• African countries prepare to celebrate Intangible Cultural Heritage Day
• Planned events spotlight traditions, rituals, and cultural industries
• Preservation still challenged by weak support and limited investment

African countries are preparing to showcase their rich traditions and customary practices on Friday, October 17, 2025, as they mark the second International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The event offers African countries an opportunity to spotlight a cultural sector that is increasingly working to create value alongside other key areas of economic activity.

Launched by UNESCO to promote the rich variety of living cultural practices worldwide, the initiative is celebrated by local communities, NGOs, and signatory states of the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Several African countries are taking active steps to mark the occasion.

For the first edition, Togo hosted a conference titled “Safeguarding and Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage in Sub-Saharan Africa: Status and Perspectives,” which helped raise awareness about the importance of preserving local traditions and know-how.

In Benin, the Vodun Days celebration in January 2025 attracted over 435,000 participants, according to official data, featuring Egungun dances (ancestral spirits), Fâ divination sessions, and other local performances. The event aims to promote better understanding of the Vodun religion—of which Benin is the global center—and to dispel stereotypes that wrongly associate it with black magic.

A spiritual custodian, Egungun, dancing in Benin

Elsewhere, the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar, Senegal, hosts participatory workshops and interactive exhibitions on traditional musical instruments and ritual dances, involving local artisans and cultural groups. In Morocco, the city of Fez has organized conferences highlighting traditional crafts such as zellige (ornamental mosaics) and henna art, allowing artisans to share their skills with visitors and art students.

Mangoro Pottery in Côte d'Ivoire

Art plays a central role in Africa’s intangible heritage. Practices such as Faso Danfani cloth weaving in Burkina Faso, pottery in Côte d’Ivoire, and sericulture (silk farming) in Ethiopia showcase ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. These practices are more than artistic expressions—they embody social identity and drive cultural innovation.

Yet preserving Africa’s intangible heritage remains a challenge. Documenting these practices, ensuring their transmission to future generations, and securing formal institutional recognition all require stronger state support and investment.

Feriol Bewa