Under the theme “2025: The Year of Culture,” this three-day conference, held under the high patronage of President Assimi Goita, brings together stakeholders from across the cultural sector to discuss challenges and propose solutions for revitalizing Mali’s rich cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Major General Abdoulaye Maiga emphasized the importance of culture in building a “Mali Kura” (a prosperous Mali), highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy to harness the potential of the cultural sector.
The conference will address key issues, including revitalizing cultural infrastructure, such as museums and cultural centers, structuring the craft and cultural industries to enhance their competitiveness, and developing a national cultural policy that addresses contemporary challenges.
Despite its rich cultural heritage, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Djenné and Timbuktu, Mali faces significant challenges in developing its cultural sector. Limited government funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of a robust export strategy for Malian arts and crafts hinder the sector’s growth potential.
The conference aims to address these challenges and develop a roadmap for the future of culture in Mali, ensuring that it contributes to economic growth, job creation, and social development.
The Minister of Culture, Mamou Daffe, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This moment belongs to the men of culture.” He stressed the need to transmit this rich cultural heritage to young people while providing them with the tools and resources to preserve and promote it.
The conclusions of these meetings will be presented at the closing ceremony on January 11, 2025, and will serve as the foundation for a new national cultural policy that will guide the future development of the sector.
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