Directory of Arts and Culture Organizations & Festivals in the CEMAC region
On the 20th August 2009, CREATE released the maiden (2010) edition of its "Directory of Arts and Culture Organizations & Festivals in the CEMAC region." The directory which is 119 pages long was developed by Peter Musa, CREATE Coordinator with Nicolas Lesur an intern at CREATE from the Institute of Political Science (IEP) University of Bordeaux, France.
The annual directory hopes to contribute to the development of the culture and creative sector within the CEMAC region. It also includes pan-African and global organizations. Anyone interested in the field of culture in Africa will find this directory very useful. With its international dimension, it is certain it will not only serve the region and Africa, but also be a valuable resource across the oceans. An extensive list of portals is also part of the directory which can be freely downloaded on the Directory section of the CREATE website.
www.createinfo.net.ms
CreativeChange Workshop in Cameroon on MDGs
On the 21st July, 2006 Mus'Art Gallery hosted the first CreativeChange Workshop on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kumbo, Cameroon for youths, students and NGO leaders. The workshop which was heavily attended had as main objective "How to Utilize Arts in Attaining the MDGs". Three main resource persons spoke during the workshop; Justice Peter Mbuagbaw of the Bui High Court and President of REPERID; Mr. Nelson Njamsi, Lecturer GBHS Kumbo and Coordinator of ASECNW; and Mr. Peter Musa, Director of Mus'Art Gallery and Coordinator of CREATE. The workshop was organised jointly by Mus'Art Gallery - Cameroon, CREATE - Cameroon, Art4Development.net - USA, TakingITGlobal - Canada, World Bank Public Information Center - Yaounde, Cameroon and was funded by the OneVillage Foundation (OVF) - USA.
Report on the CreativeChange Workshop on the MDGs held in Kumbo, Cameroon
http://www.art4development.net/Cameroon%20Report%20on%20the%20CreativeChange%20Workshop.pdf
INCD Meeting Nairobi, Kenya 26 February, 2005
The recent INCD meeting in Nairobi, Kenya was very timely and attracted over 18 persons representing arts and culture organizations in this city which is a hub of artistic and cultural live in the East African sub-region. The meeting had as main objective to introduce the arts & Culture community in Nairobi to the INCD. The meeting also intended to promote networking within the arts & culture community in Nairobi and across Kenya as a whole.
The following disciplines were represented at the Nairobi meeting; Theatre, Poetry, Dance, Puppeteers, Acrobatics, Film, Creative Writing, Media, Music, Visual Arts & Cartoonists. Kenya's director for Culture, Silverse L. Anami also attended the meeting as well as Pat Kamau of the Buruburu School of Fine Arts.
Mueni Lundi, Chairman of the Institute of Performing Arts Limited (IPAL) briefly explained the raison d'etre of the meeting before Peter Musa took the floor. Peter, the convene of the meeting welcomed all those present, who had took time off from their weekend meant for rest to honor INCD's invitation to personally attend the meeting. Peter told the participants to accept greetings from Jennifer Heale, INCD Coordinator, Ibrahima Seck INCD Coordinator for West and Central Africa, and Jeeva Rajgopaul, INCD Coordinator for Southern Africa.Based on the INCD membership document Peter based his presentation with the following sub-headings; What is the INCD, Composition, Organizational structure and Membership, Activities undertaken to date, Achievements to date, A look at the INCD Principles, and Why should Kenya artists and Culture organizations join the INCD? Peter told participants "As a growing network that is fast expanding across Africa and in other parts of the world, the INCD is inviting all of you present here, artists and culture organizations in Nairobi and in Kenya as a whole to join this global network. This is the time to have the voice of Kenyan artists in the INCD". The convene went further "The INCD cannot become truly global if we do not bring on board our colleagues from across Africa and elsewhere to join this network of artists and arts organizations especially during this era of globalization. As a nation the Kenya arts and culture sector should attract wide international exposure through your individual and organizational memberships in the INCD. The participation to this meeting of the Director for Culture for Kenya alongside all of you, key players in the arts and culture community in Nairobi is testimony of Kenya's commitment in promoting the arts and culture".
After the presentation, a question and answer session on the INCD
followed. A pertinent issue raised was that of the INCD to consider the
opening of an office in Nairobi to serve the arts and culture community
in the East Africa region. Participants were so overwhelmed with the
INCD and the initiative to bring the INCD closer by organizing this
meeting. Silverse Anami joined other participants in welcoming the
initiative by the INCD to bring together Kenyan artists. He said unless
artists in Kenya are able to stand together and speak with one voice,
little could be achieved. He told participants that this meeting was
very timely as it comes at a time when there is global mobilization in
relation to the up coming convention on "Cultural Diversity". "Kenyan
artists should be able to speak with one voice on behalf of Kenya as
far as this convention is concerned" Anami told the artists. Anami,
early in the week had received from UNESCO the draft "Convention on
Cultual Diversity" with details on the position of the INCD. Anami
called
on the artists to join and support the INCD. Wambui Murima, a poet
asked Anami if Kenya had a Cultural Policy at all? Anami said Kenya was
working on one and that presently he had received very encouraging
remarks on the draft from UNESCO and from the Observatory of Cultural
Policies in Africa (OCPA). He announced that a broad-based committee
grouping artists and people from the cultural arena shall soon resume
work on the document.
Participants unanimously agreed that another meeting be organized as a follow-up to this one bringing-stake-holders from across Kenya to develop a national strategy for the arts and culture. The Institute of Performing Arts Limited (IPAL) was given the responsibility to plan and organize such a meeting by the participants.
The Nairobi meeting was organized on behalf of the INCD by Peter Musa, INCD Member & Coordinator of the Collective Resources for the Arts & Talents Enrichment (CREATE), a civil society organization for the arts & artists in Cameroon and the Director of the Musa Heritage Gallery (Mus'Art).
