Inclusion, equity tops agenda as ECA celebrates Spanish Language Day

Addis Ababa, April 27, 2023 (FBC) – In an effort to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa celebrated Spanish Language Day on April 26 at the Commission’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The pomp and fanfare event offered a variety of spaces in which interaction was encouraged to ask and learn about the rich Hispanic culture, language, and the importance of multilingualism to preserve linguistic and cultural traditions while also fostering harmony and peace.

Hosted by the nine Spanish-speaking countries that have missions in Addis Ababa namely, Argentina, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela, the event highlighted the positive role of the Spanish language in promoting cultural exchange and people-to-people connections.

Acting Secretary Antonio Pedro opened the ceremony with ambassadors Crisantos Obama Ondo (Equatorial Guinea), Jorge Lefebre Nicolás (Cuba), and Victor Treviño (Mexico) thanking all present for their continued support of multilingualism.

Quoting Nelson Mandela in his opening remarks ‘If you speak to a man in a language he understands, the message reaches his head. If you speak to him in his language, it reaches his heart”, the acting ES did the same with some lines of his speech in Spanish.

The Acting underscored the important role of the Spanish language in international cooperation, the UN and ECA have been offering Spanish language courses to staff members and diplomatic personnel for several years.

The UN Day of the Spanish Language is celebrated every April 23 in tribute to writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who died on April 23, 1816.