Theme: Culture and Arts Education in Africa.
Partnering Organizers: African Union (AU), Africa Arts Association (AfrAA); African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), MabArt Italy, North-East Development Commission (NEDC), American University of Nigeria (AUN).
Date and time: 14 February 2024, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
In nearly all African countries there is untapped potential for culture and arts education – across all dimensions of culture and creativity – to improve quality of learning, and contribute to vibrant cultural and creative industries, generating employment and economic well-being, especially among the youth. TVET offers opportunities for incorporating culture and arts education in curricula and pedagogies. African countries and the African Union emphasize the primacy of culture for socio-economic development and regional integration as articulated in the African Union: Africa We Want: Agenda 2063, (2015) and The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (2006).
The side event aims to provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration for a diversity of stakeholders in Africa – international and regional bodies, national governments, and civil society organizations – in their efforts to advance the arts education agenda on the continent through meaningful actions.
The side event adopts UNESCO’s inclusive definition of culture in all its forms - from traditional knowledge to contemporary art forms - as outlined in the MONDIACULT Declaration (2022), which positions culture as a global public good, in view of its key contribution to sustainable development and the empowerment of communities worldwide, and underlines the importance of enhancing synergies between culture and education, acknowledging the imperative of context-relevant education, which encompasses the broad spectrum of culture from cultural heritage, history, traditional knowledge and creative industries. The panellists will showcase grassroot initiatives on the ground as well as efforts at the policy and institutional levels to enhance the quality and accessibility of culture and arts education in Africa, and with a view to promote cultural unity and awareness of Africa’s rich heritage.
Cristina Cusenza
Prof. Emmanuel S Dandaura
Dr. Ewie Erasmus
Dr. Christiana Afrikaner
Malame N Mangzha
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed
Angelica De Luca
Lorenzo Micheli
Foto Taufiq
Dr. Audu Liman
Ali Ado
Panel Discussion / Presentations: "Advancing culture and arts education in Africa through multi-stakeholder collaboration" (50 minutes)
Panelists:
- Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, Co-Chair of the African Union (AU) Working Group for the Development of the Continental Arts Education Policy [online - 5 min]
- Advocating for culturally relevant arts education as a means to foster social cohesion and well-being by Dr Ewie Erasmus, Secretary of Africa Arts Association (AfrAA) [online - 5 min]
- We are because of Africa: Striving towards a better future for and through arts education by Dr Christiana D. Afrikaner, President of the Africa Arts Association (AfrAA), and Chair of the African Union (AU) Working Group for the Development of the Continental Arts Education Policy [online - 5 min]
- Exploring Cultural Education: Understanding the Role of Cultural Education in Preserving Indigenous Artistry by Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, Artistic Director and CEO National of Troupe of Nigeria [in presential - 5 min]
- Discussing strategies to safeguard and promote diverse cultural expressions: Showcasing successful cultural preservation projects by Sukur Cultural Landscape, Nigeria by Ms Malame N Mangzha, Director General, AFIDFF [in presential - 5 min]
- Integrating Cultural Competence in Curriculum by Dr Audu Liman, American University of Nigeria [in presential - 5 min]
- Empowering Women and Youths through Cultural Education in conflict regions and the role of NEDC in the restoration and rebuilding of the regions by Ali Ado of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Nigeria [in presential - 5 min]
- Mr Lorenzo Micheli, Call, Connect, Engage, Enable schools and students through education of the Arts and Culture, Head Coordinator, MABArt [in presential - 5 min]
- Khadija Taufiq, International Cooperation and Intersectional approach to preserve, propagate and modernize Education of Arts and culture, Event Curator [in presential - 5 min]
- Angelica De Luca, The impact of intercultural and intergenerational exchange in schools: a first-hand storytelling of the Food & Dance MabArt Senegal, Student Ambassador [in presential - 2 min]
In line with Aspiration 5 of the African Union’s 2063 Agenda “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics”, the African Union is leading the development of a continental policy on arts education, and has established a Working Group of Experts for this purpose. This unprecedented initiative seeks to mobilize national governments and a wide range of educational and cultural institutions to promote the integration of arts education in formal and informal educational systems, and therefore promote African culture and heritage among present and future generations.
The Africa Arts Association (AfrAA), is a non-profit organization that promotes culture and arts education across the African continent, with a view to enhance African communities' social and economic development. In line with its mission, AfrAA is working on a pilot project involving training of teachers and professionals, performing research and evaluations, integration of digital technologies in teaching and learning methods, and an awareness of raising efforts to promote arts education across the African continent.
MABArt, International Artistic Residencies for Schools, is a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, that promotes cultural exchange and training opportunities for students through arts residencies and collaborations with prominent artists and professionals from all over the world, including in Africa (Senegal).
Through impactful cultural preservation projects, the African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF) promotes social cohesion among communities in Nigeria – youth and women in particular – by highlighting education’s role in building cultural awareness, creativity and mutual understanding. Traditional indigenous arts, crafts, music and storytelling can be a powerful tool to address challenges in safeguarding and transmitting cultural heritage to future generations and empower communities with the necessary skills to address the challenges of today’s globalized world.
The event will therefore demonstrate how, by utilizing their strengths and establishing meaningful partnerships, these organizations can work towards a more connected and prosperous Africa through advancing and enhancing culture and arts education. This can be achieved by providing a platform for exchange and dialogue, which will help to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the value of arts education across the continent and its contribution toward more peaceful and inclusive societies.
African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF) - https://afidff.org
Email: info@afidff.org
Phone: +2348035903011
Disclaimer
The organisers of this side event are responsible for the choice and presentation of the ideas and opinions expressed on this website and presentations, which do not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization in any way”.
