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Culture, vehicle for development, delegates say

The third edition of the Arts and culture festival which wrapped up on the 16th of March 2007, at the Africa University campus in Mutare has called for greater emphasis on the incorporation of the human factor into all facets of development and governance in Africa.

The festival, which ran under the theme "Celebrating African art and culture at Africa's premier international university", saw strong participation from academia, community groups and Zimbabwean artists of international repute, such as Amakhosi and Imbongi. Event Director, Dr Thokozile Chitepo, says local community groups will benefit invaluably from the skills building workshops which will be held throughout the festival.

Culture industry expert and chairperson of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Angeline Kamba gave the official opening address on Wednesday the 14th of March and stressed the importance of culture in all aspects of human endeavour.

"The human factor has previously been ignored in all developmental strategies, while development itself has been merely thought of in economic terms such as the creation and accumulation of wealth," said Kamba. However, there was now need for a developmental discourse which paid attention to the improvement of people's quality of life, which encompasses their culture.

She commended Africa University for being at the forefront in trailblazing the full role of culture on the African continent."The venue of this festival, Africa University, is uniquely positioned to depict and celebrate Africa's rich cultural diversity and creativity. This institution aptly depicts that cultural mosaic which characterizes the African continent," said Kamba. Africa University, a pan African international institution has a population of about 1300 students from across 22 African countries on the continent.

Kamba lamented the lack of documentation and research on African cultures and experience. "Africa has other attributes which can be shared with the world; such as our indigenous knowledge systems and traditions, which are used as basis for modernity."

Documentation of our rich heritage, she said, was crucial, as it "it is the only way we can retain our sense of identity, sense of place, and purpose in a world threatening to harmonize everyone. "I believe that if our cultures are strong, and we are imbued with a strong sense of cultural identity, the global winds cannot blow us off course easily.

Deputy Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Elvas Mari, spoke on day two of the festival, under the subtheme Arts, Culture, HIV and AIDS. Artists, he said, should be in the forefront in the campaign against the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic as they wield tremendous power in influencing people's thought processes.

Mr Mari reiterated that the arts and culture festival at Africa University emerged as a platform for cross-cultural debate and exchange and for showcasing artistic talents. "The ability to move from Zimbabwe, to Angola, to Nigeria, to Mali, to Mozambique, all in one night is a sign that Africa University can do a lot more for the arts in Zimbabwe in terms of reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of many countries today." A cultural night was held at the university in celebration of the pan African spirit on campus to kick start the festival.

Leading academics, from the local, regional and international scene, private sector representatives and acclaimed artists of global standing such as Albert Nyathi and Imbongi, Amakhosi, and CHIPAWO formed part of the repertoire of seminars, presentations and entertainment at the three day festival.

An arts and culture exhibition was also running parallel to the activities in the University's Jokomo Yamada Library. National Gallery of Zimbabwe, National Museums and Monuments, tertiary institutions and local exhibitors showcased their wares to the vast audience attending the festival. National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Mutare Director, and Judith Mutunhu said exhibitions inform the public about traditional artefacts that have been used throughout various events in history, and also look at the contemporary aspects of culture. "It is a mix of entertainment; knowledge sharing and we would want to make our exhibitions a happy experience for everyone, says Mutunhu.

The arts and culture festival at Africa University comes against the backdrop of the need for intellectual enquiry to be conducted on pertinent issues on arts and culture in Zimbabwe and Africa.