Sumbe: The Angolan Minister of Culture, Filipe Zau, reaffirmed the Angolan Government's institutional commitment to preserving identity and valuing cultural heritage in Sumbe, Cuanza-Sul province.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the statement was made at the conclusion of the first Consultative Council of the Ministry of Culture. The event was held under the theme '50 years of national culture, identity, development of cultural and creative industries'. Zau emphasized the role of encouraging artistic creation and strengthening cultural and creative industries as tools for sustainable development.
The minister highlighted the importance of legislative proposals aimed at making the cultural sector more cohesive and modern, aligning it with the current realities of the nation. Key legislative updates discussed included laws on freedom of religion and worship, institutions of traditional power, and the valorization and promotion of Angolan languages.
The Advisory Council recommended that the Ministry of Culture develop heritage education programs and actions to appreciate local cultural expressions. The recommendations also included enhancing the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of the National Culture Plan (PLANACULT) and accelerating the digitalization process within the sector's institutions.
Participants in the council advocated for increased support for cultural events, viewing them as centers for production and income. They also called for the strengthening of collective management entities and copyright monitoring mechanisms. The final communiqu© from the council emphasized the need to expand and disseminate cultural legislation to encourage participatory models integrating communities and traditional authorities.
The necessity to rehabilitate cultural infrastructures was deemed a national priority, as achieving the objectives of PLANACULT requires improved coordination between central and provincial bodies. The council also discussed various topics, including 'PLANACULT, strategic vision of the sector, state and recovery of cultural infrastructures', 'cultural, tangible and intangible heritage, national archive of Angola in the current context', and 'contribution of culture to economic diversification'.
