What is the significance of culture for African development? Teshome Wondimu, founder of Selam, takes Africa Day 2025 to reflect upon the huge possibilities for the continent linked to strengthening of the culture and creative industries. Selam’s Executive Director Teshome Wondimu at African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Africa is at once the oldest and the …
By Beatrice Waruinge As part of the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) regional program, Selam Ethiopia hosted a vibrant and inspiring Cartoonist Residency Program in December 2024, bringing together 15 cartoonists—8 male and 7 female—from Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The initiative aimed to highlight the power of visual storytelling in advocating for increased …
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 »
The National Roundtable Discussion, held on October 1, 2024, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dar es Salaam, marked a significant step toward addressing public funding challenges in Tanzania’s cultural and creative sectors. Organized by the Tanzania Artists Rights Organisation (TARO) in collaboration with Selam through the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, the event gathered …
Selam, through its Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, will participate at the African Union’s 6th Pan-African Cultural Congress (AU/PACC6), to be held from September 25 to 27, in Moroni, Union of Comoros. Organised under the theme Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Education: Levers for Building the Africa We Want, AU/PACC6 is a triennial statutory meeting that …
Selam to Present CfCA at the 6th Pan-African Cultural Congress in the Union of Comoros Read More »
The Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) implementing partner in Zambia, the People’s Action for Accountability and Good Governance in Zambia (PAAGZ), has called on the government to prioritize marginalized communities and significantly increase funding to the arts sector. As Zambia prepares for the opening of Parliament on Friday, September 13, and the presentation of the …