AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Evangelising through cinema: 50 years of the Pan-African Festival

Thursday, 28 February 2019

Internet

Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - Every year the Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) brings together all the main actors of African cinema. This year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary, the event faces the theme of 'Cinema at the service of the development of African countries'. Today, cinema is also an essential path of evangelization. FESPACO is an important channel of expression, formation, communication and development of the African continent at all levels. Through cinema, Africa makes its voice heard, telling its own story and discussing the main issues that seriously oppose the integral and holistic development of the continent: The socio-political and post-electoral crises, terrorism, the continuous and bloody struggles of power.
The Catholic Church in Africa - as Fides sources point out - does not want to remain unknown to such a cultural event that touches the life and well-being of the African people: all means are good for promoting evangelization and for working for the development of the country. The Church can also evangelize through cinema, offering a significant contribution to the preservation of the values and wealth of African cultures in the light of the Gospel. "Catholics - African theologians note - must commit themselves and be on the side of those who, through cinematography, struggle to transform Africa into a land of peace and justice". The ideals promoted by FESPACO agree with those at the heart of the Church's evangelizing mission, and this is why the Catholics of the continent promote and support it. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/2/2019)


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