1ST AFRICAN REGIONAL

MARTIAL ARTS CONGRESS

NAIROBI, THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

23-24 OCTOBER 2018

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I. Introduction
1st African Regional Martial Arts Congress: Sharing current status of Martial Arts in Africa and
building African Martial Arts network is being organized by UNESCO International Centre of
Martial Arts (UNESCO ICM) and the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM).
Its purpose is to share current status of African Martial Arts and to provide a platform for
dialogue as well as to discuss solutions for safeguarding and promoting martial arts in Africa.
Also, it is to acknowledge that challenges and opportunities that impact youth development and
engagement into Martial Arts activities. Martial Arts activities will contribute to youth generation
by using its philosophy and values, positive attitudes and personal development and its
characteristics. Therefore, we can ask why we need martial arts for better life and bridging
ultimate peace in Africa.

II. Background
In accordance with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between UNESCO
International Centre of Martial Arts (hereafter, UNESCO ICM) and Kenya National Commission
for UNESCO (henceforth, KNATCOM), both parties promised to implement its primary purpose
in the 1st article in MOU, so that two parties should cooperate each other to develop African
martial arts and establish African regional martial arts networks in the near future. Individual
actions might only be able to give limited influences within unorganized African martial arts
networks, so relevant parts and organizations should be gathered as a union to make African
martial arts flourish. UNESCO ICM started its operation based on the agreement between the
government of the Republic of Korea and UNESCO. The main objective of UNESCO ICM is to
contribute to youth development and women engagement by using martial arts philosophy and
the values, and individual improvement characteristics. The UNESCO ICM will play a pivotal role
in making the Congress productive and feasible. In collaboration with the KNATCOM, the
UNESCO ICM is proposing this Congress with East African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Mauritius, Sudan and South Sudan as well as UNESCO regional office
and National Commission from each participating country. Those participating countries from
East Africa are covered by the UNESCO’s priority and core programme region.
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III. Congress Title
1ST AFRICAN REGIONAL MARTIAL ARTS CONGRESS

IV. Objectives
In order to make North-South cooperation for capacity building and encourage and enhance
youth participation in martial arts for UNESCO agenda implementation about martial arts and
sports vitalization. Also, it is to promote UENSCO ICM that is an international organization on
martial arts into East Africa and to build African martial arts networks for the cooperative
developments of it. On top of this, a place of dialogue for in-depth discussion on current issues
of African Martial Arts and youth development with Martial Arts will be provided for martial
arts experts and governmental staffs as well as UNESCO personnel in Africa. Finally, we can build
our 1st kind of martial arts network and consider this event to be held annually in another East
African country next year.

V. Congress Topic
* [Main] Topic: Martial Arts in Africa and Youth Engagement
- (Sub 1) A current state of African Martial Arts (What are the challenges?)
- (Sub 2) A necessity of Martial Arts and its values (Why do we need Martial Arts?)
- (Sub 3) A role of Martial Arts for African Youth development (What are the
opportunities?)
VI. Expected Outcomes
 Increased understanding of current status of African Martial Arts and acknowledge its
challenges and opportunities for the future.
 Recommendations to the enhancement of youth participation in martial arts.
 Recognise UENSCO ICM’s role and mission in Africa and build African Martial Arts
networks.
 Enhanced presence of UNESCO ICM in African Region.
 Establishment of African Regional Martial Arts Network.

VII. Organizers
The Congress will be jointly organized by UNESCO International Centre of Martial Arts
(UNESCO ICM) and Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM).

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VIII. Implementation Strategy

 Around 40 participants from the East African region mostly such as Kenya, Uganda,
Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Mauritius are expected to attend in
the Congress to be held in from October 23 to October 24 for two days in Nairobi,
Kenya. All the guests will be National Commissions for UNESCO in East African region
and governmental staffs, martial arts experts and staffs from UNESCO cluster office in
Nairobi and UNESCO ICM itself.

 Prior to the Congress, countries will be requested to undertake an assessment of current

martial arts status in own country, identifying obstacles and barriers as well as
opportunities that exist for resolving these challenges, highlighting the good role of
martial arts and opportunity to develop martial arts status in East Africa.

 The Congress is envisioned as the first of its kind for UNESCO ICM outside of Korea
and this Congress will be a networking meeting to involve African countries on
indigenous martial arts discourse. It entails a combination of keynote speech,
presentation, panel discussion and field trips in Kenya. English will be the main working
language of the Congress with simultaneous interpretation provided in French or
Portuguese if needed.

 All costs associated with organizing and proceeding the 1st African Regional Martial Arts
Congress will be borne by the UNESCO ICM.

 Posters, banners, placards and backdrops, issues of size and numbers to be stated by
UENSCO ICM. Also, Congress materials, souvenirs (2019 New Calendar, Eco-bag,
Notepad, USB etc.), name tags and badges will be provided by UNESCO ICM too.

 Martial Arts demonstration will be decided by UNESCO ICM with Mr Evans Oruru
when he finish his responsibility for Martial Arts Open School which will be completed
on 3rd of August.

 KNATCOM will find an appropriate personnel, Covering all the sessions and field trip.
(However, staffs from KNATCOM and UNESCO ICM will also take some pictures by
their own camera just in cases.

 Outcome (Report of plan of Action) documents will be produced by the UNESCO ICM.

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  KNATCOM will invite local press from Kenya.

 KNATCOM will identify session chairs and the Congress Moderators from among
participants and organizers who can fluently speak English.

 If there is extra time during the Congress, the UNESCO ICM will prepare presentation
regarding the role of UNESCO ICM and its mission for a short time.

 KNATCOM and UNESCO ICM will send the official invitation by the post and email.

 UNESCO ICM will make and distribute those survey questionnaires to the participants
to evaluate the Congress (e.g. level of satisfaction, suggestions).

IX. Sponsors
The Congress will be sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of
Korea and the Province of Chungcheongbuk-do as well as Chungju-si.

X. Date/Time and Venue

Date: 23 (Tuesday) – 24 (Wednesday) October 2018

Time: 09:00am – 17:00pm (each day)

Venue: Taifa Room, Hilton Nairobi Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (Mama Ngina St, Nairobi, Kenya)

XI. Working Language

The working language of the Congress will be English. All relevant documents and information
for the Congress will also be in English, and participants are expected to be able to communicate
comfortably in English. However, French and Portuguese interpretation will be provided, if
needed depending on the final list of participating countries.

XII. Travel and Accommodation

 The organisers will cover the cost of a round-trip economy class flight ticket and local
hospitality (accommodation, meals, and local transportation) for participants from outside
of Kenya. Those participants will be accommodated in Hilton Nairobi Hotel.

 The organisers will cover accommodation for two nights and three days from 22
October to 24 October. (3 nights for some participants, 2 nights for some of them, 1
night and no accommodation needed depending on the participants)

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  Participants must obtain any necessary visas and are encouraged to obtain their own
travel insurance. Responsibility for and costs of obtaining these items shall be borne by
the organizers. Meanwhile, KNATCOM will deal with Visa issue except the participants
from Korea. (In cooperation with immigration office for waiver of visa fee or alternatives.
But if needed to pay, participants will have to pay visa fee on the arrival at the airport
($50 per person), this will be reimbursed.

 Additional expenses, e.g. for drinks, individual snacks, laundry, phone bills, and other
personal services, will NOT be borne by the organizers and must be settled directly by
the participants.

XIII. Climate
The average temperature in Nairobi, Kenya in October is somewhat warm at 19 ℃. Afternoons
can be fairly hot with average high temperatures reaching 25 ℃. Overnight temperatures are
generally mild with 13 ℃.

XIV. Currency
As of 19 July 2018, the currency value for the US Dollar (USD) against the Kenya Shilling (KES)
was as follows: USD 1 dollar = KES 100 shilling (e.g. $100 = 10,000 shilling)

XV. Correspondence and Contacts

All correspondence should be addressed to:

Chang-hee HAN (Mr.) - ICM
John Moogi Omare (Mr.) - KNATCOM
Programme Specialist
Programme Director
International Cooperation Team
Culture Programme
UNESCO International Centre of Martial Arts
Kenya National Commission for UNESCO
Tel: +82 43 845 6728
Tel: +254 20 2229053
Fax: +82 43 850 7349
E-mail: ojohnmoogi@unesco.go.ke
E-mail: ch.han@unescoicm.org
ojohnmoogi@gmail.com
Website: www.unescoicm.org
Website: www.unesco.go.ke

XVI. Tentative Programme

D–1 Arrival of participants from outside of Kenya
Monday, Check-in / Pre-registration
22 October 2018 Preparation of the Congress

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 09:00 – 09:30 Registration and Warm-up
09:30 – 10:30 Opening Session
- Opening
- Opening Speech / Welcoming remarks
 Director of UNESCO Nairobi Office
 Secretary General of KNATCOM
 Secretary General of UNESCO ICM
- Group photo and Coffee break
- Introduction of the agenda
10:30 – 11:30 Session 1
Key note address (TBC)
- Current state of African Martial Arts
 Share current martial arts issues in Africa
 Moderator:
 Presentation 1:
 Presentation 2:
Day 1 - Group Discussion
Tuesday, - Timetable to be reworked to include plenary discussions
23 OCT (Questions and Answers)
2018 11:30 – 12:30 Session 2
- Why do we need Martial arts? (its philosophy, values)
 Moderator:
 Presentation 1:
- What makes Martial arts best toll bridging for peace?
 Moderator:
 Presentation 2:
- Group Discussion
- Timetable to be reworked to include plenary discussions
(Questions and Answers)
12:30 – 14:00 Luncheon
14:00 – 15:30 Session 3
- A role of Martial Arts for youth development
 Moderator:
 Presentation 1:
- Challenges and Opportunities for youth in Africa
 Moderator:

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  Presentation 2:
- Group Discussion
- Timetable to be reworked to include plenary discussions
(Questions and Answers)
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee/Tea break
16:00 – 17:00 Session 4
- Discuss solutions for youth engagement in Africa
 Moderator:
 Presentation 1:
- Group Discussion
- Timetable to be reworked to include plenary discussions
(Questions and Answers)
17:30 – 19:00 Dinner
09:00 – 09:30 Warm-up and Day 1 Recap

09:30 – 10:30 Session 5

- Parallel group discussions on addressing issues
- Presentation of outcome report
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee/Tea break

11:00 – 12:30 Final Session

- Presentation of draft plan of Action
Day 2
- Closing Remarks
Wednesday
- Closing
24 OCT
12:30 – 14:00 Luncheon and Warm-up for field trip
2018
14:00 – 14:30 Move to KWS Safari Walk (Nairobi National Park)

14:30 – 15:40 Field trip in KWS Safari Walk

15:40 – 16:00 Move to Giraffe Centre in Karen

16:00 – 17:00 Field trip in Giraffe Centre in Karen

17:00 – 18:00 Come back to Hilton and Dismiss

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