ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND DELEGATES; CONFERENCE PRESIDENT ADOTEVI SPEAKING; FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE JEAN ROUCHE; UNESCO REPRESENTATIVES VIEYRA AND FULCHIGNONI; DIPLOMATIC CORPS MEMBERS.




Initials AH/VS/PN/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A WEEK-LONG CONFERENCE INVESTIGATING MEANS OF RECORDING AFRICAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS BY AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNIQUES REACHED A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IN PORTO NOVO ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 20). REPRESENTATIVES OF MOST AFRICAN COUNTRIES VISITED DAHOMEY FOR THE CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS BACKED, BY THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO).

THIRTY AFRICAN EXPERTS ON AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNIQUES WERE PRESENT TO ADVISE THE CONFERENCE ON THE PRIMARY PROBLEM OF RECORDING AFRICAN ORAL TRADITION BY AUDIO-VISUAL MEANS. AMONG THE FOREIGN EXPERTS WAS FRENCHMAN JEAN ROUCHE.

DURING THE CLOSING SESSION, UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE ENRICO FULCHIGNONI DECLARED THAT THE FINDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE MARKED A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT I AFRICAN AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNIQUES. HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT AFRICAN-MADE FILMS SHOWN DURING THE CONFERENCE WOULD FROM THE FOUNDATION OF A GENUINE FILM CULTURE IN AFRICA.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONFERENCE SUBMITTED TO UNESCO INCLUDE AN IMMEDIATE PROGRAMME OF RECORDING AFRICAN TRADITIONS BY AUDIO-VISUAL EXPERTS AND THE FOUNDATION OF A NEW MAGAZINE TO PUBLICISE THESE EFFORTS.

DELEGATES ALSO ASKED FOR ADEQUATE MATERIAL TO BE PLACED AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE EXPERTS, FOR GROUPS OF YOUNG RESEARCHERS TO BE ORGANISED AND FOR THE FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE TO CO-ORDINATE THE PROJECT ON MULTI-NATIONAL LINES.