The Minister in charge of Culture, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, chaired, on Tuesday, the regional workshop on the implementation of development strategies for cultural and creative industries of the Regional Center for the Performing Arts in Africa (CERAV/Africa).
“In a continent rich in cultural diversity, where creativity is booming and where the potential for creativity is immense, cooperation and diplomacy have a predominant place,” declared the Minister in charge of Culture, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
According to him, in view of the current context marked by the persistence of security crises affecting the cultural sector, cultural industries, social cohesion, peace and development in Africa, especially in the Sahel countries, sustainable solutions must be provided by pooling intelligence.
The minister spoke on Tuesday in Ouagadougou, at the opening of the regional workshop on the theme: “Cooperation and diplomacy for the development of cultural industries and the implementation of the 2005 conv
ention in Africa.”
“The concerns that underlie this meeting find their importance in the search for innovative solutions adapted to the challenges of cultural cooperation, partnership, and the revitalization of networks for the benefit of culture,” he added.
Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo invited the actors to reflect in depth so that new proposals for action can result.
The Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, explained that cultural and creative industries are sectors that generate jobs, innovation and growth.
“They contribute to strengthening the influence of our countries on the international scene and to promoting intercultural dialogue,” said Minister Traoré.
For him, the same is true for the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which is a fundamental legal instrument ratified by Burkina Faso, thus providing a framework of reference to strengthen cultural cooperation between countries and to promote cultural diversit
y on our continent.
Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, added that cultural diplomacy must be a lever for peace, dialogue and mutual understanding.
Inter-African cultural cooperation, he said, must also create strong networks that transcend borders, allowing cultural industries to develop and thrive.
According to him, the prospects for cooperation must be oriented towards inclusion and sustainability.
“We must encourage public-private partnerships, support local initiatives and promote integrated cultural policies that respond to the specific needs of each region,” said the head of Burkinabe diplomacy.
According to him, the forms of cooperation must be diversified to include artistic exchanges, creative residencies, and joint projects that strengthen ties between cultures.
The general delegate of CERAV/Africa, Herman Pouya, asked the participants to share their experiences and propose courses of action to encourage the support of States and institutions working in the field of culture.
In his opinion, the chal
lenges of cooperation and the establishment of sustainable partnerships will also be on the agenda of the discussions.
Created in 2014, CERAV/Africa is a Category 2 Center, with a regional vocation, whose mission is to promote cultural diversity by taking into account the 2005 convention which was signed and ratified by Burkina Faso.
Source: Burkina Information Agency