Luanda – Angolan minister of Culture and Tourism Filipe Zau Monday in Mexico described the protection of cultural, material and immaterial heritage and the creative industries as supports for identity, scientific research and employment.
Speaking at the 27th World Conference on Cultural Policies, sponsored by UNESCO, the minister said that the current Angolan legislation on cultural policy reflects the importance given to issues related to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.
This includes the languages of African origin, ensuring the link with environmental sustainability and tourism, in order to protect the collection for current and future generations.
To Angolan Government, he said, the restitution of cultural goods that have been usurped or trafficked illegally are worrying issues that must be analysed at the level of local communities and cultural diplomacy.
“Angola inserts the actions of the culture sector in the National Development Plan and benefit annually from the General State Budget, which denotes the importance of preserving our collection and our cultural and creative industries for our country, as strategic agents of endogenous and sustainable development”, stressed Filipe Zau.
According to the minister, Angola continues to make efforts to enhance Mbanza Kongo: Remains of the Capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Kongo, a world heritage site, and the Historic Site of the Battle of Cuíto Cuanavale, for their historical relevance, emphasizing the victorious struggle against apartheid .
Filipe Zai defended that sustainable cultural development also involves the implementation of integrative policies, considering the protection of historical and cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change.
The minister also recommended the reinforcement of technical-professional training and funding for the most diverse areas of the culture sector, aiming at the elaboration and implementation of sustainable policies.
In Filipe Zau's view, the free movement of cultural agents and goods is also extremely important for Angola, especially between cross-border countries, taking into account their cultural affinities.
The minister defended the need to consolidate free movement for artists and other “cultural workers”, creating indispensable conditions for their professional development.
The event, which takes place 40 years after the first edition of Mondiacult, brings together more than 100 ministers of Culture and thousands of professionals in the field, aimed to “draw a new world roadmap for cultural policies”
