Ethiopia has been registering rapid growth and transformation for the last two decades. Within this context, conducive environment has been created to enhance the critical roles and contributions of the multi-cultural resources of Ethiopia’s nations and nationalities and peoples in all development sectors. The FDRE has given greater attention than ever before to the development of the cultural sector.
The cultural policy of Ethiopia addresses several important cultural issues; however it has not sufficiently reflected the economic significance of cultural activities. Knowing of the fact that the diverse culture of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are the foundations for their human and material development, these cultures have to be protected and developed in ways that preserve and strengthen our identity, enable us to realize our vision of development, promote national harmony and unity.
The adoption of national cultural policy 2015, promoting the role of
culture for peace, independence, democratization and sustainable development was a key achievement. This policy recognizes the strategic importance of cultural industries for the diversity of the country and calls for action through support to cultural associations, individuals and institutions engaged in cultural industry development sector, protection of intellectual property and other related rights of cultural professionals.
The attention given by the government to the development of the sector has to be strengthened and the cultural values of tolerance, mutual respect and dialogue should be consolidated. Ethiopia’s new cultural policy states that, investment incentive shall be put in place for entrepreneurs who want to establish cultural industries. It also underlines that, entrepreneurs shall be encouraged to establish theaters, cinemas, galleries for exhibition of paintings and sculptures and other institutions that support cultural development.
Danielle Cliché Secretary on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions said that, the project reshaping cultural policies for the promotion of fundamental freedoms and the diversity of cultural expressions (2018-2021) is implemented by UNESCO, with the financial support of government of Sweden.
It concerns 16 partner countries including Ethiopia and is designed as a continuation of the project “Enhancing fundamental freedoms through the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions”, to enhance transparent and participatory policy monitoring and making.
She added that, through this project UNESCO will assist Ethiopia in implementing its policy priorities, in line with commitment taken under the 2005 convention to support creativity and fundamental freedoms including gender equality and artistic freedom.
Danielle said that, the new policy is reshaped in a ways to benefit the experts and individuals who participate in the culture industry and to protect the benefit and interest.
Ana Elisa Santana Afonso, Director of UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa said that, the event is organized at a time when the government of Ethiopia for the first time hosting world press freedom day in cooperation with UNESCO and African Union. She said that, the new policy is formulated in a transparent and participatory way. Ethiopia is a center of immense and vibrant cultural diversity and I hope the new policy will help Ethiopia to fully benefit from the sector.
Bizunesh Meseret, State Minister of Culture speaks on the occasion that, Ethiopia is the home of diverse culture but the country has not fully utilized its potential due to different problems. In 2005 convention on the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expressions Ethiopia achieves somehow growth in cultural sector but much effort were still needed that is why the new policy is designed to fully benefit from the sector.
Yisma Tsige Director of Cultural Industries Development and Cooperation with Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that, the reason for the revision of the previous policy is that, the development of cultural industries globally, global change and the need to create dynamic sector and coordination with tourism, education and cooperation.
He further stated that, the vision of new policy is to see the successful realization of our renaissance through the building of a middle income country where in our reputable cultures, enriched by values of equality and self-reliance as well as the arts and sciences play their legitimate role as the pillars of the nation’s peace, independence and sustainable development.
Major policy issues were development of heritage resources to systematically identify, develop, preserve and use the cultural, historical and natural heritages of the peoples of Ethiopia, to sustainably apply them for economic, social and human development as well as development of cultural industries.
Major challenges facing the cultural sector are that, absence of cultural data to know economic impact and cultural participation. In addition there is problem in assessing the intangible impacts of culture in economic sector.
As a way forward he stated that, the new policy will create harmony between culture and development. Establishing national framework for cultural statistics, invest more in creativity and training of human capital and create leverage digital platform.
The Ethiopian Herald May 04/ 2011
BY HAILE DEMEKE
