For the purpose of celebrating Africa’s rich cultural legacy, Google has introduced a number of programs and initiatives.
In advance of this year’s Africa Day, the search engine giant also aims to offer opportunities for people all over the world to interact with and experience the creativity and diversity of the continent.
Africa Day is a celebration of the foundation of the African Union and the continent’s efforts toward unification.
Six new pocket galleries on Google Arts & Culture have been added, and they were selected by partners from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
With a 360-degree view of the artworks and artifacts, these pocket galleries offer an immersive experience of virtual exhibitions that let visitors enter the heart of Africa’s cultural scene from any location.
Partners include the National Museums of Kenya, the Mohamed Amin Foundation, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum, Terra Kulture, and the University of Pretoria from South Africa.
In order to provide a varied examination of Africa’s rich cultural legacy, each partner will present distinctive exhibitions that honor their different regions.
The Africa Day Concert, presented by YouTube Music in past years, featured contemporary and emerging African musicians.
This year, YouTube Music will unveil an AfricaDay playlist, featuring popular and trending songs from various African artistes.
The general public will be involved in this project as well. They will have the possibility to submit their favorite African songs via YouTube Shorts for a chance for them to perhaps appear on the playlist.
The ‘Stories and Storytellers of Africa’ initiative on YouTube, which will feature a substantial collection of African films and television series and honor the creators who bring these narratives to life, will also promote African storytelling traditions as part of the celebrations.
Alongside this, YouTube will collaborate with content producers as part of the “Showcase Your Africa” campaign to allow users to contribute their opinions on the continent and get a sense of its diversity.
Speaking on these initiatives, Olumide Balogun, Google Nigeria, interim lead, said: “Africa Day is a celebration of progress, unity, and the vibrant cultures that define the continent.
“We are excited that we can amplify these stories and experiences on our platforms. From exploring our rich artistic heritage through Google Arts & Culture, to dancing along to the #CelebrateAfrica playlist on YouTube Music, and engaging with compelling narratives on YouTube, we are happy to share and celebrate Africa’s culture with the world.”