The Création Africa program was launched in October 2023 with the organization of a forum of the same name dedicated to African CCIs at La Gaîté Lyrique, which brought together more than 300 African and French professionals from the sector. In its first year, 2023, this program aimed to support, on the ground, the early stages of the professional careers of creator-entrepreneurs in 16 priority countries on the continent. In 2024, the list is expanded to 33 eligible countries.

The Institut français is also a founding member of the GIP, responsible for creating the Maison des Mondes Africains – MansA. This place, both real and virtual, will be entirely dedicated to African thoughts and creativity, and to those in France who are interested in Africa. 

Priority countries: 

South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, 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: 

• Actors of CCIs in Africa and France (entrepreneurs, project leaders, associative actors, etc.);
• The French cultural network in Africa;
• Team France operators: Institut Français Paris, cultural network, AFD, Expertise France, BPI France, other cultural operators, private partners, etc. 

The Institut français contributes to the Création Africa program with a project aimed at supporting future sectors: digital creation, fashion, audiovisual creation and series, immersive realities, music...

This program is deployed in three parts:

1) The development of innovative communication, particularly through a service-oriented digital platform for African cultural entrepreneurs.

This platform aims to:

• Facilitate access for African cultural actors to Team France's support for CCIs;
• Create a community of CCI actors;
• Increase visibility;
• Contribute to fostering partnerships between African and French actors;
• Promote the emergence of projects.

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

This second part of the Création Africa program is deployed through several activities aimed at structuring sectoral dynamics and networking CCI actors through:

a) Support for CCI actors in targeted countries through: 

• An ambitious mapping work of CCI development in Africa, which will identify major continental trends as well as key actors in the development of various cultural sectors in Africa. 
• A mentorship program, offering tailored support to about ten young cultural entrepreneurs to accelerate their structuring and development, and to give them visibility to facilitate access to partners, investors, and professional networks. 

b) Structuring regional sectoral dynamics through the creation or financing of projects and networking of actors:

• eSports sector: the Création Africa program supports two 100% female eSports competitions and the coaching of 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 scheduled for fall 2024.
• NFT sector: the Création Africa program supports a collective and traveling exhibition of 10 NFT artists from Africa, curated by Anna-Alix Koffi. This exhibition will be inaugurated at the Dakar Biennale 2024, then presented at the Something Art Space in Abidjan and in other African cities.
• Cinema Creation Pathway: the Institut français strengthens its commitment to African cinema by enhancing support for cinema labs on the continent. The "Cinema Creation Pathway" aims to encourage new narratives and strengthen local production by supporting ten African structures, including three dedicated to animation, comprising two festivals and a training venue.

c) Support for influential events or professional platforms on the continent: 

• The Market for African Performing Arts (MASA), from April 13 to 20, 2024, through a grant and support for the mobility of CCI actors on the continent via the creation of a MASA mobility fund; 
• The Dakar Biennale as an official partner by supporting the curators' exhibition; 
• The Les Récréâtrales festival in Ouagadougou, from September 16 to November 2. 

d) Support for French and African CCI professionals in key markets:

• Series sector: 40 African audiovisual professionals were invited to the Series Mania Festival in Lille and met around a Création Africa stand;
• Music sector: about thirty African music professionals were invited to Paris and the Babel Music XP Festival in Marseille, and gathered around the Création Africa stand;
• Comic/webtoon sector: African professionals in the sector are invited to the professional day of the International Comics Forum in Angoulême, in Paris with ASFORED, at the International Webtoon Festival, and at the "Quai des Bulles" festival (Saint Malo);
• Contemporary art sector: 10 African contemporary art professionals were invited to the Venice Biennale 2024;
• Video games sector: 18 African video game professionals are invited to Gamescom in Cologne.

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

This third component involves the establishment and facilitation of a 'cultural entrepreneurship' interest community within the French cultural network abroad, since October 2023, in order to unite the posts (Cultural Services of Embassies, French Institutes, and Alliances Françaises) and foster sectoral dialogue.

Mobility programs for French professionals are also planned in 2024 for major events and markets in Africa.