Ethiopia wins appreciation in Pan African Cultural Festival

Culture and Tourism State Minister Mohamoda Ahmed Gass said Ethiopia’s presentation in the 2nd Pan African Cultural Festival held in Algerian capital Algiers won great admiration.

• The State minister told journalists on Friday that Ethiopia participated in the festival, which was a showcase of Africa’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, in a very dynamic manner.
• Ethiopia presented traditional dances, sculpture, paintings, ceramics and fashion show in the festival organized under the motto “The African Renaissance”.
• Lucy’s Cast, the famous human fossil that was exhibited in Bardo Museum in Algiers for the first time in Africa, attracted great attention and helped the Africa show the world that it is the cradle of humankind, he said.
• Several people including Ministers of various African countries, diplomats and other invited guests visited Lucy on July 7, 2009.
• The minister said Ethiopia was the only nation in the festival to present books written on parchment, which is one of its rich artistic traditions.
• Ethiopians also presented various traditional songs and dances as well, he said.
• The festival, which attracted 52 African countries, featured both traditional and popular art forms, from music and dance to fashion, cinema, literature and visual art.