By Nesrine Benyaiche African women have always been the creators of culture and the shapers of the art field, long before art had a name or became a profitable sector.

By Patrick Ssentongo, KAMPALA-UGANDA When Uganda embarked on the process of amending its Copyright and Neighbouring Rights law, artists and rights holders identified the Private Copy Levy (PCL) as one

By Kwame Aidoo Accra Cultural Week continues with its enlivening package of exhibitions, performances, and dialogues, as its 9th edition organised by Gallery 1957 carries on with celebrating Ghana’s contemporary

By Tonderai Chiyindiko Awards within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI’s) play a key role in the recognition of talent, celebration of momentous achievements and overall vibrancy of the creative

By Nesrine Benyaiche Festivals are more than just celebrations; they bring us together and remind us who we are. They are a way of holding on to our culture, heritage,

While South African artists and creatives from categories such as fashion, music, film, dance, visual art, theatre, sculpture, performance art and much more continue to be the toast of the

By Patrick Ssentongo,   KAMPALA-UGANDA Uganda’s creative economy has never lacked talent — only capital. For decades, musicians have generated real economic value through radio plays, digital streams, and performances,

By Kwame Aidoo Five (5) of Ghana’s creative and cultural champions —Anita Erskine, Rocky Dawuni, Ibrahim Mahama, Wode Maya and Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, have received diplomatic passports to aid

By Kwame Aidoo, Ghana Makola Queens and Mansa Musa and the Trail of Lost Gold: The Prelude; two Ghanaian theatre projects based on historical storytelling, are pushing the envelope by

By Nesrine Benyaiche, Algeria Fashion has always been a tool of expression and recognition. Clothes are markers of social class and a reflection of faith, grief, celebration, or revolt. They

By Patrick K. Ssentongo — Kampala, Uganda As campaign songs fill the air and posters colour city walls, Uganda is once again in election mode. Amid the rallies and promises,

“Culture is not just entertainment; it is the backbone of Africa’s integration.” — Hon. Andrea Guer Ariik Malueth, Deputy Secretary General: Infrastructure, Productive, Social & Political Sectors, East African Community

By Tonderai Chiyindiko South Africa is one of a few countries on the African continent with functional public and private entities working within the cultural and creative industries (CCI’s) through

In this reflective essay, Kwame Aidoo—a Ghanaian writer with a background in international arts journalism (ArtReview, NATAAL, Culture Trip)—turns his attention to two powerful exhibitions that expand how we see

By Nesrine Benyaiche What happens to the stories we don’t write? Other people write them. This has been the pattern of history: whoever wins the war tells the story. Whoever

By Patrick Ssentongo -Kampala, Uganda When Uganda unveiled its first-ever National Culture Policy in 2006, it was hailed as a progressive framework that would safeguard the nation’s heritage and position

Across Africa, art residencies are emerging as powerful spaces for creativity, exchange, and transformation. They are more than temporary homes for artists—they are incubators for dialogue, collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding.

By Nesrine Benyaiche, Algeria Foreword The Algiers Urban Trail is more than a race—it is a living dialogue between city, memory, and community. In this interview, Algerian writer Nesrine Benyaiche

By Patrick Ssentongo – KAMPALA, UGANDA Foreword Uganda’s creative economy is often invisible in policy discussions, yet it is alive, vibrant, and largely youth-driven. From self-taught fashion designers to digital

When Uganda’s 2025/26 national budget was tabled in June, the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) sector barely made a ripple in the financial allocations. Placed within the broader Ministry of

Whilst African musical genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano continue to dominate global airwaves and streaming platforms, and, African fashion dominates legacy runways and designers receive international awards, at the same

Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo (Anayo Modestus Onyekwere), Nollywood Sensation and Lawyer, metaphorically unlocking a padlock during his speech to symbolize what is needed. “One cannot manage what they cannot measure,”

Connect for Culture Africa Bridging West Africa Through Culture In a landmark gathering of cultural policymakers, industry experts, and institutional stakeholders, the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative convened a

This reflection is rooted in personal memory but speaks to a larger truth: that for generations, African women have invested in culture—not only as tradition, but as protection, inheritance, and

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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,

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

The Rwandan Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA) had joined forces with Google Arts and Culture to unveil the Rwanda Collection, underscoring the pivotal role of digital technologies in preserving and promoting

The Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative recently organised a regional network meeting on February 11th in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The gathering convened representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and influential

The Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, in partnership with the African Union (AU), is gearing up for a regional network meeting scheduled for February 11 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. This

Experts meeting Report​ The expert meeting yielded crucial insights across diverse facets of the CfCA work plan presented. Participants emphasized the vital role of innovative research approaches, advocating for ideation

Activity Report, 8-12 Nov / Cairo, Egypt Roundtable discussion Co-organised with CANEX 2023 The roundtable discussion on public funding for the creative sector, held on November 11, 2023, brought together

Activity Report, 8-12 Nov / Cairo, Egypt Cultural empowerment through language emerged as an important focus, highlighting the transformative influence of sharing stories about Africa and promoting linguistic diversity. The

Selam, in partnership with the African Union Division of Sports and Culture, is gearing up to host a series of roundtable discussions in Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Zimbawe between 28

The Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, in partnership with the African Union (AU), is excited to announce its participation in CANEX 2023, where it will host a roundtable discussion

The African Union (AU) recently concluded its fourth ordinary session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports (AU STC-YCS4) from 22 to 26 May. As part of

The expert meeting yielded crucial insights across diverse facets of the CfCA work plan presented. Participants emphasized the vital role of innovative research approaches, advocating for ideation workshops and hackathons,