INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICAN CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (ICACD2008)

Preliminary Conference Program
A detailed program with all speakers and other collaborators who will be joining us in organizing the event will be published soon.

Date
21st - 26th April 2008

Coference Venues
Center For National Culture, Kumasi
Kessben Resort, Abonu

Focus of Conference
Africa’s slow pace of growth and development is one of the most disturbing realities of our time. African governments and their development partners worldwide often sideline culture when it comes to developmental issues.

However, Africa’s strong societal institutions will undoubtedly impact on any developmental program or policy as was echoed in the Commission of Africa report . ‘Those who ignore culture are doomed to failure in Africa. Those who understand culture can find new ways to succeed.’ ICACD 2008 seeks to create a platform for Africa and the rest of the world to meet in Africa to gather, discuss and refine ideas and to chart a common course of action from the African Cultural perspective.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Monday April 21, 2008 (Venue: Center For National Culture)

11:00 - 13:00
Official Opening of the African Arts and Crafts Exhibition (AACE) at the center for National Culture

19:00 - 20:30
Welcome Dinner, short speeches and presentations concluding with an informal interaction of delegates.

Tuesday April 22, 2007 (Venue: Center for National Culture - Kumasi)

10:00 – 12:00
Official Conference Opening

14:00 – 17:00
Concurrent Workshops and Meetings

(1) Culture and Governance: Modern Governance Structures and the Future of Traditional Governing Institutions.

Historically, African countries had established institutions of governance that ensured smooth national administration. In recent years however, emphasis on and the powers of these institutions are being overlooked and gradually destroyed by modern political structures. This session will take a closer look at the modern and traditional political institutions nexus and draft recommendations for future actions as the disruption of the traditional institutions will undoubtedly threaten the effective functioning of the modern institutions.

(2) Culture and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

The search for effective conflict prevention mechanism in Africa has been a long and ongoing one, but little has been done about the cultural dimensions of the various indigenous communities in solving these conflicts across Africa. This meeting will also explore traditional conflict resolution mechanisms that exist and their potentials to resolve current conflicts on the continent.

(3) Culture for Development: Unveiling Critical Factors in Africa’s Development.

Undoubtedly, Africa’s problems are multifaceted and will be difficult if not impossible to solve using a single approach. The discussion will seek to explore culture and its relationship with other issues or factors such as political, technological, natural, Gender etc. and how efforts in all these areas can be coordinated to bring about the desired change.

20:00 – Midnight (Venue: Open Air theater (CNC- Kumasi))

“Night of African Culture”
African Arts and Cultural performances including, music, drama, poetry and literature, dance, folktales, etc. with Artists from various African Countries.

Wednesday April 23, 2008 (Venue: Center for National Culture - Kumasi)

09:00 – 12:00
Concurrent Workshops and Meetings

(1) Culture and the African Economy

Is it that, Africans are placed in a situation, which frequently makes them, opposed to the introduction of improved technologies for development? How do African traditional institutions work? Can the culture of the people be a foundation for growth and development programs? How can these institutions and practices be harnessed for the development of the people? At this meeting, we discuss and assess how cultures propel or inhibit developmental objectives of governments. Special attention will be given to the African Cultural values and practices and the action plans that are needed to eliminate obstacles to development.

(2) Foreign Aid : Understanding the African Situation and Achieving Results in Africa.

For decades, most African countries have depended on Foreign Aid. While some perceive foreign aid as indispensable in Africa’s developmental efforts, others argue that, aid is not a sufficient condition to development unless the people are detached from the practices and customs that are incompatible with development. This meeting will address the issues of foreign aid to Africa – the problems and opportunities for achieving targets.

13:30 – 14:30 (Venue: Manhyia Palace)

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Head and King of the Ashanti Kingdom to address delegates on the role of Chieftaincy and traditional institutions in governance and National development.

15:00 – 17:00
Visit to Manhyia museum and a tour of the Manhyia palace.

Thursday April 24, 2008

8:00 – 11:00
A cultural tour to towns and villages in and around Kumasi. We visit Bonwire – a kente (a local fabric) weaving community whose livelihoods are dependent on the traditional methods.

11:45 – 12: 45 (Venue: Kessben Resort - Abonu)

Culture: Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods in Africa

Africa has a high prevailing Unemployment rates in the world. Rural-urban migration seems to have taken over in most African Countries,. Huge masses of rural folks are all over the cities in search of non-existent jobs or jobs that that require highly skilled personnel which they fall short of. This panel discussion examines African and global governmental attitudes towards culture and how culture or attention to culture can improve livelihoods, especially the rural poor.

14:45 – 17:45 (Venue: Lake Bosomtwi Paradise Hotel - Abonu)

A cultural tour of Lake Bosomtwi ending at the Bosomtwi Paradise Hotel situated on the banks of the lake. While relaxing on the grasses overlooking the Lake Bosomtwi, we listen to and observe how cultural practices have sustained fishing on the lake.

Friday April 25, 2008 (Venue: Center for National Culture - Kumasi)

9:00 – 11:00
Presentations and concluding sessions of the various meetings.

11:30 – 1:00 (Venue: Center for National Culture - Kumasi)

Closing Plenary Session
Presentation of the summary of discussions with conclusions and policy recommendations from the various meetings and concurrent sessions. Views from participants of ICACD 2008 and final words from governments, traditional rulers and ICACD 2008 Organizing Chair.

Key note speaker: Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (King of Ashanti Kingdom)

Conference and Exhibition officially closes at the main auditorium of the Center for National Culture at 13:10pm