05/13/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/13/2023 07:03
The 2023 Culture Month represents a fascinating adventure of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the European Union (EU) who "united in diversity" dreamt of a mosaic of cultures. In May every year on this date, the 450 million citizens of Europe celebrate the European dream and its founding values. Also, this month, the NACZ displays the amazing diversity and richness of the Zimbabwean culture encompassing both indigenous and contemporary traits …. So, why not do it together?
The NACZ believes this partnership will amplify ongoing efforts to highlight Zimbabwean culture as well as the cultural diversity that exists in Zimbabwe. The European Union recognizes the role of culture as an engine for social and economic development and a resource for peaceful inter-community relations and wants to join the NACZ in its effort.
Culture Month is indeed a national phenomenon with events scattered across all the provinces of the country covering the entire month of May. The main events of Culture Month include:
The EU has already been traditionally supporting Zimbabwean culture. As an example, earlier this year, it launched the Creative Actions II project with approx. 2,25 million USD to Culture Fund which manages the project. Creative Actions II is fully aligned with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy 1 (NDS-1) and contributes to its implementation by funding innovative artistic and cultural expressions, empowering civil society, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, and providing training and skills development programmes for arts and culture practitioners.
Meanwhile, the remaining weeks of Culture Month will focus on fashion and traditional foods. People are encouraged to wear traditional or African clothes to work or while going about their general business and preparing traditional cuisines at home. Also, next week will witness the official launch of African Languages Week (ALW) at the Midlands State University (MSU) in the Midlands Province. The ALW seeks to promote indigenous languages and observe them as official languages to be used in schools, universities, courts, other public institutions and in all domains of society. The launch will be held under the theme "African Languages for Sustainable Food Security, Cultural and Socio-economic Development for the Africa We Want" with the payoff line "#What We Speak and What We Eat Makes Africa Great!" The celebration provides opportunities to reflect on African languages and their development; and the use of languages as vehicles for attaining food security, peace, prosperity and integration in Africa.
May, a full month full of promoting Cultural Diversity, Unity and Peace!! Let's all enjoy it!