“Culture is the best therapy against violence” H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson AUC

Luanda, 27 November 2021 – This morning, the second edition of the Biennale of Luanda - "Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace" kicked off in Luanda, the beautiful capital city of Angola. The opening ceremony was attended by several Heads of State and Government from Africa and the Diaspora, including João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola as well as the First Lady of Angola; Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo; Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union; Carlos Vila Nova, President of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal and Epsy Campbell Barr, Vice-President of Costa Rica. Also in attendance were H.E. Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Economy and Blue Economy (ARBE) at the African Union (AU) Commission as well as Mr Xing Qu, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO.

Members of the Government of Angola, members of the Diplomatic corps in Angola and many partners, men and women of culture, youth and media were also present at this event.

Conscious of the nexus between peace and development, and convinced of the catalytic role of culture in the easing of tensions, the resolution of conflicts and the advent of peace, the 24th session of the Assembly of Heads of State of the African Union established the Biennale in 2015 and requested the Commission to organize, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Angolan government, a biennial of culture for peace, to further give impetus to the implementation of Goals 16 and 17 of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 7 Aspirations of Africa’s Agenda 2063, in particular its “Silencing the Guns by 2030” initiative.

This year's Biennale is celebrated under the African Union's 2021 theme, "Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want".

Delivering the message of H.E. Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission at the opening ceremony, H.E. Amb Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko,

Commissioner for ARBE said " It will therefore be a question here in Luanda, but also in the daily life of our States, of drawing on the depth of our cultures, our history and our heritage, all of which have a common foundation, in order to find the resources necessary for the diffusion and dissemination of the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, which are the essential prerequisites for peace.”

An Intergenerational Dialogue was also held between several high-level personalities from the continent and the Diasporas, and young African and Afro-descendant leaders, around the central theme "Cultural and Heritage Diversity of Africa and its Diasporas: Fires of Conflict or Ground of Peace?"

“Young people are at the heart of social transformations” said Ms Milouda Bouichou, a young leader from Morocco, underlining the importance to involve the youth in such an event.

The first day of the event ended with the Festival of Cultures, a space for exchange between the cultural identities of Africa and its Diasporas, and a privileged meeting place for the arts, cultures and heritage as instruments of dialogue, mutual understanding and tolerance.

The Biennale of Luanda will continue until 2nd December. On the 29 and 30 November, the Thematic and Best Practice Forums will be held, aimed at stimulating the implementation of flagship initiatives for Africa. The closing ceremony will take place on 30th November, during which the Alliance of Partners, a global, multi-stakeholder and cross-sectorial partnership for the culture of peace, will be launched, leading to private partnership sessions on 1st and 2nd December 2021.

For further information, please contact:

Mrs Ebba Kalondo, Spokesperson of the Chairperson, Cabinet of the Chairperson; E-mail: KalondoE@africa-union.org;

Mrs Christiane Yanrou-Matondo, Principal Communication Officer, Cabinet of the Chairperson; E-mail: Yanrouc@africa-union.org; Mob: (+251)911201634;

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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