The United States Ambassador to Cameroon, Michael S. Hoza, has said his country is proud to partner with the Government of Cameroon and the private sector in the promotion and preservation of Cameroonian cultural heritage.

“We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Culture, Cameroonians and distinguished private sector leaders like Marilyn Crawford, to promote preservation and the cherishing of Cameroonian cultural heritage.”

According to the Ambassador, Cameroon does not only have thousands of years of culture experiences, but it is also a very special place waiting to be discovered. “That is why the country is rightfully known as ‘Africa in miniature’ because it is repository for all African culture and wildlife, which must be protected and preserved,” the Ambassador went on.

H.E Hoza was speaking in Yaounde on Wednesday, October 22, while welcoming Cameroon’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna and American Studio Executive and Marketing Entrepreneur, Marilyn Crawford.

During the meeting, the Ambassador lauded Minister Tutu Muna and Crawford for their vision to expand Cameroonian cultural heritage awareness within the country and in other countries.

Minister Tutu Muna remarked: “If people dare to dream, they can achieve big things. You can only create on the positive. Partners like Marilyn Crawford and the American people support our efforts to re-ignite hope and enable us to rediscover our cultural heritage, to cherish and to protect it for the benefit of all Cameroonians.”

While outlining the many projects like the promotion of women’s empowerment, corporate programmes to expand cultural markets for nations throughout the world, Marilyn Crawford said: “This is Cameroon’s time for renaissance. There are many opportunities awaiting cooperation.

The Minister of Culture has an excellent vision and representation of what Cameroon has to offer and I am honoured and proud to partner with her and the Ministry of Culture to promote their vision for cultural preservation. The private sector has a key role to play in supporting these critical endeavors through greater investment and corporate responsibility programmes that support communities,” Crawford stated.

Since its inception in 2001, the Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation, funded by the American people through the US Department of State, has supported more than 640 projects to preserve cultural heritage in 100 countries.

In Cameroon, the Fund has helped to preserve three cultural sites, with future projects currently being explored in partnership with Cameroonians and the Ministry of Arts and Culture.