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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Folk-Fairs and Festivals: Cultural Conservation and National Identity Formation in Eritrea |
Author: | Kifleyesus, Abbebe |
Year: | 2007 |
Periodical: | Cahiers d'études africaines |
Volume: | 47 |
Issue: | 186 |
Pages: | 249-276 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Eritrea |
Subjects: | traditional festivals cultural policy cultural pluralism national identity nationalism Politics and Government |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesafricaines.6932 |
Abstract: | The State of Eritrea promotes folk-fairs and festivals in order to facilitate its 'unity in diversity' policy, and create communal interaction and cohesion among its peoples. These regional and national folk-fairs and festivals provide a ground for interaction between local communities and the State in which local communities expect economic benefits from the State and, conversely, the State attempts to popularize its policies of cultural pluralism or tolerance to multiculturalism by encouraging the articulation of local cultural traditions in terms of national integration. The staging of local culture therefore always has a national dimension, even when the expressive and material culture is of local origin, and can be an important factor in cultural conservation and national identity formation. The article looks at how State policy fosters national unity while respecting cultural diversity using the annual Festival 'Éretra' as a case in point. Bibliogr, notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract] |