For the past couple of years, various leaders of African countries have been preaching unity and African integration. Such unity and integration also sought to benefit the people. In doing so, numerous discussions and decisions have been made to expedite regional integration and facilitate free trade beyond borders.
No doubt all Africans also give thumbs up to the African Union’s initiatives to realize African integration and promote people-to-people ties. Africans from all walks of life are expressing themselves through social media, being adorned with the colors of Africa. They are also more enthusiastic about promoting pan-Africanism by giving more attention to their own culture, music, dancing, and lifestyles.
According to the African Union Commission (AUC), regional integration has long been viewed as a catalyst for long-term prosperity. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has now been operationalized, has created a platform and dialogue to support this. With COVID-19 placing severe strain on economies across the continent, regional coordination can be an effective approach to manage the response and promote post-pandemic recovery.
According to the 2020 and even the 2021 African Integration Report, the level of integration on the continent is low overall. This Report takes cognizance of the significant evolutions in the regional integration process and ambitions of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the challenges faced over the past year.
The AU has expressed enhanced ambitions for its regional integration agenda and launched major continental initiatives, the flagship projects that are captured in Agenda 2063, as well as revitalizing its work towards the attainment of the goals of the Abuja Treaty through the AfCFTA. While assessing the integration process, this Report captures the opportunities and challenges that come with these significant developments in the African regional integration agenda.
Currently, Africans are also giving more attention to their own culture, music, dancing, and other tangible and intangible assets. Thus, the continent could benefit more to promote its own culture and attract the other world in the tourism sector. Developing immense cultural assets significantly contributes to creating numerous job opportunities to the growing number of youths at home. Improving access to job opportunities in Africa will have tremendous benefits. The major benefits of improving access to job opportunities in Africa include limiting migration and loss of the competitive working power through creating an enabling environment for youths.
Recently, a plan was announced to stage a continental-wide art festival, ‘Africa Celebrates, an annual Art and Fashion Event’ in the capital of Africa-Addis Ababa, on which numerous artists, fashion designers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, among others from all African countries are taking part.
According to organizers of the event, the Africa Celebrates eyes to strengthen unity, accelerate the integration of Africa, and promote inter-African trade.
In connection with the event, an expert said that the Africa Celebrates, an annual art and fashion event to be held from October 25 -28/2023 at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, embraces potential opportunities to speed up African integration and promote the socio-economic development of the region.
African Celebrates Event Manager and PMG Event Organizer CEO Nahom Senay told The Ethiopian Herald that the event is a big occasion that attracts numerous participants across Africa and beyond the continent.
As to him, Africa Celebrates mainly targets to promote African culture, arts, heritages, fashion, tourism, inter-African trade, business, technology, among others.
Accordingly, the event is organized in collaboration with Legendary Gold, the African Union, Embassy of Nigeria in Ethiopia, Pristine Marketing Group, 1888 and US mission to African Union.
Moreover, Africa Celebrates aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Africa through various activities and events. It will provide a platform for African designers, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and promote African products and services.
The event will also include panel discussions and workshops on topics such as African fashion, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Briefing journalists the event organizers indicated that the Gala fashion event Africa Fashion Reception will be a highlight of the celebration.
It will feature a runway show of African fashion designs, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship of African designers. The event will also include live performances by African musicians and dancers, adding to the vibrant and lively atmosphere.
In addition to the fashion events, Africa Celebrates will also feature exhibitions and business forums, providing opportunities for networking and collaboration among African and international businesses. The event will also promote tourism in Africa, showcasing the beauty and attractions of the continent to visitors from around the world.
Africa Celebrates is an important event that aims to promote African culture, creativity and economic development. It is a celebration of the diversity and talent of the African continent, and a call to support and invest in African industries and businesses.
Eating our food, wearing our clothes, appreciating our local music, dancing and performances, exhibitions, business, technology and innovation, fashion summits as well as a tour of the beautiful city of Addis Ababa and a Gala fashion event – will be part of Africa Celebrates 2023, that will be carried out for four successive days, it was learned.
In sum, the need to go beyond the AfCFTA and address the Free Movement of Persons as an essential step towards the achievement of the African Economic Community includes diversifying such continental level art festivals. It looks at the Free Movement of Goods, Services, and capital; people as being essential for African integration and being collectively reinforcing, experts stressed.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER 2023
