Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, has described Africa’s participation in the G20 Ministers of Culture meeting as a “significant milestone” in the continent’s cultural diplomacy.
Musawa made this statement at the Salvador Convention Centre in Brazil over the weekend, where she led the African Union (AU) in discussions about Africa’s rich cultural heritage and its potential to foster economic growth, social cohesion, and global understanding.
The Minister, who also serves as the 1st Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports within the AU, which comprises fifty-five member states, expressed gratitude to the G20 members for including Africa in this global dialogue.
She remarked, “Africa’s cultural diversity is our greatest strength, and we must leverage it to drive development, unity, and shared growth.”
“Africa’s inclusion brings our unique perspectives and priorities to these crucial discussions, ensuring that the global dialogue better addresses the needs of our nations and people. This maiden participation of our continent in the G20 Ministerial Culture Meeting will enable our continent to discuss critical issues for the betterment of the lives of the people of Africa.”
Musawa continued, “The Ministerial Declaration adopted today is a major step forward for Africa. It means stronger support for African culture, increased cooperation, and better opportunities to advance our vision for the continent, as outlined in the AU Agenda 2063. This declaration is a strong commitment to work together using culture as a public tool to drive development, unity, and shared growth.”
The Minister emphasized that Africa’s unique perspectives and priorities are essential in shaping global dialogue to better address the continent’s needs.
The meeting underscored the importance of cultural rights, cultural diversity, and cultural dialogue as critical elements for fostering innovative, sustainable, cohesive, resilient, safe, and inclusive societies.
The African Union also commended Brazil for its exceptional leadership as G20 President and expressed anticipation for supporting South Africa’s upcoming presidency.
“On behalf of the African Union and our fifty-five (55) Member States, we recognize and appreciate Brazil’s dedication, commitment, and hard work towards the Culture Working Group and this ministerial meeting aimed at increasing the visibility of the culture and creative sector globally,” Musawa said.
“We are eager to work closely with South Africa to ensure Africa’s cultural priorities remain at the forefront of global discussions,” she concluded.
During the meeting, Minister Musawa engaged with her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Angola, South Africa, Korea, China, and France, focusing on key areas within her Ministry’s strategic roadmap. Notably, she held bilateral discussions with Brazil’s Minister of Culture, especially regarding the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s Cultural House in Salvador as a vital center for preserving cultural heritage and supporting Nigeria’s Destination 2030 initiative.
Key outcomes from these discussions include the establishment of working groups between countries to enhance the implementation of priority areas.
Highlights of the meeting included fostering cultural cooperation, collaboration in arts, heritage preservation, and the creative industries between the African Union and G20 member states, as well as increasing investment in Africa’s cultural and creative sectors. The AU also reaffirmed its strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development and cultural diplomacy efforts, while supporting South Africa’s leadership in the upcoming G20 presidency