TIME: Starting from 10:00 a.m. East African Time
WHY: The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance adopted by the 6th AU Assembly held in Khartoum, the Sudan in January 2006 entered into force in October 2020 upon receipt by the AU Commission of the 15th instrument of ratification of this important arts, culture and heritage cultural policy instrument. The fifteen (15) AU Member States that have ratified this instrument are: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Mali, Malawi, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and South Africa. Thirty-four Member States have signed this instrument. The AU theme of the year for 2021 is: 'Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want'. The AU theme of the year for 2021 presents a unique opportunity for the continent to celebrate its great Pan-Africanists who have played and are still playing a key role in African renaissance and re-birth. The event will also provide an opportunity for Member States to share best practices in the ratification and implementation of the Charter as well as promote the team of the year give it the much needed visibility to effectively contribute to the economy of the continent.