The Embassy of India in Cairo, in collaboration with Ain Shams University, hosted the Africa Regional Hindi Conference in Cairo on 8-9 February 2026 under the theme “Hindi for Cultural Connectivity and Cooperation from the Ganges to the Nile.”
The two-day gathering brought together prominent Hindi scholars, professors, writers, educators and language enthusiasts from seven African countries – Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa – alongside academics from Cairo University and Al-Azhar University. The event celebrated shared cultural bonds in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the Indian philosophy that views the world as one family.
The conference was inaugurated in the presence of Suresh K. Reddy, Ambassador of India to Egypt; Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs; and Rami Mehar Ghali, Vice President of Ain Shams University, along with diplomats, senior academics and representatives of leading institutions. Their participation underscored India’s growing emphasis on cultural diplomacy and academic cooperation with Africa and the Arab world.
Distinguished Hindi scholars from Egyptian, African and international universities delivered presentations and engaged in in-depth discussions on a range of contemporary themes. Sessions explored the role of Hindi in fostering cultural connectivity, its function in international relations and cultural diplomacy, the expanding global influence of Indian cinema, and the future of Hindi in the era of technology and artificial intelligence.
The academic exchanges were marked by substantive dialogue and practical recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and expanding Hindi studies across the African continent.
Hosting the conference in Cairo highlighted the deep-rooted civilisational ties between India and Egypt – two ancient cultures linked by longstanding traditions of knowledge exchange, cultural interaction and people-to-people engagement.
The conference concluded with a strong consensus on advancing Hindi teaching, research and cultural exchange in Africa through sustained academic partnerships, faculty exchanges, student mobility programmes and joint research initiatives.
Widely regarded as a resounding success, the Africa Regional Hindi Conference is expected to contribute meaningfully to the promotion of the Hindi language, the strengthening of India-Africa cultural relations and the deepening of cross-regional people-to-people ties.
