Culture and Africa
The Africa region is home to diverse and vibrant forms of culture.
From tangible and intangible heritage to creativity – Africa’s rich cultural diversity and talented culture professionals are powerful catalysts for peace, sustainable development, and human rights across the continent.
UNESCO works in a variety of ways to support and strengthen Africa’s innovative arts, World Heritage sites, museums, living heritage and cultural and creative industries, as well as to address the most pressing challenges affecting them. Working with local communities, talented young professionals, educators, governments and partners throughout Africa and beyond, together we are contributing to position culture at the heart of public policies and initiatives, as well as to strengthen capacity building, harness good conservation practices for socio-economic development and upscale the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property and the promotion of return and restitution.
It is precisely because of its profound uniqueness, its diversity and its richness that African heritage is universal and commands our attention.
Ongoing projects
Recent news
Past News
African cultural and natural heritage on the World Heritage List
for the return of 1,130 Benin bronzes
More
- UNESCO shines a light on the potential of African cinema at the Cannes Film Festival
30 May 2022 - African World Heritage Day 2022: Youth and digital technologies for the promotion and safeguarding of African Heritage
17 May 2022 - UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund supports Madagascar’s cyclone-hit World Heritage rainforests
06 May 2022 - The Gambia reaffirms its commitment to safeguard its living heritage
13 April 2022 - Peer exchange strengthens Disaster Risk Management for World Heritage in East Africa
16 December 2021 - UNESCO and ICCROM launch training initiative strengthening management of African World Heritage sites
3 January 2022 - With Norway support Malawi reinforces fish conservation in Lake Malawi
10 March 2022 - Support to cultural sectors in Benin, Ethiopia, and Mali during the COVID-19 pandemic
21 April 2022 - National Consultation workshop and Awareness raising on implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Somalia
29 November 2021 - Online Workshop on World Heritage Impact Assessments for the Arab States
10 December 2021 - Online Technical Workshop on Heritage Impact Assessment: The Case of Historic Cairo
7 July 2021 - UNESCO launches its Strategy to remove African properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger
24 May 2022 - Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger
19 July 2021 - Continued technical support for the elaboration of the Desired State of Conservation for properties in Libya
25 June 2021 - Establishment of Tentative List of Equatorial Guinea
16 September 2021 - Rwanda consults UNESCO for technical support in preparation of the Nyungwe National Park World Heritage nomination file
8 July 2021