The Ministry of Arts and Culture of Cameroon, Pr. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, granted, on April 6^th 2017, an audience to the Executive Secretary of CERDOTOLA Pr. Charles Binam Bikoi.

From the start, the Executive Secretary thanked the Minister for granting him an audience. He seized the occasion to praise the quality of relations between CERDOTOLA and his ministerial Department before he expressed the gratitude of his Institution to the Government of the Republic of Cameroon which, apart from sheltering the Institution, also supports it since its creation.

Afterwards, Pr. Charles Binam Bikoi drew an inventory of fixtures on the development of cultural Institutions of the continent and he presented the influence of the Institution he heads within this environment. He drew the prospects and new orientations of his Institution in the service of cultural diplomacy and the effective total freeing of Africa through culture: an African steady and proud of his dignity and his identity. This new paradigm, noticed Professor Binam, results from the International colloquium organised by CERDOTOLA in 2015 under the theme: “Africa in search of a sustainable culturally development: place and role of African traditions in the current emergence policies”. This colloquium ended with the adoption of a new development Social Contract called “African Development Pact for the Emergence of Africa through Traditions” (PADETRA).

The Executive Secretary deemed requisite to announce the 40^th anniversary of CERDOTOLA whose activities will be launched in May and end in October 2017. The year 2017 indeed, is a particular year for CERDOTOLA. Created in 1977 at the African Heads of States’ behest, after a long international and intergovernmental thinking and dialoguing scientific and diplomatic process, spurred on by UNESCO and the AUO conference on cultural policies in Africa of 1975.

Today, CERDOTOLA is the last among the five Institutions created about forty year, to hold out against difficulties and keep presenting its own view to the world, Professor said.

Borne by Cameroon, CERDOTOLA opened to the continent and beyond since 2010, as an Institution of reference in the Scientific, cultural and diplomatic Cooperation for the protection, the spreading and the development of African pool.

The celebration of the 40^th anniversary of CERDOTOLA, authorised by the plenipotentiaries of Country members, needs the coaching and support of Cameroon’s high personalities, mainly the Minister of Arts and Culture of Cameroon, said the Executive Secretary.

The commemoration of this anniversary should be a solemn moment and activities should reflect the job carried out by this Centre working for the Renaissance of Africa and a development of Africa from its own traditions.

This forty-year will allow the launching of two new scientific activities of the Centre:

• The African Patrimonial Feeding Programme ( ALIPA) from May 25^th to 26^th 2017;
• The Africa Patrimonial Health System Development programme from July 6^th to 7^th

The great celebration is scheduled for October 9^th to 16^th and will be marked by scientific and cultural activities. On the programme: an International Colloquium under the theme: “African cultural and scientific Institutions meeting the challenges of emergence and Renaissance”, the great exposition “Ubuntu Village”, the Summit of Cultural Institutions of Africa and of the Diaspora (SICADIA) etc… Through these activities, CERDOTOLA leads the cultural diplomacy in Africa and in the world.

Taking the floor again, Pr. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi congratulated Pr. Charles Binam Bikoi for his dynamism at the head of CERDOTOLA, one of the most reliable International Organisations thanks to its commitment. The Minister looked forwards to seeing flourishing the relationship, the cooperation and the partnership between this Institution and his Ministerial Department.

The Minister promised assistance and support to CERDOTOLA for its forty-year celebration.

The warmly and friendly audience ended with the handing over of reference publications of CERDOTOLA to the Minster.

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Video extract : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeuLeHzevmo