Casablanca: During the panel, held under the theme “Cultural Changes, African Modernity, and Identities in the Making,” speakers asserted that Africa must invent its own modernity while harnessing digital technology and technological progress to bolster its cultural identities.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Malian author and publisher Ismala Samba Traor© described African culture as a “dynamic process of mobility,” with an identity shaped by movement, exchange, and continuous change. He views digital technology as an essential tool for building a “networked Africa,” especially through cultural cooperation between Morocco and the rest of the continent.

Journalist and writer Christian Eboul© from the Central African Republic advocated for a “decolonization of the mind,” urging a move away from replicating inherited models and towards an “independent path.” He highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological innovation serves to strengthen, rather than weaken, the foundations of African communities.

Guinea-Conakry’s author Saliou Akin addressed the cultural shifts stemming from the transition from rural to urban societies, and the influence of schools, the Internet, and science on behavior. He noted that these changes can create a generational gap, with some traditions seen as outdated in the face of modernity’s demands.

Speakers emphasized that African modernity is rooted in the interplay between cultural heritage and contemporary trends. It is shaped by adaptation, cultural fusion, and the use of digital technology, which enables Africa to engage with globalization while preserving its values.