Togo’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) generated $166 million (over CFA100 Billion) in 2024–about 1% of the country’s GDP. The French Development Agency (FDA) recently reported the figure in a study covering key segments like music, audiovisual production, cinema, and digital arts.
According to the same source, cultural and creative industries employ around 135,000 people (134,293), or 4% of Togo’s workforce. This includes 70,987 women (52%) and 20,754 youths aged 15 to 24 (15%). Exports of cultural goods and services brought in $24 million.
However, the report highlights that 92% (123,953) of the jobs in this sector are informal. Informal activities alone generate $51.98 million in revenue.
Structural Reform Needed
Togolese filmmakers produce around 70 films annually, including six foreign productions. The local cinema industry is growing but still struggles to professionalize.
The government adopted a Film and Moving Image Code and created the National Film and Audiovisual Industry Support Fund (FoNSICA) to organize the market and boost local production.
Challenges such as limited access to financing, insufficient technical skills, and inadequate distribution infrastructure hinder the industry’s development. Togo has only two movie theaters operating regularly, making it difficult to showcase local productions.
