement and modernization for that matter is not appreciating the people to raise guns as a means of influence. Implementing peaceful mechanism is the sign of civilization. H.E Navdeeo Suri (Indian ambassador to the UAE) said that, “in a troubled times in which we lived cultural diplomacy is more important than ever. Hate can be eradicated by making different understanding among different cultures”
In Ethiopia the king of ancient Aksum called King Ezana was a very smart leader in using cultural diplomacy to get integrity with the rest of the world. He made a good effort to lead his kingdom both culturally and politically. “Ezana was the master of cultural diplomacy creating diplomatic ties with Persia and the Roman Empire. His inscriptions and coins are still there for his legacy.” Antoine Lindley (Insight Ethiopia).
Thus, cultural diplomacy is not a new phenomenon for Ethiopia. The consecutive regimes in the country were trying to use it to create better relations with other countries. But the degree of emphasis, effort, and implementation, I can say, is not yet addressed as demanded. As part of the continent, which is characterized by the absence or scarcity of showcases, the cultures are not still portrayed as expected. There is a huge problem in having an appropriate platform for exhibiting the given cultural values of the people.
To solve the mentioned problem, sound policies and active implementations need to be applied. The cultural, sport, and youth ministers with the foreign minister should collaborate to create platforms for various cultures to be displayed in the country. This effort needs to be extended on a continental basis so that collaborations within African countries could be a step up for creating further relations ahead. This is very essential for a strong and unified continent that can create a cumulative effect in the eyes of the world.
BY MEKDES TAYE (PhD)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2024
