Use Africa’s rich heritage as ‘catalyst’ for transformation, urges Guterres

Opening the 2021 Africa Dialogue Series, Secretary-General António Guterres said that the discussions highlight “the importance of arts, culture and heritage in building the Africa we want”.

“I welcome your focus on cultural identity”, he added.

‘Key’ development driver

General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said that the societal impact of culture “cannot be overstated”.

“Culture shapes our identities…gives meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging…and is imperative for social cohesion”, he elaborated.

During an Assembly meeting last week, the President said that Member States showcased best practices to leverage cultural and creative industries in recovery plans to support the delivery of the SDGs and hailed it as is “a key driver of sustainable development” with the unique ability to shift human behaviour.