Africa will celebrate 2021 under the theme ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’. The declaration of the theme will enable the African Union and Member States to reflect on the role of culture in the continent’s development and position the sector in its rightful place.

The African Union theme for the year 2021, Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want will place the Cultural and Creative Industries at the forefront of the AU’s and its member states activities in the year 2021.

The theme recognises the key role the creative sector can play in promoting regional integration and economic growth and as Africa emerges from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the creative industries will play a key role in building a more resilient Africa by using the creative economy as a tool for prosperity.

To mark the year, a comprehensive roadmap to implement the planned programmes and activities has been identified and it will form the basis of interventions by the AU policy organs, AU Member States and partners. These include:

• Arts and Culture;
• Health, Wellness and Post COVID-19 Response
• African Languages
• History and Oral Traditions
• Heritage

Supporting the theme are key AU instruments such as the African Union Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries as well as the development of the AU Model Law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage, whose implementation will underpin the revolution of Africa’s creative industries and boost the development of the creative economy. AU institutions such as the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), the African Audio Visual Commission, the Vehicular Cross Border Language Commission (VCLC) and the Centre for Linguistic Studies and History through Oral Traditions (CELHTO) will play a key role in elevating discussions around the theme of the year and championing the development of policies and programmes to build Africa’s artistic and cultural heritage.

H.E. Interim President Bah Ndaw of Mali is the Champion President of the theme of the year and will lead efforts towards effective implementation of its roadmap across the continent.

See more coverage on the theme of the year, including insights from African citizens in the 2021 edition of the AU ECHO

Decisions of the AU Heads of State and Government on the theme of the year are available at https://au.int/en/decisions/decisions-declarations-and-resolution-thirty-fourth-ordinary-session-assembly-union