05 Oct 2023

 Africa needs to harmonise policy frameworks for the creative sector to allow collaborations and co-creations within the region, says National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) Chairperson Thabo Dithebe.

Dithebe expressed the sentiments during the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) and Awards session in Gaborone on Wednesday and challenged African countries to desist from working in silos and package Africa as a brand.

Dithebe’s said that contributions were focused on measures that could stimulate growth of the creative sector in Africa in particular the creative and cultural industries and their contribution to intra-African trade under AfCFTA.

As such, he said Botswana was tasked to develop the value chain of the industry through the NACB. Earlier on, two of Africa’s renowned creative minds Tomeletso Sereetsi of Sereetsi and the Natives and Kenneth Agyapong, co-founder of Afrofuture in Ghana highlighted visa restrictions within the continent as a barrier for the region to capitalise on the creative and cultural industries for economic growth.

Agyapong said due to issues of VISA, they often have artists missing events which eventually affect the economic growth of the industry.

He also called for free trade agreements, particularly for the production of events. “We can learn from each other and share skills and knowledge through such trade agreements in our creative sector,” said Agyapong.

Concurring with his colleague, Sereetsi said African creative should not have to deal with Visa issues when travelling within the continent for events and work. He also highlighted infrastructure in the form of performing spaces as one factor that stalled the growth of the industry.

“It is difficult in our own yard before we even think about going to other African countries. We lack performing spaces, and existing infrastructures are not appropriate for vibrant cities,” he said. In addition, Sereetsi said the creative should have travel and mobility funding which would enable easy bookings internationally.

He said the time is now for the African creative change mindset on collaborations in order to harness the business potential that is available for the sector,

“We should also identify as Africans and not isolate, we should view each other as Africans and realise we have a bigger market,” said Sereetsi. ENDS