The Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, has given a "thumbs up" to the African Diaspora Heritage conference which was held in Bermuda earlier this week.

Archbishop Njongonkulu W.D. Ndungane said it was most appropriate that faith communities be involved in efforts to celebrate African heritage.

"I responded to the invitation of your Minister of Tourism, who was in my country South Africa, to come to this historic event," the Archbishop said.

"Of course I pointed out to him that it's imperative that faith communities have been so much involved in the struggle for rights around the world and also in our own struggle for liberation.

"And most important our forefathers - how they came through their difficulties was because of their strong faith in God."

He added : "Where we are today is by the grace of God who enabled us to pull through our difficulties."

He said the idea of Africans in the Diaspora and Africans on the continent working together on their heritage has "great resonance".

"Because apart from our mutual connectedness, there is a special and unique interconnectedness between the African Diaspora and the African continent. We share the same roots and that has significant resonance and in one sense or another we share a common history - the same history of colonialism, the same history of oppression and the same history of slavery."

Africans in the Diaspora and the continent were both "forging ahead to make a significant contribution to the life of this world", he added.

"I believe that together we can achieve tremendous things together. And for me this unique conference is one of the major steps in terms of cementing the bonds of affection that binds us together."

He said the conference, which took place at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel from May 25 to May 28, had been good. "I did not get to attend all the workshops but there seems to be a maturing in terms of the African people and the African Diaspora seeking to find its roots and the whole question of healing that goes with it.

"And the whole question of cherishing our heritage so that our children know where we come from," he added.

The development of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail conference was "very interesting" he continued.

"It follows through on a conference in South Africa called Peace Through Tourism," the Archbishop continued.

He added, however, that tourism should put people first and not simply use heritage as entertainment but should impart some sense of value in "our sense of being and appreciating what God has done and what he has given us in terms of the environment and the nature which we have".

"For us in Africa, we are mindful of the African American economy. We in South Africa have not begun to exploit the magnitude of what God has given us in Africa. Conferences like this, combined with what we had and others to come, encourage us to enjoy and appreciate the diversity of what God has given us to enjoy."