Culture and Africa

From tangible and intangible heritage to creativity – Africa’s rich cultural diversity and talented culture professionals are powerful catalysts for peace, sustainable development, and human rights across the continent.

UNESCO works in a variety of ways to support and strengthen Africa’s innovative arts, World Heritage sites, museums, living heritage and cultural and creative industries, as well as to address the most pressing challenges affecting them. Working with local communities, talented young professionals, educators, governments and partners throughout Africa and beyond, together we are contributing to position culture at the heart of public policies and initiatives, as well as to strengthen capacity building, harness good conservation practices for socio-economic development and upscale the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property and the promotion of return and restitution.