BY TEWODROS KASSA
Art is the real manifestation of a given society’s cultural, social, political, economic, and other assets. That is why countries with better economic performance are seen giving priority to art. Obviously, it is impossible to think about a given society without considering its artistic values which is the other side of the same coin. However, this is not always true for most economically undeveloped countries that consider art secondary matter.
Regarding this, as a good instrument to promote Ethiopia’s nation, nationalities and peoples’ identity the Ethiopian government has given due priority to art by solving the problem of sector’s professionals and supporting the sector through various measures. Among these are creating successive stages for art sector practitioners and new initiatives to improve the sector.
Recently, the Addis Ababa City Administration Culture, Arts, and Tourism Bureau marked the 14th citywide art festival. On the occasion of the celebration, tourism experts emphasized the need for strengthening efforts to motivate the art sector through undertaking various initiatives.
In his opening remark during the 14th art festival, Tourism State Minister Dr. Sileshi Girma said that art plays a significant role in promoting the socio-economic lives of society. Thus, more assignments are still left to harness the touristic values of the art sector. The society should also have more awareness about the importance of art for the social and economic development of the country.
According to him, Addis Ababa is becoming more preferable for international tourists following the availability of numerous tourist destinations and museums that represent the little country. Art represents the social, economic, historical, and cultural achievements of a given society. In doing so, plenty of local and international tourists will attend such art festivals by traveling a longer distance to enjoy themselves and discover the artistic manifestations of the city’s residents.
Moreover, Addis Ababa is preferable for art festivals as it is the third-largest diplomatic headquarters city next to New York and Geneva. Thus, the city could host successive national, regional, and international art festivals that embrace the diversified cultural and historical achievements of the country and the African continent.
In this regard, every resident of the city will have the opportunity to discover the country’s nations, nationalities, and peoples’ at the annual festivals without traveling far from the city. Such annual festivals also promote friendly relations among the residents of the city and help to cultivate harmony and peace in the country.
Art could easily preach peace and togetherness. The music of a given nation, nationality, and people will reach a wider audience beyond its owner while preaching togetherness and mutual co-existence. On his part, Addis Ababa City Administration Culture, Arts, and Tourism Bureau Deputy Head Sertse Fre Sibhat said that it is important to support and promote the art and culture sector so as to attain the national tourism development objectives.
Hosting such an annual art festival immensely facilitates the city’s endeavors to attract more foreign tourists and become the leading African tourist destination in the near future. According to him, Addis Ababa is gaining momentum by motivating the tourism sector by undertaking various new tourism mega projects that contribute to increasing tourists stay.
Different cities worldwide are known for organizing yearlong art festivals that attract numerous international tourists. International tourists are more eager to discover the cultural and historical manifestations of a given city and enjoy their time together with the residents of the city during the festival celebrations. It is also important to notice that art festivals play a significant role in expediting the socio-economic development of a given city if utilized properly.
More importantly, the public should support the art work of artists in the country so as to internationalize Ethiopian culture and attract numerous international tourists. The experts underscored that it is high time to utilize the country’s diversified arts and cultural assets to attract more international tourists.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 16 JUNE 2023
