Shabait.com (Asmara)
19 December 2008
Asmara — The First Assessment Symposium on Art Works in the Tigre Language opened today at the Hager Media Hall within the premises of the Ministry of Information in the presence of President Isaias Afwerki, ministers, senior PFDJ officials, regional Administrators, Army Commanders, religious leaders, ambassadors and invited guests.
In a speech he delivered at the opening ceremony on behalf of President Isaias Afwerki, Mr. Ali Abdu pointed out that the Eritrean people have employed the arts not only as an expression of identity but also in highlighting the objectives of the armed struggle for liberation and transforming the depth of its ideological and spiritual dimensions into a potent material force in a successful manner. He further explained that the essence of such a supreme task emanated from the firm conviction that "languages have equal status."
Mr. Ali went on to indicate that the mature handling of art works in the days of the armed struggle helped to lay solid ground for their development and perspective in three aspects, i.e. depth, beauty and value, in the post-independence period. He also stressed the need for speeding up the formulation of the yet unrealized cultural policy at the national level. To this end, Mr. Ali underlined that artists, at the time when the development drive to achieve economic liberation is being stepped up, have the trust and responsibility of nurturing civilized national arts that is well sifted and based on the country's history, tradition and cultural diversity.
At a moment when the erroneous pretension of the so-called 'theoretical giants' who claim to have reached "the end of history" as regards the development of theory have been telling us to stop looking for a theory that challenges their economic and cultural dominance are being laid bare, history is fully attesting to the fact that humankind is entitled to have alternative philosophies and critical mind, Mr. Ali elaborated. In this respect, he underscored the decisive role of the arts in ensuring the success of such a mission.
Stating that Eritrean arts, as deep yet priceless asset, should be nurtured in a manner that would ensure unity under the umbrella of justice, besides providing charm and sweetness to social life, he noted that this significant symposium is expected to assess the current art works and map out a strategy aimed at strengthening its role in reinforcing nationalism and the nation-building process. Mr. Ali further asserted that the Government and the PFDJ would fulfill the necessary requirements towards attaining all-round cultural revival.
Also speaking on the occasion representing the preparatory committee, Mr. Saleh Mahmoud, welcomed the symposium participants and noted the paramount role of arts development in societal progress. In this regard, he called on all parties to make due contribution in promoting a developed national arts.
In the symposium organized by the PFDJ Cultural Affairs Office in which more than 500 people from inside the country and abroad are taking part, eight study papers would be presented, including the role of arts in the existence and identity of society, intellectual property copyright and its impact in societal progress and artistic works, origin of traditional and modern melody and poetry in the Tigre language, as well as oral poetry in the language.
Cultural shows highlighting the arts of the Tigre language were staged at the opening ceremony, thus adding color to the event.
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