France Seeks Stronger Africa Ties Through Culture

France is seeking a new relationship with Africa through culture.

On Friday, the French government launched Creation Africa, a maiden platform targeted at convening and showcasing Africa’s creative industry in Paris.

The culture and creative industries forum held from October 6 to 8 was aimed at tapping into Africa’s creative industry estimated at $5bn by UNESCO.

This new relationship in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s new policy for Africa, goes beyond government to government, to people-to-people relationships, between the French and African people, as well African and French people of Afrodescent. It will also create collaborations that can lead to partnerships between France and Africa, and open markets that can ensure a global and competitive creative economy for Africa.

Speaking of the event, adviser to President Macron on Africa, Ms Nadege Chouat, said beyond the need for an open space where French Africans and Africans can convene and live the African identity of France, the forum would highlight to the French population, Africa’s potentials.

“It is a way to show the French population that a lot of things are happening in Africa, and if they don’t take up that space others will do so.

“We believe that France can add value to the creative sector in Africa. We chose sectors where we have competitive advantage.

“We want to change the way French companies view Africa. We want the French public to discover the African creativity and potentials.

“With coups and misconceptions rousing anti-French sentiments in West African countries, the forum is one that showed the potential of a win-win relationship between Africa and France.

“It is impossible to change everything with one event. Neither can we be naive to say we are doing it only for the culture. We have to be honest about our relationship with one another. What we are saying is that this, and this, and this, will help to ameliorate the relationship between us,” said the Secretary General of the Africa Culture and Creative Industries Forum, Elizabeth Gomis.

Addressing accusations that she had sold out to the French government, she said it’s better to take action for change where it is possible, than to sit back and complain.