The World Day of African and Afro-Descendant Culture, celebrated on January 24, is a pivotal moment to recognize and appreciate the cultural richness of Africa and its diasporas.
This day celebrates the diversity and contributions of African cultures, aiming to raise awareness, foster mutual understanding, and combat discrimination. Cultural events worldwide honor the creativity, history, and contributions of African and Afro-Descendant communities.
Audrey Azoulay, head of UNESCO, a UN agency promoting peace through education, science, culture, and communication, emphasizes cultural diversity. She acknowledges artists in fields like cinema, music, and fashion as catalysts for the African cultural renaissance. UNESCO prioritizes safeguarding heritage, providing technical support for 12 African countries to list their properties as World Heritage sites by 2030. UNESCO trains heritage professionals and fights illicit trafficking of cultural goods. Azoulay highlights the legacies of Afro-descendant people, citing Cuban and Congolese rumba, and American jazz as symbols of the struggle against racism. The Day pays homage to cultural diversity and those who enrich it, coinciding with the adoption of the African Cultural Renaissance Charter in 2006. It aims to promote the ratification and implementation of the Charter by African states.
