OUAGADOUGOU: The Minister of Culture, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, opened a regional workshop on Tuesday focused on developing strategies for cultural and creative industries in Africa. The event, organized by the Regional Center for the Performing Arts in Africa (CERAV/Africa), emphasized the importance of cooperation and diplomacy in harnessing the continent’s immense creative potential.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister Ouédraogo highlighted the challenges posed by ongoing security crises in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, which threaten cultural industries, social cohesion, and development. He called for sustainable solutions through collaborative efforts and intelligence sharing. The workshop, themed “Cooperation and diplomacy for the development of cultural industries and the implementation of the 2005 convention in Africa,” seeks to address these challenges by fostering innovative solutions for cultural cooperation and revitalizing networks.
Minister Ouédraogo urged par
ticipants to engage in deep reflection to generate actionable proposals. Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that cultural and creative industries are vital for job creation, innovation, and growth, and they enhance the global influence of African countries. He emphasized the role of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which Burkina Faso has ratified, in strengthening cultural cooperation and promoting diversity throughout the continent.
Minister Traoré advocated for cultural diplomacy as a means to foster peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding. He suggested that inter-African cultural cooperation should build strong networks that transcend borders, enabling cultural industries to flourish. The minister also stressed the importance of orienting cooperation towards inclusion and sustainability, encouraging public-private partnerships, supporting local initiatives, and promoting integrated cultural policies tailored
to regional needs.
Herman Pouya, the general delegate of CERAV/Africa, called on participants to share experiences and propose actions to bolster state and institutional support for culture. He identified the establishment of sustainable partnerships and effective cooperation as key discussion points. Established in 2014, CERAV/Africa aims to promote cultural diversity and implement the 2005 convention, a commitment ratified by Burkina Faso.