SAnews.gov.za

SA joins Africa Month celebrations

Pretoria – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has encouraged South Africans to participate in Africa Month activities to build a better Africa.

Speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the Africa Month programme for May, Minister Mthethwa said the month is aimed at pursuing an Africa that will occupy its rightful place in the world through achieving the objectives of Agenda 2063.

“We are on track as we continue a continental journey begun by our ancestors… As representatives of business and industry leaders, heritage institutions, local communities and the development sector in Africa, your task is to create the conditions for Africa to extend its freedom,” Minister Mthethwa said.

This month also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the African World Heritage Fund, which strives to conserve and protect Africa's natural and cultural heritage. A seminar is being held on Tuesday and Wednesday under the theme ‘African World Heritage - Thinking Ahead’ at the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng.

Minister Mthethwa has welcomed the seminar.

“In a world in which increasingly people and places are in danger of imminent death and wanton destruction, where valuable African heritage has been defaced and destroyed by those who do not understand their worth to humanity, we welcome this seminar,” Minister Mthethwa said.

The seminar focuses on heritage conservation and development initiatives, enhancing the role of communities in heritage preservation and addressing matters of world heritage in post conflict regions.

Some of the activities for Africa Month include the 5th International Marimba and Steelpan Festival, a reggae festival, an anti-racism music festival and film festival, which will be held in Limpopo as well as the iKauru Contemporary Art from Africa exhibition.

The Gcwala Ngamasiko International Cultural Festival, a Pan African Culinary Festival in Durban and the Bureau of the 4th Pan African Cultural Congress will also be included in the programme. – SAnews.gov.za