Connect with the continent

On June 16, 2025, South Africa commemorates the 49th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a significant moment in the nation's history where thousands of black students protested the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.

Africa Month, celebrated annually in May, holds signifificant importance for the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in South Africa and across the continent. This month serves as a platform to promote unity and cooperation among African nations and reflflects South Africa's rich cultural heritage and artistic expression.

EUNIC – European Union National Institutes for Culture – have launched Spaces of Culture 2025, a call for proposals, supporting seven new cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is an evolution of the European Spaces of Culture programme and prioritises collaboration, dialogue, and mutual learning between European and local partners. Spaces of Culture is part of the wider Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), which aims to encourage cooperation between African and European artists, creators, and cultural professionals.

I am filled with immense pride and excitement, as we prepare to host the 5th South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) International Conference. This year marks a significant milestone for us, not only as an organisation, but also as a collective of thinkers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs).

Since being appointed as Minister of Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture (DSAC) in 2024, Minister Gayton McKenzie has been vocal about his vision for the department, emphasizing innovation, inclusivity, and the modernization of South Africa’s sports and cultural sectors. (VAR) technology to South African football.