Mako Jerera
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officiated at the third International Conference on African Cultures (ICAC) held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
“I exhort the peoples of Africa and the diaspora to remain vigilant and to dismantle neo-colonial interferences in its various subtle guises, often designed to deny, expropriate and denigrate. In every circumstance, protecting and safeguarding our Continent’s collective memory and common vision must remain an area of high priority and concern.”
The conference was held under the theme “Africa Speaks: Confronting Restitution and Repatriation of Artefacts, Human Remains, Objects and Archives from African Countries”.
The exhibitions will run under the theme “Looking Back and Looking Towards the Future: Celebrating Africa in Africa”.
The conference, which started on the 23rd of November 2021, explored issues on restitution, return and repatriation of African cultural property held outside the continent. The Conference incorporated Aspiration number five of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Aspiration number five speaks of “an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics”.
President Mnangagwa emphasised that the ICAC presents an opportunity for Africa to reflect on it’s collective culture and consolidate the aspirations envisioned by the Founding Fathers of Independent Africa and other Pan-Africanists, which now constitute the legacy bequeathed to the continent.
“On its part, Zimbabwe stands ready to receive its cultural heritage estranged to the West. The urgent repatriation of expropriated archives, museum objects, & human remains, is our unequivocal demand,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa encouraged Zimbabweans and the whole of Africa to take the African heritage and culture with pride.
“As an African people we strongly reject attempts to alienate us from our rich heritage and material culture. Under my leadership and together with the current generation of African leaders, there is an unflinching determination to ensure that Africa’s identity is restored.” said President Mnangagwa.
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