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2021: Arts, Culture and Heritage

About the Theme of the Year 2021

 

Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 envisions ‘An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics’. This calls for an African cultural renaissance which is pre-eminent and that inculcates the spirit of Pan Africanism; tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation; and restoring and preserving Africa’s cultural heritage, including its languages.

Globally, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) play a key role in contributing to GDP. In recognition of the importance of CCIs in achieving the Agenda 2063 objectives of regional integration, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, the African Union declared the Year 2021 as “The AU Year of the Arts, Culture And Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”.

Culture incorporates social behaviour and norms of a society as well as the language, knowledge, beliefs, traditions, arts, customs, capacities and habits of a certain community and the 2021 Theme is a declaration at a continental level for member states to invest more resources in promoting national and regional cohesion by investing in African culture and heritage as a vehicle for promoting and achieving the national economic and social development goals outlined in Africa’s Agenda 2063.

The Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage is happening at a time when the continent is still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has imposed heavy human, financial and economic costs to Africa. However, during the pandemic the Creative and Cultural Industries in Africa have played a key role in contributing efforts towards prevention and combating the spread of Covid-19 and furthermore the increased use of technology has created new spaces for CCIs sector to thrive by using digital platforms to promote their goods and services. The pandemic has provided an opportunity to re-examine the continent’s socio-economic priorities, including the role of cultural workers, towards contributing to building stronger and more resilient health and social sectors, promoting equality, inclusion, social cohesion and African Renaissance, as inspired by the Ubuntu Philosophy ‘I AM because you are; You are because I Am’.

Activities and programmes to be implemented under the 2021 Theme will prioritise the following:

  1. Arts and Culture;
  2. Health, Wellness and Post COVID-19 Response;
  3. African Languages;
  4. History and Oral Traditions; and
  5. Heritage.

Activities

Workshop on AU Theme for 2021 calls for enhanced support from African MPs
April 08, 2021

“Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building an African We Want: "Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want" ...

The 2nd Virtual Forum For Arts Culture And Heritage
March 25, 2021

The African Union Commission convened the 2nd Virtual Forum of Minsters responsible for Arts, Culture and Heritage to present, discuss and launch the Concept Note and Roadmap of the Theme of the Year for 2021

2nd Virtual Forum of The AU Ministers Responsible for Arts,Culture, And Heritage
March 25, 2021

The Forum was aimed at presenting, discussing and launching the AU Theme of the Year for 2021. The Forum also presented an opportunity for Member States to reflect on their contributions on the implementation of the roadmap on the AU theme of the year for 2021

November 30, 2021 to December 02, 2021

WHAT:              THE CONTINENTAL EXPERTS’ WORKSHOP ON THE RESTITUTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY AND HER

May 25, 2021

Theme: “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want”.

May 25, 2021

Theme: “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want”.

March 26, 2021

What: Meeting with Partners in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sectors on the Launch of the Concept Note and Roadmap o

March 25, 2021

Speakers in the Virtual Event will include:

Topic Resources

December 23, 2021

THE YEAR OF NUTRITION - Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition & Food Security on the African continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Syst

March 22, 2021

Theme: ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’

February 16, 2021

"Levers for Building the Africa We Want"

December 23, 2021

THE YEAR OF NUTRITION - Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition & Food Security on the African continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Syst

March 22, 2021

Theme: ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’

February 16, 2021

"Levers for Building the Africa We Want"