The prefecture of Forécariah in Guinea has taken a significant step forward in promoting its culture with the laying of the foundation stone for a new cultural center. The ceremony took place on November 7, 2026, at the Place des Martyrs, and was attended by the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Moussa Moïse Sylla, prefectural and communal authorities, and numerous citizens.

The new cultural center is part of the Simandou 2040 program, which aims to construct and equip cultural centers and museums across different regions and prefectures in Guinea. The program is a vision of President Mamadi Doumbouya to restore Guinea's place in the cultural domain. Minister Sylla emphasized the importance of these infrastructures in promoting artistic and cultural talents in the country.

Minister Sylla noted that Guinea's rich cultural heritage lacks venues to express and showcase its talents. He mentioned that the country organizes the Festival national des arts et de la culture every two years but lacks spaces to host these artistic and cultural expressions. The new cultural center in Forécariah is expected to provide a platform for the local population to showcase their talents.

The cultural center in Forécariah will be built on a site of over one hectare in the urban commune. It will be a two-story building, and its construction is expected to take two years, although the minister mentioned that the timeline could be accelerated depending on budget commitments. The project is expected to create employment opportunities and provide a training ground for young people.

The prefect of Forécariah, Colonel Mamadou Lamarana Diallo, and the mayor of the urban commune, Hadja M'Mahawa Touré, have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the project and ensuring its security. The engineer in charge of the project, Doudou Diouf, has presented the characteristics of the building, which will be a type R+1 edifice.

The youth of Forécariah, represented by their spokesperson, Souaibou Fofana, have welcomed the initiative, seeing it as an opportunity to promote local talents and cultural heritage. Minister Sylla also mentioned that several prefectures have already hosted foundation stone-laying ceremonies for similar cultural centers under the Simandou 2040 program.

The new cultural center in Forécariah is expected to not only promote the local culture but also contribute to national unity by providing a platform for various cultural expressions from the Basse-Guinée region. The project is a significant step towards achieving the goals of the Simandou 2040 program and restoring Guinea's cultural prominence.

Key points

  • The new cultural center in Forécariah is part of Guinea's Simandou 2040 program aimed at promoting culture and artistic talents.

Reporting sources

Share this story

Written by

SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.