Amao stated that African culture has always been known for upholding good moral virtues, but unfortunately, some women use social media as a means of promoting immorality and promiscuity, instead of their culture. She expressed concern that such actions have partly lowered African moral and cultural values to the extent that some taboos have now become the norm.
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The Director-General lamented that some women use social media to market sex enhancement drugs (popularly known as Kayanmata), cosmetic surgeries that are injurious to health, and even solutions that would hypnotise men and snatch them from their wives. She also decried the public display of ill-gotten affluence, which is believed to be a shorter route to earning brand endorsement deals with some corporate organisations. These vices, she said, have negatively affected the values in African culture.
"African women should put a stop to these and ensure that the values of African culture are being propagated on various social media platforms for posterity," she said.
Amao spoke on the theme, “Empower Her by Building Arts and Culture Through Innovation and Technology” and urged women in the arts and culture sectors of the economy to build networks with a focus on “women supporting women”. She said this would help grow their arts and culture businesses as well as initiate capacity-building activities that empower young and emerging women artists.
She advised African leaders to design alternative ways of increasing access to arts and cultural education. Women-friendly institutions should be established to train women on the use of technology and keep them abreast of current trends in technology for a successful career in the creative sector.
The Director-General emphasised that for women to fully harness the opportunities inherent in technological innovations, it is important for them to support each other in their different artistries. By creating female-friendly spaces and helping each other gain access to funding for their projects, women can do away with unnecessary rivalry and envy.
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| Women from across Africa at the International Women’s Day Conference in Kagali, Rwanda. |
To guard against the indiscriminate use of social media, Amao called for the formulation of stringent laws and capital punishment by governments. She encouraged African women to view themselves as more valuable and focused on re-developing themselves to conform to the dictates of the 21st century. She advised them to rise above cultural practices and gender dictates that have impaired their ability to attain their desired goals in life. The mindset is a very important agent to change the world.
Amao also recounted women’s significant roles in societal development, cutting across different African countries. She reiterated that the digital space offered opportunities for increased productivity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation for women in the arts and culture sectors, which could, in turn, improve their economic well-being.