News
Regional Perspectives | Africa
The African Union, at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held virtually on 13-14 October, officially adopted the African Union theme for 2021 ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’.
The adopted concept note and roadmap on the theme for 2021 include activities in the following areas: arts and culture; health, wellness and post-COVID-19 recovery plans; African languages; history and oral traditions; heritage; and the restitution of cultural property and heritage. It also included the establishment of the Great Museum of Africa, a flagship project of the AU Agenda 2063. (A questionnaire has been opened to obtain information from African Union Member States, Pan-African Cultural Institutions, museum personnel and the public at large on the establishment of this museum.)
UNESCO is expected to collaborate closely with the AU Cultural Directorate on the preparations for the celebration of this year, particularly on issues related to the restitution of cultural property and heritage, African languages and the establishment of the Great Museum of Africa, amongst others.
Furthermore, the 2nd Biennale on a Culture for Peace is included in the concept note on the theme of the year for 2021. This follows on from the first edition of the Biennale that took place in Luanda, Angola, with the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. The idea of launching the Biennale for a Culture of Peace draws its inspiration from the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (adopted in 2006), which advocates that culture is the most effective means to empower Member States to strengthen their national policies to contribute to the achievement of the continents’ socio-economic integration, fight against poverty, tackle the major challenges facing the continent and build sustainable peace.
The adopted concept note and roadmap on the theme for 2021 include activities in the following areas: arts and culture; health, wellness and post-COVID-19 recovery plans; African languages; history and oral traditions; heritage; and the restitution of cultural property and heritage. It also included the establishment of the Great Museum of Africa, a flagship project of the AU Agenda 2063. (A questionnaire has been opened to obtain information from African Union Member States, Pan-African Cultural Institutions, museum personnel and the public at large on the establishment of this museum.)
UNESCO is expected to collaborate closely with the AU Cultural Directorate on the preparations for the celebration of this year, particularly on issues related to the restitution of cultural property and heritage, African languages and the establishment of the Great Museum of Africa, amongst others.
Furthermore, the 2nd Biennale on a Culture for Peace is included in the concept note on the theme of the year for 2021. This follows on from the first edition of the Biennale that took place in Luanda, Angola, with the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. The idea of launching the Biennale for a Culture of Peace draws its inspiration from the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (adopted in 2006), which advocates that culture is the most effective means to empower Member States to strengthen their national policies to contribute to the achievement of the continents’ socio-economic integration, fight against poverty, tackle the major challenges facing the continent and build sustainable peace.
30 October 2020
Last update:20 April 2023
