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History of ODEPA
Since 1990, a shared vision to unite and promote African craftsmanship at the continental level.
Our History
In 1990, the Second Edition of the International Art and Craft Fair of Ouagadougou (SIAO), based on the symposium theme “African craftsmanship and creativity”, established a framework for consultation and reflection: the Coordination Committee for the Development and Promotion of African Craftsmanship (CODEPA).
African participants and foreign observers at the 1988 and 1990 symposia noted that the craft sector makes a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of African countries and is also a means of preserving invaluable cultural values.
An assessment carried out by the same participants made it possible to identify the main obstacles to the development and promotion of African craftsmanship—technical, institutional, economic, commercial, and organizational obstacles.
Insufficient training and technical support for artisans does not always enable them to produce quality products. Economically, domestic demand remains low, and the importation of industrial products considerably reduces local demand.
In addition, the lack of appropriate legislation and the split among several supervisory institutions lead to a dispersion of resources allocated to the sector.
Country representatives recognized the need to organize autonomously. Hence the creation of CODEPA in October 1992.
After three decades of existence, the 11th Conference of Ministers held on August 12, 2024, in Brazzaville decided to change the name: CODEPA becomes the Organization for the Development and Promotion of African Craftsmanship (ODEPA).
Key Milestones
First SIAO Symposium
First collective reflection on African craftsmanship—launch of a framework for pan-African consultation in Ouagadougou.
Birth of CODEPA
2nd edition of SIAO—official creation of the Coordination Committee for the Development and Promotion of African Craftsmanship.
Formal Structuring
Representatives of member countries officially formalize the creation of CODEPA as an autonomous African structure.
Pan-African Consolidation
30 years of concrete action to promote, structure, and develop the craft sector across the continent.
AUGUST 12, 2024 🎉
Birth of ODEPA
The 11th Conference of Ministers in Brazzaville decides to change the name: CODEPA becomes ODEPA.
This change of name was made to give the organization the full pan-African dimension it must embody, in a spirit of total inclusion of all African states.
— 11th Conference of Ministers • Brazzaville, 2024
📊 KEY FIGURES
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
Pan-African Craft Summit – 2025
📍 Accra, Ghana
ECOWAS Artisans Forum – Dakar
📍 Dakar, Senegal
International Craft Exhibition ISI
📍 Nairobi, Kenya
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📞 CONTACT US
📞+226 25 37 48 25
✉info@odepa.org
🕐Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
