Rabat will host the headquarters of the African Capitals of Culture Committee after African Union ministers unanimously endorsed the move at a meeting in Burundi last week, cementing Morocco’s role as a driver of cultural diplomacy on the continent.
The decision, adopted during the fifth session of the AU’s specialized technical committee on youth, culture and sport, follows a 2024 agreement signed in Rabat between Morocco’s culture minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and UNESCO cultural expert Michel Saba.
It implements a 2023 AU executive council resolution and places the initiative within the bloc’s Agenda 2063 development strategy.
Morocco, which rejoined the AU in 2017 after a 32-year absence, has positioned itself as a hub for cultural cooperation, hosting major festivals and promoting South-South partnerships. The Rabat-based committee will select an African cultural capital every two years and support projects such as museums, libraries and art markets across the continent.
Despite initial resistance from Algeria, the vote passed unanimously. “This is a major step for Africa’s cultural development,” said Lupwishi Mbuyamba, head of the Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa. He added that Morocco’s experience will help other countries structure cultural events and share expertise.
The initiative mirrors Europe’s cultural capital program launched in 1985 and aims to strengthen African cultural networks. Rabat held the title of African Capital of Culture in 2023-2024.
