DATE: MAY 25, 2021
TIME: 10:00 – 13:00HRS
• Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
• Excellency Kenneth Kaunda, Former President of Zambia, or his representative
• Excellency Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission
• Excellency Ministers responsible for Culture and Arts in Africa
• Excellencies Commissioners, my Colleagues
• Excellency Mr. Firmin Eduard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Africa
• Excellency Mr. Bahdon Daher Ismael, representing the young people of the continent;
• Excellencies Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC);
• Excellencies Representatives from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs);
• Excellencies Representatives from our partner Institutions;
• Officials from African Union Commission Offices
• Excellency Legal Counsel
• All AU Departments;
• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
I wish to welcome you all to the Continental Launch of the Entry into Force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and Celebration of Africa Day.
At the African Union Commission, we are happy and excited that we have made to this point of celebration. It has taken 15 years and 15 Member States ratifications for the Charter to enter into force. We honor and respect all Member States who have made this possible.
Excellencies, in 2006 in Khartoum, Sudan, when the 6th African Union Assembly adopted the Charter for Cultural Renaissance, we have advocated for the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance to be ratified so it can enter into force and be implemented by Member States. The contribution of the following Member States is significant and notable and is the cause of why we are here to celebrate. I would like to appreciate and recognize support and ratifications from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. I would like to call upon the rest of Member States to sign and ratify this very important instrument.
Excellencies, Among other commitments contained in the Charter, these Member States have agreed to promote the development of the arts, culture and heritage sector, promote African identity which includes fostering of mutual understanding and coordination of inter cultural and inter-generational dialogue within their states.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we are celebrating the entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance we are also celebrating the AU Year of ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We want.’ We strongly believe that this theme will bring about enhanced unity and integration revitalizing the spirit of African unity for which arts, culture, and heritage can be a catalyst.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the past 15 years, our continent has passed through many challenges. The current one is the COVID 19. The pandemic has destabilized many economies and it is through our culture and creativity that our economies can be put back on track. We applaud Member States which have put in place structures and systems to support our artists and creative people during the pandemic.
I would like to thank our leaders starting from the Chairperson of the Commission, the Deputy Chairperson, and all our Leaders across Africa for supporting the efforts being exerted by our African Centre Disease Control and prevention in bringing Africa together and making Africa speak with One Voice to implement our continental strategy. Success is being made since the beginning of the pandemic because we have been together as African and we have been united to fight this pandemic and this want we want to continue and have this spirit of togetherness and unity.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are also aware that, the rapid growth of technology and science discoveries have brought both positive aspects and challenges to our cultures. While the globalization process has facilitated rapid developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), it has also constituted a challenge for cultural identity and cultural diversity. Such challenges require intervention which the Charter for Cultural Renaissance forms major part of it.
There are many objectives of this charter. I will mention a few.
(a) To assert the dignity of African men and women as well as the popular foundations of their culture;
(b) To promote freedom of expression and cultural democracy, which is inseparable from social and political democracy;
(c) To preserve and promote the African cultural heritage through preservation, restoration and rehabilitation;
(d) To integrate cultural objectives in development strategies;
(e) To strengthen the role of culture in promoting peace and good governance
(f) To develop all the dynamic values of the African cultural heritage that promote human rights, social cohesion and human development;
From the outset, the Charter for Cultural Renaissance identified peace, democracy, human rights and social cohesion as key to the development of the continent. It is through arts, culture and heritage that the continent can harness its potential and put its abundant resources to full realization.
In line with the prescript of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance related to the promotion of peace, the Government of the Republic of Angola and UNESCO with the AUC will be organizing the 2nd Luanda Biennale on a culture for Peace in October 2021 and we are all invited to participate.
I would like to appreciate the successful event organized by Angola 2019 in the first Biennale for Peace.
The implementation of the Charter’s objectives and principles will enable our continent to fulfill its mission of preserving her history including the preservation of African cultural property such as historic buildings, artwork, books/manuscripts, and other artifacts that have been passed down from generations to generation.
Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
The implementation of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance would not be possible without a guideline. Hence with enormous support from Members States and partners, we have developed an implementation guide. The Implementation Guide for the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (IGCACR) is meant to assist and guide AU Member States and Pan-African Cultural Institutions, working in the arts, culture and heritage sector, in the implementation of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance.
The development of the Implementation Guide of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance was a combined effort of the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (formerly the Department of Social Affairs) in collaboration with the Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa (OCPA) and the AU member States who are Champions of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance. The first review workshop of the Draft Implementation Guide of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance was held in Maputo, Mozambique in June 2018 and a follow up review Workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2018.
Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our Member States acknowledge that it is vital to establish inter-African cultural co-operation as a contribution to the mutual understanding of the cultures of other States for the enrichment of African cultures, and between Africa and the rest of the world, particularly with the African Diaspora.
In achieving so it is expected that African States will strengthen their ties with the African Diaspora worldwide in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, finance and economy. Members of the African Diaspora are our people. They have interest in the development of their ancestral land and hence mechanisms to enable them to better interact with local, regional and national authorities in their countries of residence, capable of seeking solutions to the problems facing their communities should be put in place. We believe the African diaspora should be assisted to participate further in the development of Africa.
The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance provides guidelines and mechanisms for the diaspora engagement in the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to give a word of appreciation to our patterns that have assisted us in making this event and celebration possible: UNESCO, AFREXIM Bank, and the Camoes Institute for Cooperation and for the Promotion of the Portuguese Language. We as always acknowledge the support you provided for this event and for all other arts, culture and heritage initiatives.
As I am going towards the end of my tenure at the African Union Commission as a Commissioner, I am happy that we have managed to facilitate the entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance with unwavering support of my Director, Mrs. Cisse, Head of Culture Division, Ms. Angela Martins, and all my staff. This would not happen also without the support of partners and Member States. This was one of my targets and mission and I am happy I have fulfilled it.
HAPPY AFRICA DAY TO ALL!
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS IMPORTANT EVENT
