Dr Yaya Moussa

When we think about African art, our minds are almost immediately redirected to the few pieces available in museums across the world. Yet, even so, little remains known about African art and the history behind it. Africa teems with incredible art and talent that deserves to be showcased on the global stage. Displaying authentic African art in partnership with Africa is instrumental in regaining control of the continent’s narrative globally. Although the level of creativity across the continent is unmatched, so much is yet to be done when it comes to identifying and nurturing aspiring African artists. African artists can potentially become cultural ambassadors not only for their country of origin, but also as cultural representatives for the continent as a whole. Investing and betting on art and culture to portray a more accurate and authentic vision of the continent must be part of the strategy to expand Africa’s soft power globally. Yet, we must ensure that we empower local artists by...

Young people indisputably play a key role in nation building. Africa’s population is predominantly a young one, with 6 out of 10 people under the age of 25, which confers the continent with a potential significant competitive advantage when it comes to global workforce in comparison with more developed, and aging, parts of the world. However, young people on the continent are not being put in a position to actively participate in sustainable development. Lack of access to education and high unemployment rates still hinder young people’s ability to turn their dreams into reality. These very issues are at the root cause of the brain drain phenomenon, which has been dispossessing the continent of its young and brightest. The time has come, and is long overdue, to not only think practically about how best to empower young people across the continent, but also to implement solutions to endemic issues they are facing. Here again, public and private actors must work in tandem to ensure that t...