The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Kamel Baddari, accompanied by the Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, in charge of African Affairs, Ms. Salma Bakhta Mansouri, presided over the opening ceremony of the first edition of the Algerian African University Theatre Festival on 13 July 2026 at the Mahieddine Bachtarzi National Theatre of Algeria.

The ceremony was attended by the Director General for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, several ambassadors accredited to Algeria, presidents and directors of Algerian universities and higher education institutions, students, and delegations participating in this continental cultural event.

The organization of this inaugural edition reflects the leading role of the Algerian university in promoting cultural diplomacy and strengthening ties among African peoples through a platform that brings together artistic creativity and academic exchange.

Theatre stands as the rightful heir to Africa’s legacy of struggle, a mirror reflecting the continent’s history of resistance, and a beacon illuminating the aspirations of its youth toward a brighter future. The opening of the festival also serves as an opportunity to celebrate the bonds of friendship and solidarity among African peoples while paying tribute to the icons of committed art who transformed the stage into a platform for freedom and the spoken word into a message of resistance, honoring legendary voices such as Miriam Makeba and other artists who demonstrated that art remains a powerful weapon against colonialism and all forms of domination.

By hosting this event, Algeria reaffirms the role of university theatre as a bridge connecting the peoples of Africa and the university as a space for learning, creativity, and cultural dialogue, based on the conviction that culture is one of the fundamental pillars of rapprochement, integration, and the building of a shared African future.

Held under the theme “Africa Meets on the University Theatre Stage,” the festival brings together higher education institutions from 16 African countries, including Mauritania, Mozambique, Tunisia, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The programme features theatrical performances both within and outside the official competition, as well as street theatre productions, showcasing the richness and diversity of African university theatre.

The festival programme also includes the African University Competition for the Best Play Script, in addition to an International Conference on African Theatre, organized by the University of Algiers 2 under the theme “African Theatre Practice: Stage Experiences and Prospects for Academic Framing,” providing a platform for scholarly discussion and the exchange of expertise on the current state and future development of African theatre within the university environment.