Culture

At audience with visiting US delegation: MINAC boss recommits to curb illicit exploitation, transfer of cultural artefacts.

by Mercy Fosoh
23 Jul 2024 19:51
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Cross section of participants during audience

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpwatt, has reiterated government’s commitment to curb the illicit exploitation and transfer of cultural artefacts.
This was during an audience he granted to a visiting delegation from the United States recently.

The visitors were led by the Director of Cultural Heritage Eric Catalfamo and the Foreign Affairs Research Analyst Anne Compton, both from the Cultural Heritage Centre in the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States of America, USA.

The close to an hour audience permitted both parties to discuss about the illicit exploitation and transfer of artistic heritage. A topic which according to Minister Bidoung Mkpwatt, preoccupies the government.

The audience permitted both parties to review diplomatic relations which started at the wake of Cameroon’s independence in 1960 and span through a broad range of areas.

In the arts and culture sub-sector, it was revealed that both countries have engaged in cultural exchange programmes, artistic collaborations and initiatives aimed at promoting mutual understanding through the arts.

The visit of the Director of Cultural Heritage of the US Department of State and his team was in line with the will of the US Government to foster ties in the area of preservation and conservation of Cameroon’s rich and abundant cultural heritage.

Speaking at the audience, Eric Catalfamo disclosed that the USA is ready to partner with Cameroon in order to preserve and protect its amazing cultural heritage.

“We have been working with the country for over 20 years through our ambassador’s fund for cultural preservation, which spearheads eight projects around the country. We are also working closely with the Cameroon government to support the 1970 UNESCO convention to ensure that countries are keeping the art market clean, items of cultural patrimony that are imported into Cameroon remain in the country,” Catalfamo noted.

At the end of the meeting, the visitors revealed that the US Embassy in Cameroon will hold an information session, to brainstorm on the process to have a formal agreement to protect cultural heritage.

Eric Catalfamo commended the country’s interest to have a memorandum of understanding with the USA for the protection of cultural property and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3177 of Tuesday July 23, 2024