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 Bouak茅, C么te 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 C么te d'Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, and several ministers. Othman El Ferdaous, the Moroccan Ambassador to C么te d'Ivoire, emphasized Africa's urgent need to strengthen its creative and financial autonomy to reduce reliance on external validation. Olivia Yac茅, 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.
The Central Bank of West African States BCEAO commenced a two-day regional seminar on Monday, July 20, 2026, at its headquarters in Dakar. The seminar is designed for economic journalists from member countries of the West African Monetary Union UEMOA. Presided over by Mr. Habib Thiam, the institution's Secretary General, on behalf of Governor Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, this event is the second of its kind, following a previous one in May 2013. It reflects the BCEAO's commitment to establishing a continuous and structured dialogue with the Union's media. The Secretary General highlighted that the Central Bank operates amidst numerous geopolitical, economic, financial, and security challenges, compounded by accelerating digitalization and technological advancements. In response to these changes, the BCEAO has reaffirmed its strategic goal to be "an innovative and resilient Central Bank, serving the populations and sustainable development of the Union's economies." This vision is supported by a renewed communication policy, emphasizing proactivity and proximity, to better explain monetary decisions and financial issues that affect citizens' daily lives. Economic journalists are considered "privileged relays" crucial for deciphering and popularizing complex financial topics for the general public. Over the two days, institutional experts will lead interactive sessions on key UEMOA priorities, including monetary policy and financial stability, economic financing and inclusion, and di
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