Beninese expertise takes center stage behind the scenes of “Clash,” Canal+’s event series

The event series “Clash” not only highlights actors and a strongly marked musical universe. It also relies on several African technical skills, including four Beninese professionals.

These areAlain Nounagnon, Raymond Aïkpe, Nadjibatou Ibrahim, and Olivier Kpossa. All held important positions in the making of the series, spanning cinematography, directing, costumes, graphic design, and visual effects. Their presence illustrates the role Beninese technicians play in productions designed on a continental scale.

Alain Nounagnon was responsible for the director of photography. He is credited with much of the visual coherence of the series, notably through choices of lighting, framing, and atmosphere. His name also appears in the technical credits of “Clash” presented in the 2026 international selection of the Festival de la Fiction.

Raymond Aïkpe worked as first assistant director, at the heart of the shooting organization and team coordination. Nadjibatou Ibrahim held the position of head costume designer, while Olivier Kpossa is credited as graphic designer and visual effects supervisor.

Beninese expertise in a pan-African production

These roles occur at very different but complementary stages of production. Cinematography shapes the image’s identity, assistant directing organizes the shooting process, while costumes, graphic elements, and visual effects directly contribute to the fictional universe.

Two of these professionals, Alain Nounagnon and Olivier Kpossa, were trained at the Higher Institute of Audiovisual Professions (ISMA) in Benin, according to Les 4 Vérités. Their presence on “Clash” thus highlights skills stemming from Beninese audiovisual training in a production aimed at a broad African audience.

“Clash” is the first series directed by Philippe Lacôte, already known for the films Run and La Nuit des Rois. The production brings together Wassakara Productions in Côte d’Ivoire, Banshee Films in France, Monday Films in Ghana, and Kiyo’s Production in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Filmed between Abidjan and Kinshasa, the series follows DJ Shogun and DJ Diamantino, two friends who achieve success together in coupé-décalé before their relationship falls apart. When a manager pushes Shogun toward a solo career, Diamantino returns to Kinshasa and the two former partners become rivals.

Coupé-décalé, fame, and rivalries at the heart of the plot

Through this story, Philippe Lacôte explores several realities of contemporary African show business: ambition, the quest for fame, the influence of managers, social networks, buzz creation, and competition among artists. The director explains he wanted to portray coupé-décalé as a broader cultural phenomenon linked to an Ivorian generation and, beyond that, to Africa as a whole.

The cast notably includes Ange Eric N’Guessan, Arnold Matondo, Jean-Baptiste Lafarge, Serge Kanyinda, France Nancy Goulian, Prudence Maïdou, Mouna N’Diaye, Fanta Doumbia, Stéphy Jeff, and Michel Bohiri. The screenplay is by Philippe Lacôte, Gauz, and Camille Lu-Dac.

Music naturally holds an important place in this production. An original soundtrack of eight tracks was specially created for the series by African composers, beatmakers, musicians, and authors. The original music is by Olivier Alary.

Composed of eight episodes of 52 minutes, “Clash” airs from Sunday, August 30 at 8:30 p.m. on CANAL+ MAGIC, with one episode each week. For Benin, the series also offers a concrete showcase for four professionals working far from the spotlight but in roles crucial to the final quality of the production.