Extract

Lupwishi Mbuyamba

Cultural Policies in Africa have been a matter of a great attention of researchers and scholars, but also for managers and decision makers willing to consolidate and legitimize the global policies in the new African States. The main methodologies used to stress this importance have generally been of referring to the historical background to consider the periods leading to the political independences of the continent taking in account that the final justification of the political claims lies in the cultural rights. For the next period in the 21st century after the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of political independences, it could be the right time for assessment and re-direction, if needed.

For this working paper, a first chapter will be dedicated to revisit the historical background of the process in order to record the progress made especially in their influences on developments of concepts and of methodologies reflected in the programme priorities and leading to a possible redesign of policies framework. Then the recall of objectives, key issues, strategies, actors and structures can justify a collective input in making cultural policies in the continent a field of solidarity and cooperation and justify the need of a general public and private investment. But culture is a dynamic area, thus adaptations to new concerns constitute permanent tasks for cultural policies that one should always take into account as the case for the struggle for life.

This first part of the paper will review the...