ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Africa Re-imagined / Developing the Identity, Heritage, Arts and Culture Agenda
Venue: African Union Conference Centre, Old Plenary Hall
09H00 – 17H00 daily
From May 20th to the 25th the AU is bringing together Africa’s top creative minds in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Over 100 writers, poets, musicians, painters, sculptors, architects, film makers and intellectuals from the all over the continent as well as the diaspora will be in discussion to lay the foundations for a chapter on ‘’Arts, Culture and Heritage” for the African Union’s 2063 Agenda. Luminaries who will guide and facilitate the debates include Ben Okri, Pitika Ntuli and Wanguiwa Goro. Some of the prominent artists include Yasiin Bey (the US born artist formerly known as MosDef), Juwon Ogungbe, Mamadou Diabaté, Sizzla Kalonji, and Ray Phiri. Refreshingly, participants include both young and old artists creating a discernible sense of continuity across time, space, gender and disciplines.
The African Union Agenda 2063 sets out a vision and a fifty-year plan for the continent. AUC Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma says; “Arts and culture are the soul and the spirit of Africa and her people. Without the voices of our creative minds, the 2063 Agenda would be sadly diminished.”The conference thus aims to find a bridge between artistic and intellectual minds and political office holders.
Ambassador for the event, Simphiwe Dana says “The conference seeks to define and plan for the Africa we see in our imagination. We will identify our challenges and plan for how best to respond to them. Poetic, visual and musical performances will be incorporated into the presentations and discussions – reflecting an African holistic philosophy that should inform the development of arts and culture on the continent.”
Did you find this information helpful? If you did, consider donating.