By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
The African Kingdoms Diaspora Alliances (AKDA) and Zimbabwe’s leading creative civil society advocacy organisation, Nhimbe Trust, have formalised a historic five-year strategic partnership aimed at strengthening cultural rights advocacy, heritage preservation, and economic empowerment within Africa’s cultural and creative sectors.
The partnership was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concluded virtually, marking a major step in bridging continental Africa with its global diaspora. The alliance seeks to upscale research, advocacy, and initiatives that protect Africa’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage while unlocking economic opportunities for communities across the continent and beyond.
Speaking on the development, Nhimbe Trust Executive Director Josh Nyapimbi said the partnership represents a critical moment for African creative civil society.
“This alliance goes beyond institutional cooperation; it is about reconnecting African peoples across borders and generations."
“By working with AKDA, we are strengthening the collective voice of African creative civil society to advance cultural rights, protect our heritage, and ensure that culture contributes meaningfully to sustainable development and livelihoods," he said
At the core of the partnership are three strategic pillars: advocacy, preservation, and economic empowerment. Through advocacy, the two organisations will jointly promote the adoption and implementation of the African Union Declaration on Principles and Guidelines on Cultural Rights at both continental and national levels. Preservation efforts will focus on safeguarding heritage sites as well as protecting living traditions, languages, and artistic expressions that define African identities.
Economic empowerment forms a key component of the collaboration, with a strong emphasis on growing Africa’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). The partnership aims to ensure that communities in Africa and the diaspora benefit directly from cultural production, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Under the scope of collaboration, AKDA and Nhimbe Trust will pursue joint cultural policy advocacy, implement targeted heritage protection initiatives, and strengthen diaspora engagement through mentorship programmes and development projects. The partnership also seeks to harness technology to promote cultural tourism, create new heritage routes, and expand entrepreneurial opportunities within the creative economy.
The alliance is being hailed as a milestone in reconnecting Africa with its diaspora around shared heritage and common aspirations. Representatives from both organisations described the partnership as a “reconnection of the African family,” anchored in the belief that culture is a foundation for social cohesion and sustainable economic growth.
Over the next five years, AKDA and Nhimbe Trust say they are committed to building an enduring cross-border collaboration that nurtures African heritage and creativity for present and future generations, positioning culture as both a right and a driver of development across the continent.
