Addis Ababa: The three-day East Africa Arts and Culture Festival, themed “Art and Culture for Regional Integration,” concluded successfully at the Addis Ababa International Convention Centre yesterday evening. Minister of Culture and Sports, Shewit Shanka, highlighted the festival’s role in fostering regional cohesion and unity.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the event featured vibrant performances from countries across the region including Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. It showcased artistic expressions such as music, dance, circus acts, and fashion shows, presenting a colorful tapestry of the region’s cultural diversity.
Minister Shewit emphasized Ethiopia’s successful presentation of its rich cultural heritage, both ancient and contemporary. She noted that the festival was instrumental in demonstrating how arts and culture are crucial links for creating unity among the peoples of East Africa and accelerating regional integration.
“The festival showcased Ethiopia’s traditional clothing, arts, and other products. Through this, Ethiopia introduced its rich cultural and artistic outputs to neighboring countries. It has demonstrated the role of culture and arts in fostering people’s connection, unity, and coexistence,” stated the minister.
The minister reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to hosting the festival regularly. She also mentioned consultations with regional ministers which resulted in a consensus to collaborate on future cultural events tailored to their respective national interests.