Africalia

Africalia - Africalia is an association created at the end of 2000, at the initiative of the Belgian Development Cooperation, under the leadership of the Secretary of State Eddy Boutmans. Focused initially on the diffusion of African productions in Belgium, Africalia subsequently changed its operating policy by becoming part of a logic of cultural cooperation. Since then, she has promoted sustainable human development through support for contemporary African cultures and arts.

Africalia supports, in this perspective, African cultural operators of civil society who carry out activities and projects, initiated in Africa, in multiple disciplines: from audio-visual to literature and from performing arts to visual arts.

The purpose of these activities is to strengthen the technical, artistic and organizational skills of professionals in the sector as well as to strive to strengthen democracy through the emancipation and participation of individuals and groups in cultural life. Africalia also promotes the 'Networks' dimension at the national, regional and continental levels by encouraging collaborations and exchanges between partners working in similar fields.

Africalia is currently working with 20 organizations and networks in 8 countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

 Africalia’s purpose is to make culture a vector of sustainable human development. Art and culture facilitate discovery, and increase awareness and knowledge. They strengthen commitments and help to open up and promote dialogue. Culture and art, closely related to the concept of creativity, have a fundamental economical value and are therefore essential for the lives of thousands of people. The African continent counts many artists in all disciplines. Africalia supports this cultural and artistic richness with the objective of enabling local people, organizations and artists to blossom and to participate to a necessary change of mentality in the North as in the South. Africalia currently works with operators in five African countries: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Since its inception, Africalia has supported over 500 projects.