Culture Month Roars Into Life

By Faith Chimutsa

All is set for the culture month commemorations taking place in May this year around the country’s 10 Provinces and Districts.

The celebrations that are running under the theme “Celebrating Cultural Diversity, leaving no one and no place behind,” will have a week long  celebrations and events.

The World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development which was proclaimed by UNESCO in December 2002 is on May 21 of each year.

Addressing Journalists in the capital on Thursday, Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation through Dr Biggie Samwanda said this is also in line with the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the protection and promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression to which Zimbabwe is a State Party.

The celebrations embrace the Africa Day commemorations which are an integral part of celebrating who we are as people during this culture month commemorative activities.

“Culture month will be happening in Districts and Provinces. As ministry we are working with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) who are the drivers of culture month programme.

The activities of exposing the Culture and Create Industries (CCCIs) in music, peotry, theatre, dance, film and fashion is designed to ensure that we grow audiences and increase consumption of the Culture and Create Industries productions, goods and services,” said the director of Arts and Culture Dr Samwanda.

He added that the organization of such important cultural events by the Ministry is testimony of the importance that government places on the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCCIs) which have become essential for inclusive economic growth, reducing inequalities and achieving the goals set out in the National Arts and Culture Policy the National Culture Creative Industries (CCCIs) Strategy as well as vision 2030 as set out in the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1).

Formal announcement on dates that provinces are holding celebrations and venues will be made by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.