Welcome to the French Institute
of South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi

Arts and Creative Industries

Call for Entrepreneurs: Création Africa – South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi

Création Africa is a programme which takes a holistic approach, that combines mentorship, incubation, training, funding and networking to support cultural entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey, with a focus on entrepreneurs who are ready to take their business to the next level through dedicated mentorship…

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Education

We promote the exchange of knowledge through a network of schools, the training of French-speaking educators, opportunities for postgraduate studies in France and an extensive library and information centre.

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Arts and Creative Industries

We aim to strengthen cultural ties and partnerships between institutions and professionals in France and the region through multi-disciplinary exchanges, events, and creative collaborations.

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Science and Innovation

Our goal is to enhance bilateral relations between France and South Africa by supporting innovation, technology, and international research developments

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Governance and Human Rights

Our work focuses on building social cohesion through championing economic inclusion, feminist diplomacy and climate change.

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Governance and Human Rights

Call for proposals: External evaluation of Innov4Good project

The Embassy of France in South Africa is inviting bids for the external evaluation of...

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Call for proposals: External evaluation of Innov4Good project

Science and Innovation

Meet the Female Funding Fit Programme cohort

WomHub, in partnership with the French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, is pleased...

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Meet the Female Funding Fit Programme cohort

Education

English Language Assistants Program in France

The recruitment campaign for the English Language Teaching Assistants in France for the 2026-2027 school...

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English Language Assistants Program in France

Arts and Creative Industries

Help map the future of immersive arts in Southern Africa

Are you a Mosotho transmedia artist, part of a Malawian immersive arts community, or an...

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Help map the future of immersive arts in Southern Africa

Science and Innovation

Création Africa: A catalyst for creative industry growth in Southern Africa

5 November Création Africa is an ambitious initiative launched by the French Ministry for Europe...

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Création Africa: A catalyst for creative industry growth in Southern Africa
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Arts and Creative Industries

IFAS and IFAS-Research celebrate 30 years of cultural dialogue and creativity

In 2025, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and IFAS-Research mark 30 years of cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and academic cooperation between France and South(ern) Africa. Since the official […]

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Calls for Applications
Education

English Language Assistants Program in France

The recruitment campaign for the English Language Teaching Assistants in France for the 2026-2027...

Read more and apply
Arts and Creative Industries

Futures_Past: Open Call for Applications from Immersive Artist Teams

Deadline: 9 November 2025 The Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi,...

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Création Africa

Call for Entrepreneurs: Création Africa – South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi

Deadline for application is 7 December 2025 at 23:59’ SAST After a successful first...

Read more and apply
Partner with us

Localised cooperation

Local cooperation is based on partnerships between French authorities (regions, departments, inter-municipalities, districts) and foreign authorities, involving human exchanges and relationships of trust. It is a pillar of French external action.

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Key Partnership Projects

Governance and Human Rights

Private: Launching Play 4 SRHR Project

Pretoria, 22 June 2023 – The Embassy of France, Kick4Life, Tackle & Umunthu Foundation...

Education

Private: French language FSPI in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi

The launching seminar of the French language project in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi,...

Arts and Creative Industries

IQOQO – The Art & Creative Industries Platform in South Africa

The French Institute and the French Embassy in South Africa, are excited to introduce...

Arts and Creative Industries

Private: Matrimoine exhibition demonstrates the legacy of cross-cultural exchange between France and South Africa  

Working in collaboration with French artist Laurent-Marie Joubert, South African muralists Maria Nokufa and...

Governance and Human Rights

Generation Equality Forum to drive Major Policy Reforms and Generate over $40 Billion in New Investments

Heads of State and Government, heads of international organizations, activists from civil society and...

Arts and Creative Industries

Private: Cradle of Creativity 2023 offers a feast of engaging arts for young theatre goers

The French Institute of South Africa is excited to partner with the 2023 Cradle...

Key Partners

The French Institute has a range of successful partnerships with educational and research institutions, non-governmental organisations, governmental organisations, cultural organisations and esteemed multinational organisations. We are committed to building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with partners who provide a vital mutual transfer of ideas and support to help us reach our shared cooperation goals between France, South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. Partner with us today.

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Launched in 2022 under the France 2030 initiative, the ICC Immersion programme supports French entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) as they expand into global markets. Implemented in South Africa by Institut français in Paris, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), Business France, and Business France South Africa and Southern Africa, the initiative connects French companies with key players in South Africa’s dynamic creative sector. This year’s cohort featured nine innovative CCI companies—Allegria, Atrack (Beam for Music), Agence Culturelle PLUS (Reunion Island), Culturespaces, Fabrik & Moi (Reunion Island), France Muséums Développement, Jakob + MacFarlane, Memorist, and Sound Birth—representing fields from architecture and immersive technology to museum development, cultural consultancy, and music innovation. Altogether, the South African edition fostered meaningful exchange between French and South African cultural leaders, opening the door to future collaborations across the two countries.  Special thank you to the featured sites: Constitution Hill Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation Spier Wine Farm, TRACE Studios Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct Wesgro Wits Digital Dome Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa ----- ICC Immersion is coordinated by the Secrétariat Général pour l'Investissement (SGPI) and driven by the Institut Français and Business France, with support from the Banque des territoires, the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The 2025 edition is implemented by IFAS and Business France in Johannesburg.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), this documentary film brings together nearly 50 voices who have been part of IFAS’s journey over the past three decades. From its beginnings in Newtown to its current home in Braamfontein, IFAS has helped shape South Africa’s cultural and creative landscape through collaboration, exchange, and long-term partnerships. Director: Adam Heyns Producer: Lali van Zuydam Music: NØ FØRMAT! Records
For 30 years IFAS has nurtured a vibrant space for dialogue, experimentation, and creative growth. It has helped tell untold stories, amplify diverse voices, and build platforms for both emerging and established talents to shine. Now, as we mark 30 years of impact and memory, we look back at three remarkable decades of collaboration, co-creation, and cultural connection. And in the words of the legendary filmmaker Ramadan Suleman, here's to the end of Episode 1—and the beginning of many more episodes in the eclectic, ever-evolving series that is IFAS. Video Production and Editing: Adam Heyns Music: NØ FØRMAT! Records
Ahead of the 2025 Series Mania Forum taking place from 25th-27th March, IFAS invited delegates from around the world to join and gain valuable insights from our Audiovisual team and Forum organisers on what to expect and how to prepare for the three jam-packed days of pitching, networking, and high-level conferences.
Organised by SAGES Africa (Services for Africa Gaming & Esports), the Mzansi Esports Champions is a key part of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, an innovative initiative which aims to spotlight and empower women’s talent in esports, promoting inclusivity and equality within the gaming industry. The 2024 players were: – eSwatini: Setsabile Shabangu, Sugar – Kenya: Sylvia Wahome, QueenArrow – Lesotho: Liteboho Thebe, EL – Madagascar: Safidy Andrianisoa, Sentaku – Malawi: Matimbe Gweyneth Edina, Gwyn Stacy – Namibia: Asante-Sana Maruwasa, ATMBYTES – South Africa: Zahraa Khan, Iron-Fist – Zambia: Bwalia Nkumbula, LiaRose The Mzansi Esports Champions event is part of a larger strategy by SAGES Africa to build a strong esports ecosystem across the continent. Through strategic partnerships, SAGES continues to empower African players and enhance their competitiveness on the global stage. This project is a collaboration of the French Institute of South Africa, SAGES and rAge Expo. It is made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. --- Credits: Music: Chipego Producer: Junayd Bradlow Creative Director: Tasmin Jacobs Post-Production: Umar Bradlow Creative Studios: The Magic Pixel & The Ultimate Gaming Champions South Africa
The Live Music Lab is a flagship initiative brought to you by Bassline and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) celebrating a 25-year partnership with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Designed to incubate 15 youths with event and live music theoretical and practical training and work experience at two acclaimed events in Johannesburg’s social calendar: Bassline Fest on the 25th of May and Fête de la Musique on the 22nd of June. Read more: https://bassline.co.za/lab-joburg/
Live Music Lab: Maseru Edition is a two-day workshop designed for young musicians from Maseru, focusing on instrument skills and the business of music. Open to aspiring artists aged 18-25, particularly women, the programme included hands-on training and interactive sessions to help participants kickstart their music careers. Trainees also performed at the Ouh La La Music Festival before the workshop and the Standard Lesotho Bank LETOFE Lifestyle Festival after.
MyFrenchFilmFestival, the original 100% online festival of French-language cinema, is back for its 15th edition from January 17 – February 17, 2025: a unique opportunity for movie buffs around the world to discover the best of French-language cinema from the comfort of their own home. This year, all films in the selection will be available for viewing in their original French version, or with subtitles in one of eight languages: Arabic, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. The official selection includes the following films: - A Real Job - Alarms - Alexx196 & The Pink Sand Beach - All to Play For - Along Came Love - Blood Ties - Changing Rooms - GiGi - No Love Lost - Making Of - Mars Express - Montsouris Park - NUBE - Sweet Tooth - The Apprentices - The Dreamer - The Man with a Thousand Faces - The Mysterious Adventures of Claude Conseil - Through The Night - Winter Tune into the festival: https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com/ MyFrenchFilmFestival is initiated by Unifrance and proudly supported by the Institut français in Paris and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
Organised by SAGES Africa (Services for Africa Gaming & Esports), the Mzansi Esports Champions is a key part of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, an innovative initiative which aims to spotlight and empower women’s talent in esports, promoting inclusivity and equality within the gaming industry. The 2024 players were: – eSwatini: Setsabile Shabangu, Sugar – Kenya: Sylvia Wahome, QueenArrow – Lesotho: Liteboho Thebe, EL – Madagascar: Safidy Andrianisoa, Sentaku – Malawi: Matimbe Gweyneth Edina, Gwyn Stacy – Namibia: Asante-Sana Maruwasa, ATMBYTES – South Africa: Zahraa Khan, Iron-Fist – Zambia: Bwalia Nkumbula, LiaRose The Mzansi Esports Champions event is part of a larger strategy by SAGES Africa to build a strong esports ecosystem across the continent. Through strategic partnerships, SAGES continues to empower African players and enhance their competitiveness on the global stage. This project is a collaboration of the French Institute of South Africa, SAGES and rAge Expo. It is made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. --- Credits: Music: Chipego Producer: Junayd Bradlow Creative Director: Tasmin Jacobs Post-Production: Umar Bradlow Creative Studios: The Magic Pixel & The Ultimate Gaming Champions South Africa
The Occupying The Gallery / Occupying IFAS project, with an artist collective led by internationally acclaimed visual artists, Mary Sibande and Lawrence Lemoana, transforms art galleries into mentoring spaces for a dozen young creatives, offering a platform where artistic creation and learning come together. Their two occupations of IFAS were joined by Mosa Anita Kaiser, Hoek Swaratlhe, Lungile Ngcobo, Sphatho Mzantsi, Bongani Ndlovu, Tatenda Maisa, and Mlondi Magubane. From 16 April to 16 May and 22 to 30 July 2024, the creative platform on the first floor of IFAS was transformed into an artists' residency, positioning the Institute as a veritable creative hub for emerging artists and responding to the desire to support mentoring and training activities – a key focus of Occupying’s transformational agenda. In the first phase, the artists worked over a month-long residency to collectively produce artworks and prints, in collaboration with Artist Proof Studios, which were later presented at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg from 23 to 26 May 2024. Upon their return to IFAS for a 10-day residency led by French visual artist, Hugues Anhēs, and independent exhibition coordinator and curator, Camille Gajate, joining from Paris through the support of Institut français in Paris and IFAS, the occupants produced Fahla Fahla!. ‘Fahla Fahla!’ is a colloquialism of the act of putting together, a touch, touch here and there, in bits and pieces. A drop of something short and sweet: adding and subtracting when needed to make a whole.
For a closer look at the Création Africa journey, watch the testimonial video featuring the entrepreneurs in their own words. Hear firsthand how the programme has shaped their ventures, opened up international connections, and provided a platform to bring Southern African creativity to the global stage.
For a closer look at the Création Africa journey, watch the short testimonial video featuring the entrepreneurs in their own words. Hear firsthand how the programme has shaped their ventures, opened up international connections, and provided a platform to bring Southern African creativity to the global stage.
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