Selam Ethiopia, AU launch Connect for Culture Africa initiative

The five-year initiative, which was unveiled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 25 and 26 May, seeks to popularise the revised African Union Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs).

CfCA will aim to enhance the role CCIs play in achieving sustainable development in order to facilitate the delivery of a wider social and economic impact.

It will intertwine advocacy efforts at regional and national levels through a multistakeholder regional network that will bring culture advocates together, raising awareness on the benefits of investing in culture for democratic, inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable social and economic development.

Among the objectives of the project are increased lobbying to African states to allocate at least 1% of their national budget to the arts, culture and heritage sectors by 2030, increased awareness of the value of Africa’s creative sector through research and data publication, as well as strengthened partnerships and networks between stakeholders working in the CCIs on the continent.

“By lobbying for public investment in the sectors, stakeholders can highlight the economic benefits that can be gained,” Selam founder and executive director Teshome Wondimu said. “The culture and creative industries not only generate revenue through cultural tourism, but they also stimulate employment and entrepreneurship.”

CfCA implementation will include working closely with government agencies, research institutions/universities, the media, artists, and civil society organisations, among others. This effort is expected to result in increased political will for the sector, which will lead to budget proposals, budget bills, and, in countries where the process is further along, discussions on increased budget allocation to the culture and creative sectors.

Wondimu believes that through lobbying, stakeholders can advocate for investment in policy, infrastructure, training, and resources that support the local growth and international reach of the various sectors within the CCIs.

“Public and private funding are both necessary for the growth of the CCIs. For the sector to grow and for there to be a sustainable creative economy, the heads of state need to be at the forefront to not only invest but also lead dialogues with the private sector for further investment and funding.”

He adds that CfCA builds on an already existing commitment. “In 2020, during the 33rd Assembly of the African Union, 12 heads of state committed themselves to play the role of leadership, advocacy and facilitation for arts, culture and heritage. The countries represented include Morocco, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Namibia.”

The launch included panel discussions and a concert to celebrate Africa Day with performances by musicians from Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania.

“We want to empower artists. A lot of artists want to participate in these discussions about good governance and human rights, but they are scared of the consequences," Selam regional programme director Lucy Ilado told Reuters.

Tanzanian musician Vitali Maembe said he hoped that more funding would help artists to be better educated.

The initiative is being implemented by Selam with the support of the Swedish government. Selam Ethiopia is a non-profit organisation based in Addis Ababa and Stockholm, Sweden, that uses film and music to advocate for issues such as human rights and artistic development.