AFRIMA president highlights Africa’s creative industry at Moroccan forum
AFRIMA President Mike Dada joined leading cultural and creative industry experts at the 3rd Moroccan Forum of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in Rabat, Morocco, from Thursday, Dec. 11, to Sunday, Dec. 14. The event, held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was organized by the HIBA Foundation to support the growth of Morocco’s creative economy.
The forum gathered policymakers, investors, academics, and creative professionals from countries including Senegal, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Belgium, Germany, France, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Quebec. Over four days, participants explored strategies to strengthen African cultural ecosystems and increase the economic value of creative industries.
AFRIMA’s role in promoting African music
Representing AFRIMA, Dada joined a major panel titled “Towards a Pan-African Federation of Cultural Operators: What lessons can be drawn from past experiences, and how can we project forward?” The discussion focused on sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and promoting cross-border cultural exchange.
Dada highlighted AFRIMA’s collaboration with the African Union and its role in projecting African music globally. He stressed the importance of investment, training, and collaboration to provide opportunities for young creatives. “Africa’s creative industry is not just growing; it is becoming a powerful economic force. Stronger cooperation, better policies, and sustainable investment will allow our cultural sector to contribute even more to national development,” he said.
Building partnerships and global visibility
As part of the forum, Dada attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador of France to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, on Friday, Dec. 12. The gathering allowed cultural leaders to interact and explore new partnership opportunities.
Established in 2014 by the International Committee AFRIMA and the African Union, AFRIMA celebrates, rewards, and promotes Africa’s musical talents and cultural heritage worldwide. The 9th Edition of the awards is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, to Saturday, Jan. 11, in Lagos, Nigeria, and will be broadcast live in more than 84 countries.
