Mokoomba manager to moderate landmark continental summit for artistes

AS the African arts community converges on Zanzibar this week, Zimbabwean arts advocate and Mookomba manager Marcus Gora is poised to play a key role at a major continental gathering focused on protecting and promoting artistic freedom.

Gora has been confirmed as a moderator at the inaugural Pan African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF) Summit, scheduled for February 9 and 10.

The landmark summit marks a significant step for the PANAF project, launched in November 2021, and seeks to interrogate policies while crafting stronger advocacy strategies to safeguard artistic freedom across Africa.

Delegates from Nigeria, Gambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia are expected to participate, bringing diverse local perspectives while addressing broader global challenges affecting creatives.

The programme will feature a keynote address, plenary sessions and panel discussions centred on “Challenges and Opportunities for Artistic Freedom on the Continent” and the “Role of Government in Advancing Artistic Freedom.”

For Gora, the engagement represents his third involvement with PANAF, but his first time serving in the influential role of moderator.

“I’m incredibly honoured to serve as a moderator at this year’s PANAF Summit. To lead a conversation on artistic freedom and the economic factors that dictate the pulse of free expression is a large responsibility,” he said.

Drawing from his experience managing internationally acclaimed outfit Mookomba, Gora is expected to offer practical insights into the delicate balance between creative liberty and the economic realities confronting African artistes.

Over the past two years, PANAF has steadily built national networks through partnerships with civil society organisations in the cultural sector and representative artist bodies. The summit signals the next phase of that work, creating a unified platform for dialogue and collaboration.

Teshome Wondimu, executive director of Selam, the organisation behind PANAF, described the summit as a critical moment for the continent’s creative industries.

“The Summit stands as a beacon for the exchange of ideas, fostering collaboration, and collectively advancing the cause of artistic freedom in Africa and beyond,” said Wondimu.

He added that organisers envision the summit growing into an annual event.

“We’re starting small, but the vision is to grow the PANAF Summit into an annual platform for continuous dialogue on issues related to artistic freedom on the continent between stakeholders and policy makers. The goal is to provide a dynamic space for insights from around the globe, shaping the future of artistic expression in Africa and beyond,” he said.

Wondimu noted that PANAF has already played a proactive role in raising awareness around violations of artistic freedom and strengthening solidarity among creatives. — @MbuleloMpofu