馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Rabat inaugurates headquarters for African Capitals of Culture initiative
via Le Matin8 min read
Rabat officially inaugurated the headquarters for the secretariat of the African Capitals of Culture on Thursday, June 18, 2026. This move positions Rabat as a hub for African cultural cooperation, providing institutional depth and visibility to the pan-African initiative supported by the African Union and Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication. The initiative aims to leverage culture as a driver for development, sovereignty, social cohesion, and influence for African cities. Rabat, which was the first African Capital of Culture in 2022, will now host the body responsible for future editions, including Cabo Verde in 2028, with Praia as the main host city. Adama Traor茅, President of the African Capitals of Culture committee, stated that the headquarters is a common home for dialogue, cooperation, reflection, and innovation. He emphasized the need for a physical location to coordinate and prepare for the future, highlighting that the Moroccan government's provision of the headquarters allows the initiative to exist physically rather than virtually. Traor茅 also noted Morocco's significant role in African geopolitics and its commitment to cultural, institutional, and sporting events. Salah-Eddine Abkari, interim Secretary General of the Department of Culture, speaking on behalf of Minister Mehdi Bensa茂d, stressed that Africa's cultural, linguistic, and heritage diversity should be a lever for development and emancipation. He also pointed to the immense potential
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