A new dawn in the revival and promotion of Africa’s arts, culture and tourism is in the offing as CultureDigest International magazine, with the support of partners unfolds a 4-day African cultural festival-AfriCultureWeek.
The festival was conceived by CultureDigest International magazine as a yearly event in line with the Charter for African Cultural Renaissanc. The festival is scheduled for February 2-6, 2011 in Accra Ghana.
“The goal is to preserve African cultures for newer generations and promote African culture to both African and non-African community,” Stella Anuforo, Executive Editor of CultureDigest said.
“African culture is more than drums and foods. The cultural make up in Africa is varied and diverse,” she said, adding that the celebration is a testament of Africa’s cultural diversity.
“AfriCultureWeek is also an opportunity for officials of the African Union, African governments and community to join together in celebration of diversity in African cultures,” the Project Director of the festival, Donald Cog Augumenu said.
Inspired by the Cultural Charter for Africa adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Thirteenth Ordinary Session, in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 2 to 5 July, 1976; the Heads of State and Government of the African Union meeting in the Sixth Ordinary Session in Khartoum, the Republic of The Sudan, from 23 to 24 January 2006, adopted what they called the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance.
The Charter commits the region to encourage cultural co-operation among Member States with a view to the strengthening of African unity, through the use of African languages and the promotion of inter-cultural dialogue; to integrate cultural objectives in development strategies; to encourage international cultural co-operation for a better understanding among peoples within and outside Africa; to promote in each country the popularization of science and technology including traditional knowledge systems as a condition for better understanding and preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Other highlights of the charter includes: to strengthen the role of culture in promoting peace and good governance; to develop all the dynamic values of the African cultural heritage that promote human rights, social cohesion and human development; and to provide African peoples with the resources to enable them to cope with development challenges.
By that charter, African States recognize that cultural diversity is a factor for mutual enrichment of peoples and nations.
AfricanCultureWeek would provide an opportunity for African countries to practically explore the different cultures which the continent is known for.Countries would have the opportunity to showcase how they have created an enabling environment that fosters creativity in all its diversity.
Efforts taken by different countries to put an end to the pillage and illicit traffic of African Cultural property and ensure that such cultural property is returned to their countries of origin would also feature prominently in discussions and sessions.
In line with the African Union’s policy, AfriCultureWeek would encourage African countries 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.
About the host city:
Accra, the seat of the Ga State, is today a melting pot of several Ghanaians and other ‘foreign cultures.’ It is home to virtually anyone who identifies themselves with the city.
That, in itself, is the bottom-line of traditional Ga heritage. Today, the city is filled with people from all walks of life.
The city of Accra has been Ghana’s capital since 1877, and contains fine public buildings reflecting its transition from a 19th century suburb of Victoriaburg to the modern metropolis it is today.
Spreading along the Atlantic coast, the city is well endowed with luxury as well as great value hotels, excellent restaurants and night clubs. A range of absorbing museums and fine public monuments, modern business and commercial areas, as well as busy markets and tree-lined residential suburbs, is ready to be explored.
The beaches of the Atlantic coast are popular with visitors and Ghanaians alike. Among the highlights of Accra are the National Museum, with its splendid display of exhibits that reflect the heritage of Ghana from prehistoric times to modern times; the National Theatre with its distinctive modern architecture, the Centre for National Cultural Centre, Independence Square, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum; the fishing port at James Town,the Makola Market, among others.
