- His Excellency, Amb. Tesfaye Yilma, the State Minister for Political and Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
- His Excellency, Mr. Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of UNECA;
- Her Excellency, Amb. Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the AU and Chairperson of the Africa Hall Project
Advisory Board;
- Excellencies;
- Distinguished guests;
- Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honor for me to speak on behalf of the African Union Commission on this occasion which marks the ground-breaking of the Africa Hall Project. I bring you greetings from H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission and the entire team of Commissioners, especially, the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian and Social Affairs whose department covers Culture among other sectors.
The African Union Commission has been participating in the Advisory Board of the Project since its inception, in 2017; and it considers it critical to contribute to such an important initiative, aimed to modernize and rejuvenate a landmark of pan-Africanism and a symbol of continental renaissance.
The Africa Hall was conceived to accompany the Continent unity growing, while it was still struggling for freedom and independence from colonialism. In this building what looked like a dream of a few leaders became reality in February 1963, overcoming the resistance of anachronistic nations trying to keep privileges and unjust policies in place. In the Africa Hall, since then and for more than 40 years, all African leaders and independence protagonists gave speeches, discussed and deliberated on the future of the Continent, built relations and showed the world the pride of the Continent.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we mark this critical milestone of the project today, it is paramount to remind ourselves of the importance of the OAU then, AU now, which as I said found its birthplace here. When it was conceived less than half of the African continent was free. Most of the African people were under colonial oppression. Education was far from being disseminated. Human rights were basically unknown.
As the emperor said at the Africa Hall inauguration in 1961, there was no place to gather and discuss the future of the Continent. The design and conception of this building was innovative, its technology was a state of the art. Its vision was looking further and further.
Allow me to also mention some of the initiatives that the AU is undertaking in furtherance of the vision instituted in 1963 related to the promotion of arts, culture and heritage, the spirit of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance:
The AU policy organs endorsed the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance in 2006 which is the main policy instrument in the sector. The Commission is now working closely with Member States to ensure that this critical policy tool is implemented since it entered into force in October 2020.
The Commission in collaboration with the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria are in the process of establishing the Great Museum of Africa (GMA): A Flagship Project of the AU Agenda 2063. The GMA will showcase, profile, protect and promote the rich cultural heritage and history of the continent. Lessons learnt from the renovation of the Africa Hall can be used to strengthen the concept of establishment of the GMA. The launch of the Temporary Site of the GMA is planned for December 2022.
High in the agenda of the Union is the issue of restitution of heritage resources. In that regard, the Commission has drafted a Common African Position on Restitution of Heritage Resources in order to ensure speedy return of looted heritage from the continent as well as assist Member States in undertaking negotiations for the restitution of heritage resources.
In collaboration with UNECA the Commission organized a Community Leaders Workshop aimed at popularizing the Draft Common African Position on Restitution of Heritage Resources and also to discuss roles to be played by Community Leaders, as custodians of our culture, in the restitution process.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
The initiatives I have just outlined are part and parcel of the activity we are witnessing today and they will go a long way in enhancing the role of arts, culture and heritage in building the Africa we want.
This building is the birthplace of African diplomacy, which emerged to be the sole way to ensure peaceful development. In these troubled days, where global powers are confronting themselves at war, where local conflicts are flourishing all over the world, where wound from pandemic has not been healed yet, revamping continental diplomacy through arts, culture and heritage is essential.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I call upon all of us to join and support this precious initiative of the UN, since it allows for preserving this marvelous symbol for our future generations, to remind them from where we come from, to show them the bravery and the wisdom of our fathers, and demonstrate the richness of our history and heritage. The African Union reiterates its support to the African Hall Project and is ready to play its role in the Project, aimed to ensure actual engagement with its Member States, looking at enriching the Project with memories and evidence of such a glorious past and also establishing linkages and synergies with our arts, culture and heritage initiatives and programmes.
I thank you for your kind attention.
