Ouagadougou: The Minister of Culture, Pingdwend© Gilbert Ou©draogo, has launched the West African component of the "Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture" project. The event, which took place on Thursday, July 24, 2025, was attended by diplomatic representatives, artists, cultural administrators, and technical and financial partners, including the European Union and the Goethe-Institut.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Tourism highlighted the project's importance in strengthening the capacities of cultural professionals, promoting the internationalization of festivals, and creating employment opportunities for young African artists. He urged all stakeholders to embrace the initiative, designed to leave a lasting impact on the West African cultural landscape.
The project, with a budget of 10 million euros (approximately 6.5 billion CFA francs), aims to reach 250 festival professionals, 450 artists, and 48 festivals across 15 West African countries. It focuses on structuring actions, including short and long-term training, regional and international networking, and financing of large and medium-scale festivals.
Mr. Robert Adam, AI Charg© d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Burkina Faso, praised the initiative for making culture a lever for cooperation, intercultural dialogue, and social cohesion. He noted that the project comprises three components: West African, South African, and continental, all aimed at strengthening ties between African and European peoples through cultural exchange.
Adam also referenced the positive impact of a previous cultural program in Burkina Faso, which supported 186 projects, created over 5,000 jobs, and fostered more than 100 cultural businesses. He underscored the European Union's investment of 30 million euros in supporting African culture, particularly in the Burkinabe cinema sector, to enhance the capabilities of African artists.
Project manager Mr. Nakanabo Mamoudou explained that this three-year program (March 2025 to February 2028) seeks to dismantle barriers between cultural spaces in West Africa by promoting exchanges between French-speaking, English-speaking, and Portuguese-speaking regions, as well as with European festivals.
The "Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture" project, spearheaded by the Goethe-Institut, is poised to become a catalyst for the professionalization and internationalization of West African culture, contributing to more inclusive, united, and sustainable development.