| Culture is one of the essential building blocks to the understanding of human identity and underlies the manner in which societies are organized and function. However, despite this vital role and appeals from international organizations, regional organizations and cultural advocates over the last 30 years, in Africa one finds that cultural industries are neglected and consequently do not appear on the public policy agenda of most governments. In practice, this means that cultural practitioners find themselves driving on an unpaved road as they operate in an environment that is devoid of critically needed public policy support.;If properly supported, cultural industries can play a central role in African communities due to their capacity to provoke thought, debate and a critical analysis of the world in new and inspired ways. This study argues that the formulation and implementation of supportive public policies is essential to laying the foundation on which cultural industries can be harnessed as vehicles for the facilitation of education, entertainment, cultural reaffirmation and awareness, national reconciliation, healing and nation building.;As a particular cultural industry, film is a unique medium that has the ability to not only speak to present challenges but it can also redefine and interpret a peoples' history in their own positive image. As such, films can be utilized to shed light on and draw attention to sensitive issues like national identity, cultural preservation, cultural consciousness, nation building, tribalism, corruption etc. In the process, a meaningful debate on these issues can then ensue.;In analyzing the issues pertaining to cultural policymaking in Africa, this study will focus on policy formulation and implementation in the arts and film sectors in the Republic of Namibia. |
