This report, compiled by the World Cities Culture Forum, the British Council, and Andani.Africa, delves into the cultural and economic aspects of creative capital cities across Sub-Saharan Africa. It outlines the foundational belief that culture serves as a guiding thread through cities, supporting communities, enhancing health and education, attracting tourism, and driving economic growth and prosperity.
The British Council emphasizes its role in connecting international links between the UK and countries worldwide to promote peace, prosperity, and confidence, using its cultural expertise to foster relationships and develop networks exploring creative ideas across over 100 nations. This underscores the necessity for culture to be at the heart of policy development and highlights the benefits of collaborative cultural approaches.
Andani.Africa, established in 2016, specializes in research, analysis, and strategic consulting on African creative and cultural industries, aiming to fill knowledge gaps in this field. The company focuses on African forms of storytelling shared through oral traditions and new digital data analysis and visualization techniques, leveraging AI for knowledge generation within African creative industries.
The World Cities Culture Forum is the leading global network of civic leaders from over 40 creative cities across six continents. These leaders share ideas and solutions to build a world where culture is central to thriving cities. The World Cities Culture Forum's core principle is that culture acts as a catalyst in cities, supporting communities, improving health and education, attracting tourists, and stimulating economies.
Over the past decade since the establishment of the World Cities Culture Forum, their fundamental beliefs remain unchanged. They firmly believe that culture supports communities, improves health and education, reduces inequalities, stimulates economic growth and fosters peace and prosperity both today and in the future. They understand that working together, sharing ideas, and learning from each other leads to better outcomes.
African cities play a crucial role in the World Cities Culture Forum. By 2050, Africa's population will double, with over 80% of this increase happening in urban areas. By century's end, it is estimated that 65% of the world's largest cities will be located in Africa. This realization underscores the essential role dynamic leaders across Africa play not only in their own cities and countries but also globally.
In recent months, the World Cities Culture Forum engaged with municipal and creative leaders from eleven Sub-Saharan African cities, including Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Freetown, Harare, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Lagos, and Nairobi. Discussions focused on the series of challenges culture faces in cities but highlighted opportunities for positive change. The report emphasizes key findings, trends, and recommendations for developing and supporting cultural policies and creative industries, aiming to be part of a global urban movement.
The report acknowledges the need to leverage research findings and the Creative Vibrancy Index for Africa to strengthen collaboration and friendship with African cities, building a movement together that unlocks the power of culture to create prosperous cities today and in the future.
Justine Simons OBE, the founder and vice-president of the World Cities Culture Forum and the deputy mayor responsible for culture and creative industries in London, expressed gratitude for the British Council's continuous support and the dedication and global approach of research partners in Johannesburg, Andani.Africa.
The report anticipates an exciting journey ahead, emphasizing the importance of culture as a solution rather than a problem. Skinder Hundal MBE, the director of arts at the British Council, highlighted the potential for African creative and cultural sectors to adapt, contribute to the future, and fill current gaps in knowledge, mindset, and work methods, positioning culture and creativity as vital ingredients in modernizing diverse and inclusive cities.
The participating cities include Accra, Dakar, Freetown, and Lagos in West Africa; Addis Ababa, Kampala, Kigali, and Nairobi in East Africa; and Cape Town, Harare, and Johannesburg in Southern Africa. These growing cities offer vast opportunities for growth and development.
The study underscores the growing importance of understanding cultural policies in African cities, given the continent's rapid urbanization and the potential for creative industries to drive sustainable livelihoods and bring positivity and hope to urban life in the future.
