The 25th May is a day used specifically to celebrate Africa’s independence, freedom and liberation strife from colonial powers. The event commemorates the Organisation of African Unity, which is commonly known as the African Union – 25 May 1963.
The celebrations highlight African solidarity, unity in diversity, creativity, challenges and successes, and the cultural and economic potential of the continent.
Artscape is proud to this year celebrate this momentous day on the Continent in collaboration with the Black Management Forum
The African Union theme for 2022 is “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development”.
An apt theme given the exacerbated hardships many South Africans and Africans had to endure due to the knock-on effect of COVID resulting in lockdown which compromised food security including several of our artists and arts practitioners who could not practice their craft for months on end consequentially putting their food security at risk.
This dialogue of insights and the importance of African wellness is thus pivotal.
On this day Africa celebrates the strong cultural identity and common heritage on the continent. Through the expression of arts and culture Artscape seeks to utilise this day to complement the ethos of the African Union viz.: act as a platform for the continent to engage and build stronger networks and partnerships at various levels across national and international boundaries.
This year we celebrate South Africa’s indigenous languages with a specific emphasis on isiXhosa through the production of Buzani kubawo, which is about love, family relationships and conflicts arising when traditional expectations clash with changing values.
We trust that through these programmes we engender the continued focus on creative identities across Africa and the diaspora through the lens of arts, culture, and heritage. In using the Arts we may be able to carve out new pathways to re-imagine the African identity alongside thought-leaders and celebrities in the arts, culture, and heritage sector.
These efforts will compliment South Africa’s commitment to building a better Africa and a better world in line with the AU’s Agenda2063 to “build” on, and seek to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development.”
We thank you for your continued support and hope that you will share this special continental day in the spirit of its intentions.