BY STAFF REPORTER
Africa is the land of diversity. It is the continent where people with different ethnic groups, religion, culture and traditional practices live in it. The communities, as they are diverse, celebrate their distinctive and indigenous cultures, customs, beliefs, that pass from generation to generation uniquely. They cherish the wisdoms with greater passion, and especial atmosphere.
These deep rooted diverse cultural heritages, which include music, art, costumes, food, religious and cultural rites, literature among many others, have been part and parcel of their identity, which define Africans’ personality. Aside from offering people a temporary relief from their daily chores and creating some types of enjoyments, the wisdoms portray Africans’ way of life, their longstanding value systems as well as their collective confidence and pride.
Being a platform where people of different culture, religion, and tradition reflect their cultural value that is specific to that particular group, they have been serving the purpose of bringing the people together, foster social cohesion, and strengthen sense of community and solidarity among people. They have also been used to demonstrate diverse and unique values of the communities, promote intercultural understanding, and strengthen cultural connections among people of different ethnic groups.
Not only that, but they have also been used as avenue for nurturing talents and a way of access to market cultural expressions. Owing to this and other similar factors, the festivals, among the peoples, are celebrated with greater interest, preparation and eagerness with enhanced participation, increased partnerships and collaborations in more colorful manner and are enjoyed by the communities.
However, even if it is said that African cultures are widely diverse, it does not mean that they are totally different one another; rather they have several matters that bind them together. Especially, the East African countries (EAC) have many similarities that are expressed in terms of many forms such as language, culture, religion, music, art, dance and the like assets.
These values, however as many people agreed, are not promoted accordingly, particularly with regard to promoting people to people ties; reinforcing regional integration or have not been commercialized at the desired level taken as economic ventures.
Luckily, to this end and raise awareness on importance of art and cultural heritages in development, to enhance regional integration plus strengthening people to people ties, these days, countries of the Horn are taking due attention to the matters.
As part of this effort, and to showcase culture as a primary catalyst to regional integration and sustainable development; foster the economic development of among the countries through nurturing the growth of a strong creative and cultural industry sector; East African countries have commenced staging the East Africa Art and Culture Festival. Currently, the East African Arts and Cultural Festival is ongoing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at Meskel Square under the theme “Arts and Culture for Regional Integration.”
Opening the ceremony and welcoming participants of the festival, Ambassador Dina Mufti, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the festival is a great opportunity for East Africans to promote their immense cultural values and artistic products. “The festival is a showcase of Africa’s historical, cultural and natural resources to the world,” he added.
The festival has also great significance in facilitating cultural diplomacy among people and the countries of the region apart from maintaining good relationships among the people and the countries of the region.
Culture and Sports Minister Kejela Merdasa, on his part said that the people of East Africa should exploit the opportunity the festival has offered to enhance integration efforts and people-to-people relationships. He also added that the festival will integrate and promote age-long East African art and cultural relationships as well as link the region’s economy for the mutual benefit for the society Equally important, it is immensely advantageous in promoting Ethiopia’s image and strengthening East African arts and cultural values, he added.
The festival which was opened last Wednesday, June 14, 2022, in the presence of representatives from East Africa and high-level Ethiopian government officials and other invited guests will remain open June 19, 2002, according to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Culture and Sport.
At the six day festival, various programs including exhibitions, musical and art performances, book fairs and films which depict the overall culture and tradition of the people in the EAC will be displayed.
While talking with regard to the festival last month, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said that the East African region should not always be associated with conflict, drought and other hardships. And changing this narrative and the history of the region is the responsibility of this generation by using its natural resources.
As to the Deputy Prime Minister, East Africa is a hub for art. Therefore, working persistently to changing the image of the regions by exploiting art and cultural resources is not only necessary; but it is also compulsory.
“In order to change this image, we all are required to make efforts to turn the abundant cultural, arts and other natural resources that we had inherited from our forefathers of the region in to development.”
It is true; Africa has immense untapped historical, cultural and natural resources that can step forward its development, if they are exploited well.
In this regard, as it is stated reputedly, the festival organized by the Ministry of foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture and Sports could catalyze socio-economic development and integration of Africa, brand East African identity and image apart from promoting culture and arts,
It is recalled that Ethiopia has proposed for East African Cultural and Art Festival to be hosted in rotation among countries in the sub regions annually.
The Ethiopian Herald June 17/2022
