“What an event of cultural performance, exhibitions and film shows that affords a window into the soul of Kazakhstan a land of bounty and diversity. It transported me to Kazakhstan still on my chair here in the hall. The country abounds in cultural heritages. Such events must be scaled up so that people across the globe better know one another and harness beauty in diversity to create a fertile ground for world peace. This way bilateral ties such as trade and investment could also thrive for better understanding and clicking among partnering nations.
The country’s pioneering move to kick start global dialogue on cultural heritages deserves a pat on the back. The occasion calls for probing research for detail insight into the country.” said one celebrant by my right at the conclusion of a cultural event.
The one by my left cut in and added “Not only that shedding light on the commonalities of the cultures of Kazakhstan and Ethiopia, the event showed to me the parallel that connects the cultures of the two countries.
The country has another version of Kirar ,Masinqo and Washent. Gebeta is also a famous pass time to them as it is to ours especially in the rural parts of the country.
The event allowed us to know Kazakhstan’s popular individuals. We are introduced with popular public figures like a gold medallist’s boxer and singers with a melodious voice.”
Earlier, in the middle of the event a lady I met during the cocktail reception did note that “The Kazakhstan and Ethiopian dishes arrayed in the event are also a showcase of the cultural and people-to-people diplomacy intended to crystalize between the two nations. Participants might go for both dishes and experience new discoveries. Exchanging cultural activities through conducting festivals, both here and in the friend nation, pays off.
The activities could be reflected by performing art—music & dances—staging exhibitions of antiques, artefacts and traditional huts. Preparing sport tournaments is quite possible,” she noted and posed the question “How did you get their cordiality and sense of decorum?”
“Superb I responded. The costumes they love to put on too tell on the cultural similarity.” “What did impress you personally,” she eyed me. “Oh, I think I saw the ancient Kazakhstan Map that refers Africa by the name Ethiopia,”. “Yes, we have a sun burnt face true to the name Ethiopia. It testifies the then influencing power of ancient Ethiopia.”
The above sideway discourses were held on a recent event— when a seminar on cultural heritage of Kazakhstan organized by the embassy here last Saturday in connection with the eves of the Republic Day, slated to be marked on October 25, was colourfully celebrated in Hilton Hotel in the presence of ambassadors, ministers, parliamentarians, former Ethiopian students who pursued education in Kazakhstan, invited guests and journalists, among others. The occasion was also graced by Dr.Rita Bissoo Director of UNESCO’s office in Ethiopia.
In a welcoming remark while highlighting the significance of cultural heritages and also diplomacy ambassador of Kazakhstan B.Sadykov noted People inhabit different corners of the world as such they live in a diverse world. Hence cultural heritage of each nation is unique. It represents a country’s history, language, religion, values and many more. A cultural heritage influences a nation’s identity and even internal and external policy.
He further noted, in this regard cultural diplomacy is instrumental in cementing cooperation among nations by enhancing mutual understanding and trust. Exposure to cultural diversity adds bricks to international relations and can be critical to fostering peace and stability.
“Being located in the centre of the Eurasian continent, the people of Kazakhstan which is diverse ethnically and by religious denominations have absorbed the spirit of good neighbourliness, peace and tolerance to other people and cultures. Today, after more than five and a half centuries since the formation of the first Kazakh state, the principle of respect for diversity of cultures and tolerance has become one of the foundations and strengths of Kazakh society.
Kazakhstan stands for promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue and organizes triennial Summits of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and Conferences on different aspects of culture by the International Centre for the Rapprochement of Cultures, under the auspices of UNESCO established in Kazakhstan,” he spotlighted.
Kazakhstan which practically demonstrated the significance of unity in diversity, of its own initiation, had drawn the attention of the international community towards the respect of cultural diversity and dialogue towards collective peace.
Pertaining to this he said “UN International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2012-2022 initiated by Kazakhstan was aimed to demonstrate the benefits of promoting respect for cultural diversity and importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in combating new manifestations of racism, discrimination, intolerance, extremism and radicalism, thereby strengthening ties between countries and peoples thus contributing to peace.”
Hammering home the significance of multifaceted dialogue the ambassador further said, it is important that the United Nations, UNESCO, regional organizations make a huge contribution to the preservation and development of cultural heritages, strengthening intercultural and interreligious dialogue at the national, regional and global levels. The development of culture, intercultural and interreligious dialogue as one of priority is included in the long-term Development Agenda of Africa until 2063.
“Organization of Turkic States consisting of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and observers Hungary, Turkmenistan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which have common history, language and culture is dedicated to strengthening peace and stability, promoting wide-ranging cooperation in areas such as economy, science, education, tourism and other fields. This November Kazakhstan as the Chair of the Organization will host Summit of Heads of State of OTS in Astana.”
Alluding to Ethiopia’s role to the case in point he said Ethiopia, with its unique and rich cultural heritages, has made a huge contribution to the development of world culture. “I would like particularly to note Ethiopia’s contribution to the adoption of resolution 2347 (2017), the first UN Security Council resolution devoted exclusively to the preservation of cultural heritage.”
Today Ethiopia has more than any other country in Africa nominations inscribed in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. “We congratulate our Ethiopian friends with last month inscription in the List by UNESCO of Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park, Gedeo Cultural Landscape.”
“As for Kazakhstan there are 3 cultural and 3 natural properties inscribed by UNESCO so far. In September this year 2 sites – Kazakhstan’s Altyn Emel National Park and the Barsakelmes Nature Reserve – have been added to the List of UNESCO, as part of the transnational nomination Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, jointly prepared by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.”
I also met a journalist friend of mine Girmachew Gashaw on our way out of Hilton Hotel. I asked him about his take of the cultural seminar. Girmachew has this to say “Till to date I have never known Kazakhstan. Thanks to the Embassy now I have a glimpse of that country. From the event I did witness the characteristic features that liken the two countries. The dulcet music titillating my heart had created an uplifting mood in me. The musical instruments show a match in many ways than one. That has also surprised me. I also saw a lady attired in traditional cloth, which showed conservativeness like ours, singing, dancing and playing an instrument that looks like Kirar. That has created a mesmerizing feeling on me. Such cultural clicking must keep on going. Journalists of the two countries could do something to promote the cultures of the two countries. Also, researchers on ethnography have to leave their footprint.”
Girmachew further added “the film presented at the end of the program affords a peek into how Kazakhstan stood on its feet as a nation passing through so many ups and downs as well as twists and turns. Kazakhstan could be taken a standard-bearer how a country with a multitude of Ethnic groups demonstrate a peaceful coexistence and affluence.”
Ethiopia and Kazakhstan that are landlocked with wealth of natural resource could cross-pollinate their knowledge to beat similar odds confronting them.
BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
The Ethiopian Herald October 19/2023
