We are pleased to announce that Professor Pavlos Kavouras, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Anthropology of Traditional Music, participated in the International Conference on “Greek-African Relations: Political, Strategic and Economic Aspects in a Changing World” held on March 12-13, 2025.
The conference, organized by the University of Piraeus and supported by the International Organisation of La Francophonie, brought together diplomats, academics, and experts to discuss the multifaceted relationships between Greece and African nations. This participation aligns perfectly with our UNESCO Chair’s mandate focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and traditional music as living heritage.
Significance for Our UNESCO Chair
This engagement is particularly significant for our Chair as it directly supports our African mandate and goals to:
- Safeguard longstanding cultural practices and traditional music against policies that might undermine their authenticity
- Propose sustainable development approaches for musical heritage based on indigenous perspectives
- Foster greater understanding between cultures through the anthropology of traditional music
The conference provided valuable opportunities to connect with key stakeholders from various African nations, including ambassadors and representatives from Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Senegal.
Professor Kavouras engaged in discussions about cultural diplomacy and potential collaborative projects that could strengthen ties between Greek academic institutions and African cultural organizations, particularly in preserving and promoting traditional music as intangible cultural heritage.
We look forward to building upon these connections to develop new initiatives that advance our mission of representing and repositioning intangible cultural heritage through the anthropology of traditional music.
We extend our sincere congratulations to the University of Piraeus and the organizing committee for hosting such a successful and important event that brought together key stakeholders from Greece and Africa.
You can see the full conference program below.
