Orun launches pan-African program in Abidjan to structure creative industries for MASA 2026
via Abidjan.net8 min read
The pan-African organization Orun unveiled an ambitious program in Abidjan on April 17, 2026, aimed at transforming cultural and creative industries into a key driver of economic sovereignty for Africa. Launched during the African Arts and Performing Arts Market MASA, the initiative will begin in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, before continental deployment. A central component, presented during "Orun Day," is the creation of a creative and entrepreneurial center of excellence. This center will unite artisans, designers, researchers, and technological innovators to modernize art professions and develop local industrial sectors, particularly in textiles and crafts. Abdoulaye Diaw, Orun's Director General, stated that the project is a movement focused on human creativity and commitment for development. Orun is building this ecosystem through strategic partnerships, drawing inspiration from the research and development model of Morocco's Mohammed VI Polytechnic University to modernize artisanal practices. The initiative has received high-level political and diplomatic support, with the opening ceremony presided over by the First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, and several ministers. Othman El Ferdaous, the Moroccan Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, emphasized Africa's urgent need to strengthen its creative and financial autonomy to reduce reliance on external validation. Olivia Yacé, the program's ambassador, advocated for culture to be recognized as a growth and employment engine
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Abidjan.net.
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