A groundbreaking cultural telebridge connecting Russia and Africa took place, focusing on the development of the Museum of African Cultures in Moscow (December 5). Organized by the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) with support from the Secretariat of the "Russia-Africa Partnership Forum" under the Russian Foreign Ministry, the event featured participants from Russia and nine African countries.

Held across platforms in Moscow, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and Yaoundé (Cameroon), the telebridge brought together diplomats, cultural authorities, museum experts, private collectors, and members of the African diaspora. Key speakers included Ilya Ilyin, Dean of MSU’s Faculty of Global Processes, and Tatiana Dovgalenko, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who emphasized the significance of the museum in fostering cultural and humanitarian ties between Russia and Africa.

The Museum of African Cultures, set to open at the State Museum of Oriental Art, will be the first institution outside Africa dedicated exclusively to African themes. It aims to serve as a hub for cultural exchange, educational programs, and scientific research, featuring over 1,100 artifacts from African art collections.

Experts from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and other nations highlighted the importance of African representation, educational initiatives, and collaborative efforts in shaping the museum's future. Discussions included plans for exhibitions, artifact exchanges, and advanced training opportunities for African museum professionals in Russia.

The event concluded with a commitment to making the telebridge an annual platform for deepening museum-sector cooperation and enhancing cultural diplomacy between Russia and African nations.

Obaidur Chowdhury

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