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As a representative of Ghana at a seminar in Morocco on “Copyright Friendly Labels,” The Taste Of Afrika’s co-founder Tengol Kplemani represented Ghana
Sophie Kabano (Left) Tengol K Kplemani (Middle) Dr Grace Ijoma (Right)
As a keynote speaker at the “Copyright Friendly Label” seminar held in Morocco a few days ago, CEO and co-founder of The Taste Of Afrika Tengol K. Kplemani represented Ghana. The “Copyright Friendly Label” is a collective certification mark with economic value that allows an entity (in this document, entity refers to a city, community, organization, company, event, place, or ecosystem) to stand out by highlighting its commitment and respect for copyright. By displaying this label, issued by copyright societies and other authorized institutions or organizations, the entity demonstrates that it recognizes its intellectual property’s economic and cultural values, respects its creators and takes the necessary measures to protect their rights.
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As one of the keynote speakers at the seminar, he was asked to address “How The Taste Of Afrika’s Cultural Oneness Festival can leverage the Copyright Friendly Label as an asset to attract more tourists?” In response, he zoomed in on the immense potential of The Cultural Oneness Festival to entice more tourists by leveraging the Copyright Friendly Label. He says “Copyright” is vital to creative work and cultural festivals. The Cultural Oneness Festival can protect all creative works by obtaining the Copyright Friendly Label. This in turn will attract more tourists who value and respect intellectual property rights.
Moreover, obtaining the Copyright Friendly Label will also promote African culture and heritage. By showcasing authentic African music, art, dance, food, and fashion, the festival can create a truly memorable experience for tourists. It will allow them to immerse themselves in African culture and learn more about its history and traditions. This will attract more tourists and promote cultural exchange and understanding. “I see a train, in which the engine has started and everyone in this room has to be the driver of that train. Africa belongs to all of us” was his closing remark.
Sophie Kabano (Left) Tengol K. Kplemani (Middle) Dr. Grace Ijoma (Right)
The Cultural Oneness Festival has immense potential to become a major tourist attraction in Africa. By leveraging the Copyright Friendly Label as an asset, the festival can promote and protect its creative works while attracting more tourists who value intellectual property rights. This will not only benefit the tourism industry but also promote African culture and heritage on a global scale. The Cultural Oneness Festival is an exceptional and exciting event that brings together people from different walks of life to celebrate Africa’s rich and diverse cultures. It was officially launched last month in Tamale (Northern Region) in partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Harlem Tourism Board.
Sophie Kabano (Left) Tengol K. Kplemani (Middle) Dr. Grace Ijoma (Right)
The event had stakeholders from almost every part of Africa. Some of the keynote speakers at the seminar included Chinedu Chukwuji, Licensing Expert/ Nigeria, Tugirimana Jean De Dieu, CEO RSAU / Rwanda, Irene Vieira, Copyright and Collective Management Expert – Côte d’Ivoire, Allou Elvis Adjaffi, Director of Regulation and Litigation, Ministry of Culture and La Francophonie / Côte d’Ivoire, Alif Naaba, Musician Artist, Copyright Ambassador – Burkina Faso, Dr Grace Ijoma, Academic Research Specialist – University of South Africa, Vincent Mambashaka, Cultural Engineering Expert, Artistic Advisor at Théâtre de la Ville – Paris, France, Ms Dalal MHAMDI ALAOUI, Director of the Moroccan Copyright Office – Morocco, Marwane FACHANE, Director General of Hiba Foundation – Morocco, Ayeta Anne Wangusa, Executive Director of Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA) – Tanzania, just to mention a few.
Story by: John Claude Tamakloe.
