The Regional Centre for the Performing Arts in Africa (CERAV/Africa), a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, celebrated a major dual event on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Ouagadougou: the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The official opening ceremony, held in the CENASA conference room, was presided over by Dr. Adama 1ère Jumelle SEGDA, Chair of the Board of Directors of CERAV/Africa, representing the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism of Burkina Faso, patron of the ceremony. This celebration brought together cultural actors, researchers, public decision-makers, students and technical and financial partners.
Following the opening ceremony, a public conference brought together participants to discuss two major themes:
* Theme 1: 20 years of implementation of the UNESCO 2005 Convention: progress, difficulties, challenges, and prospects in Africa; the role of CERAV/Africa in achieving the expected objectives
* Theme 2: The importance of cultural diversity, coexistence, and cultural dialogue in Africa for inclusive and sustainable development
The discussions provided an opportunity to take stock of the implementation of the Convention on the African continent, share national and regional experiences, and highlight the strategic importance of cultural diversity in public policies for sustainable development.
CERAV/Africa thus reaffirmed its mission as a center of expertise and advocacy for the promotion of African cultural expressions, and its ambition to intensify its support to African states in achieving the objectives of the Convention. The event was hailed as an organizational and intellectual success, marking an important step in strengthening synergies between African and international cultural institutions around the issues of diversity, identity and social cohesion.