By Teshome Wondimu, Founder and CEO of Selam Early in my career, I understood something important. African creativity has always been there. The talent, the energy, the music, the stories. But across Africa and globally, the systems surrounding that creativity were not built to support it. Not the stages. Not the institutions. Not the rights …
Culture Is Not a Luxury – Reflections for Africa Day Read More »
Held biennially in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Marché des Arts du Spectacle Africain (MASA) is one of Africa’s leading platforms for the performing arts, combining a professional marketplace, public festival, and capacity-building programme. Its unique role as both a cultural market and public-facing festival makes it a key space for artistic exchange, sector dialogue, and …
Culture on the Move: Mobility as a Value Chain by CfCA Read More »
Are you an emerging music entrepreneur ready to take your ideas to the next level? Selam, through the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, invites applications for the Music Business Accelerator, an interactive e-learning course designed to equip young professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to succeed in Africa’s growing music industry. About …
This booklet presents the vision, progress, and key results of Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA), a regional initiative implemented by Selam in collaboration with the African Union and supported by the Swedish Government. CfCA advocates for increased public investment in arts, culture, and heritage across Africa, with the goal of allocating at least 1% of …
In December 2024, CfCA took a bold step in its advocacy journey by launching the Cartoonist Residency Program—an initiative designed to harness the power of visual storytelling to influence hearts, minds, and policies. Hosted in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu, this hybrid residency brought together 15 cartoonists from Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The artists …
Building Movements Through Art: The 2nd Edition of the PANAF Summit 2025 Lack of Artistic Freedom – or rather the freedom for artists to create their works without fear of censorship, retribution or being at odds with the law – is an emerging issue in Africa that has the potential to stifle the growth of …
Uganda’s recently approved budget for the 2024/25 financial year raises the question: why is culture still being treated as an afterthought? While the government has unveiled ambitious plans to boost sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and digital transformation, the arts and creative industries have once again been sidelined. This glaring oversight calls into question Uganda’s commitment …
The G20 Rio de Janeiro Declaration, adopted in November 2024, offers a framework for the global arts and culture sector. It acknowledges the immense value of culture in fostering unity, sustainability, and dialogue. For Africa, this is a critical moment. Yet, while the declaration sets an aspirational tone, it prompts a deeper question: can such …
Selam will officially launch reports on public investment in the cultural sectors in Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia from November 11 to 15, 2024. These reports, central to the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, highlight the role of culture as a vital economic and social asset and advocate for increased government support across Africa. …
The 7th edition of the African Music Meetings (REMA) convened in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from October 17 to 19, 2024, under the theme “Emerging Creative & Economic Afro Digital.” This theme highlights the ongoing shift toward digital platforms that enable African artists to showcase their creativity and engage with a global audience. According to research …
Reflections from CfCA’s Participation at REMA 2024 – by Lucy Ilado Read More »