African Renaissance Conference starts today

Speakers in the plenary session include:

• President Jacob Zuma (in a recorded message);
  
• Chair of the African Renaissance Festival, Dr Sbu Ndebele;
  
• Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe;
  
• Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize;
  
• SABC chair, Dr Ben Ngubane; and
  
• VC of the African Renaissance Festival, Dr Sihawu Ngubane.

This year's African Renaissance theme is 'Take charge Africa - the future of Africa is in your hands' and the conference will focus on looking at African solutions to the challenges faced in the business, tourism and arts and culture sectors. Papers and addresses will be delivered by a range of experts from private and public sectors from South Africa and Africa.

The conference opens with a plenary, followed by sector sessions and a resolution session, with a final report to the plenary.

Business Sector Session

The Business Sector Session will follow the theme of 'South Africa in charge of business' and will be chaired by Andrew Layman, CEO of Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business. Speakers include minister in the presidency: performance monitoring, evaluation and administration, Collins Chabane who will speak about the government framework for taking charge of performance and delivery; Lester Bouah, general manager for investment promotion at Trade and Investment KZN, Michael Deighton, MD of Tongaat Hulett Development; Cogi Pather head of eThekwini Housing, Shunnon Tulsiram, head of eThekwini Economic Development, Marc Maurel, manager at KZN Investor Network (Stedone Group), Kanyi Gasa CEO of Enterprise Ilembe, Lumkile Mondi, chief economist for the Industrial Development Corporation and Riaan Le Roux, COO Trade and Investment SA.

The second day will open with remarks by deputy mayor of Ethekwini, Cllr Logie Naidoo. Topics to be discussed include KZN regional economics in context, national business dynamics, investment opportunities in KZN, addressing the needs of housing development through Cornubia as well as a number of case studies and best case practices.

Tourism Sector Session

Under the theme 'Final Countdown to 2010 World Cup', Bunny Bhoola, chairman of PMB Tourism and MD of African Link Tours will chair the first day's Tourism Sector Session. Speakers include Terry Toohey, principal consultant of the Cruise Indian Ocean Association; Julie-May Ellingson, manager of eThekwini Strategic Projects Unit; Warren Ozard, operations manager of Fedhasa, Michael Jackson GM of Elangeni Hotel and chair of the tourism committee of the Durban Chamber of Commerce; Michael Bertram, CEO of South Coast Tourism; Prof Kamilla Swart, associate professor in the Faculty of Business and head of the centre for tourism research in Africa at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Prof Brian Kearney, emeritus professor of Architecture at UKZN and Kuben Moodley, GM of Umhlanga Explorer and KZN chairman of SATSA.

Topics to be discussed include Eastern and Southern Coast of Africa...the international cruise industry's new frontier, All Systems GO - 2010 and Beyond, 2010 research agenda, Homespun Values - Architecture and Tourism and Setting standards in 2010 for 2011.

Arts and Culture Sector Session

Stella Khumalo, HOD, Arts and Culture will chair the Arts and Culture Sector Session and MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Weziwe Thusi will give opening remarks. Under the theme 'Asserting African society through arts and culture', papers will be presented by Ndela Ntshangase - provincial chairperson of KZNACC (KwaZulu Natal Arts and Culture Council); Dr Wally Serote chief executive officer, Freedom Park; Seipati Bulane-Hopa secretary general, Pan African Federation of Film Makers (FEPACI; Jabulani Sithole, lecturer in History UKZN and co-editor of Zulu Identities: Being Zulu, Past and Present, Toni Monty acting CEO of the Durban Film Office and Dr Lungile MaBhengu-Baloyi author of the book African Midwife: Beyond Change. Papers include amongst others "Defining the roles and responsibilities of African society within the promotion of traditional cultural ceremonies", "Exploring strategic partnerships with the global world in pursuit of international cultural exchanges", "Positioning the African continent within international economic opportunities for sustainability of African Cultural industry", "Film production", and "The African Midwife Heritage: Beyond bricks and mortar".

The festival also comprises an Africa Day Concert at the ICC Arena on 25 May.

For more information about the full African Renaissance programme, email az.oc.inazow@noitpecer or tel: +27 (0) 31 2669792.