Création Africa

Foreign professionals

With funding from the Fonds Équipe France Création (FEF Création) of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Institut français shapes transformative dynamics in its partnership with the African continent. It is implementing the ambitious Création Africa programme, which will run throughout 2024, to support African Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) and expand France's scope of action through new partnerships across the continent.

The Création Africa programme was launched in October 2023 with a forum of the same name dedicated to African CCIs at the Gaîté Lyrique, bringing together over 300 African and French professionals from the sector. In its inaugural year, 2023, this programme aimed to provide on-the-ground support to emerging creative entrepreneurs in 16 priority countries across the continent. In 2024, the list of eligible countries has been expanded to 33.

The Institut français is also a founding member of the GIP, responsible for establishing the Maison des Mondes Africains – MansA. This space, both physical and virtual, will be entirely dedicated to African thought and creativity, as well as to those in France who engage with African perspectives.

Key Figures

priority countries

€3.4 million

from the Fonds Équipe France Création (FEF Création) of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), for an implementation period of 16 months (September 2023 to December 2024).

Priority Countries

South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Chad, Togo, Tunisia

Beneficiaries

Stakeholders in CCIs in Africa and France (entrepreneurs, project leaders, association actors, etc.)
French cultural network in Africa
Team France operators: Institut français Paris, cultural network, AFD, Expertise France, BPI France, other cultural operators, private partners, etc.

Création Africa connects stakeholders in African and European Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)

The Institut français contributes to the Création Africa programme with a project focused on supporting emerging sectors: digital creation, fashion, audiovisual creation and series, immersive realities, music, and more.

Création Africa is structured into three main components:

1. Developing innovative communication, notably through a digital service platform for African cultural entrepreneurs.

This platform aims to:

facilitate access for African cultural stakeholders to the Team France support offerings for CCIs;
create a community of CCI actors;
increase visibility;
foster partnerships between African and French stakeholders;
encourage the creation of new projects.

2. Contributing to the structuring of local cultural sectors and the development of partnerships with French CCIs

This second component of the Création Africa programme is implemented through various activities aimed at structuring sectoral industries and networking CCI stakeholders through:

Support for CCI stakeholders in targeted countries

through:

An ambitious mapping of CCI development in Africa, which will identify major continental trends as well as key players driving growth across various cultural sectors in Africa.
A mentorship programme providing tailored support to around ten young cultural entrepreneurs, with the goal of accelerating their structuring and development, enhancing their visibility, and facilitating access to partners, investors, and professional networks.

The structuring of regional sectoral dynamics

through the creation or funding of projects and networking among stakeholders:

eSports sector: The Création Africa programme supports two 100% female eSports competitions, along with assistance for players from several African countries. The Swahili eSports Champions competition in Nairobi took place from November 17 to 19, 2023, and a second competition is planned for fall 2024. (learn more)
Digital art sector: The Création Africa programme supports a collective and traveling exhibition of 10 African NFT artists, curated by Anna-Alix Koffi. This exhibition will premiere at the Dakar Biennale 2024, followed by presentations at Something Art Space in Abidjan and other African cities. (learn more)
Cinema Creation Pathway: The Institut français strengthens its commitment to African cinema by increasing support for cinema labs across the continent. The Cinema Creation Pathway aims to foster new narratives and bolster local production for African filmmakers by supporting ten African organizations, including three focused on animation, two festivals, and one training center (learn more).

Support for influential events or professional platforms on the continent

The Marché des Arts du Spectacle d’Afrique (MASA), from April 13 to 20, 2024, through a grant and support for the mobility of CCI stakeholders across the continent with the creation of a MASA mobility fund (learn more);
The Dakar Biennale as an official partner, supporting the exhibition of curators (learn more);
The Récréâtrales festival in Ouagadougou, from September 16 to November 2 (learn more).

Support for French and African CCI professionals in influential markets:

Series sector: 40 African audiovisual professionals were invited to the Séries Mania Festival in Lille, gathering around the Création Africa stand (Learn more).
Music sector: Around 30 African music professionals were invited to Paris and the Babel Music XP Festival in Marseille, meeting at the Création Africa stand (Learn more). From October 13 to 18, during the MaMA Music & Convention, ten African professionals are invited to Paris for a dedicated music publishing program, "African publishing – Création Africa" (Learn more).
Comic/ webtoon sector: African professionals in the sector are invited to international comic meetings at the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image in Angoulême, in Paris, and to the Quai des bulles festival in Saint-Malo (Learn more).
Contemporary art sector: Ten African contemporary art professionals were invited to the Venice Biennale 2024 (Learn more).
Video game sector: Eighteen African video game professionals are invited to Gamescom in Cologne (Learn more).

3. Support for the French cultural network abroad in implementing the agenda for transforming the relationship between France and Africa

This third component involves establishing and leading a "cultural entrepreneurship" interest community within the French cultural network abroad, starting in October 2023, to unite posts (SCAC, Instituts français, and Alliances françaises) and foster sectoral dialogue.

Mobility programmes for French professionals are also planned for 2024 to participate in major African events and markets.

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