The headquarters of the African Capitals of Culture (ACC) were inaugurated on Thursday in Rabat, in the presence of prominent figures from the cultural and diplomatic spheres.
The establishment of this continental institution in Rabat reflects Morocco’s steadfast commitment to African cooperation and intercultural dialogue, and underscores the Kingdom’s efforts, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to promote a united, creative and globally connected Africa.
It also embodies the shared determination of African states, cities and institutions to make culture a key driver of the continent’s development.
The inauguration ceremony was attended, among others, by ACC Committee President Adama Traoré, Acting Secretary-General of the Culture Department at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication Salah-Eddine Abkari, as well as numerous ambassadors of African countries accredited to the Kingdom.
In a speech delivered on his behalf, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid highlighted Africa’s exceptional richness as a continent renowned for its cultural diversity and linguistic plurality.
By hosting the ACC headquarters, Rabat is embracing this major continental ambition aimed at making culture the foundation of African models of sustainable, inclusive and pluralistic development, he said, adding that under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is anchoring its emergence within its African environment, strengthening its cultural and historical roots, and placing culture and human capital at the heart of every development process.
Noting that African cultural policies seek to build an integrated continental space, the minister noted that "our undeniable cultural wealth still suffers from a drain of imagination, whereby our artists, creators and producers continue to feed imported cultural industries."
In this regard, he stressed that the continent possesses enormous potential in the field of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), driven by a better-trained and more connected youth.
For his part, Traoré emphasized that the inauguration marks the culmination of a pan-African initiative launched in Marrakech in 2018 during the Africities Summit, driven by the conviction that Africa can only fully build its future by relying on its culture, creativity, youth, heritage and the richness of its imagination.
He stressed that African culture is not merely an "extra soul," but rather a driver of transformation, innovation, social cohesion and economic development. He noted that the new headquarters in Rabat goes beyond being a simple building, becoming instead a "common home" and a space for dialogue, reflection and cooperation where African cities can share experiences and design sustainable projects.
Referring to the continental expansion of the initiative following the inaugural Rabat edition in 2022, he highlighted the next major milestone scheduled for 2028 in Cabo Verde, with Praia as the host city. The event, he said, will open a new African geography shaped by Atlantic, Creole and diasporic influences, recalling that cultural Africa is also conceived through its islands and networks of exchange.
The headquarters of the African Capitals of Culture will host meetings of the program’s governing bodies, support future host cities, and foster networking among cultural stakeholders, local authorities, artists, researchers and cultural operators across Africa.
MAP: 18 June 2026
