Culture

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Patrice Talon inspecting construction sites for Ouidah's tourist infrastructure development in Benin.

BeninMemory recognition: Ten people of African descent officially obtain Beninese citizenship.

Ten individuals from the Afro-descendant diaspora, primarily originating from Guadeloupe, received their certificates of Beninese nationality this Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Cotonou Judicial Complex. The official ceremony, marked by the performance of the national anthem, was presided over by the Minister of Justice and Legislation, Yvon Detchenou, and conducted by his technical advisor, […]

Culture31 Aug 2026

BeninBenin: The prefect of Borgou inspects the Gaani 2026 construction sites in Nikki.

A delegation from the Departmental Administrative Conference (CAD) of Borgou, led by Prefect Abdou-Chakour Assouma Naro, visited the sites dedicated to the Gaani festivities in Nikki on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. This field tour aimed to assess the progress of the renovation works on the ritual path and evaluate the overall preparations for this major […]

Culture21 Aug 2026

BeninBenin: Angélique Kidjo honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the government praises a national pride

The government of the Republic of Benin has expressed its great satisfaction following the announcement of the unveiling of the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of singer Angélique Kidjo. The ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM (Pacific time) at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, with a live […]

Culture18 Aug 2026

Côte d'IvoireIvory Coast: the return of the talking drum Djidji Ayôkwé takes on a political dimension

Ivory Coast celebrated its 66th Independence Day on Friday, August 7, 2026. In Abidjan, the speaking drum Djidji Ayôkwé, returned by France in March after several years of negotiations, was presented for the first time to the Ivorian public. The ceremony was attended by political leaders, traditional chiefs, and thousands of spectators. A sacred object […]

Culture08 Aug 2026

BeninCalendar of Vodun Days 2027 and the regime of non-working days in Benin

The extension of Vodun Days to an entire week (from January 2 to 9, 2027) is part of the new tourism strategy aimed at valuing cultural heritage and optimizing the profitability of infrastructures. Regarding the public holiday regime, Beninese legislation (law of July 30, 2024, establishing the National Holiday of Traditional Religions on the second […]

Culture04 Aug 2026

BeninBenin: the “Vodun Days” celebrations go from 3 to 7 days

On the occasion of the second edition of the Diaspora Connect Forum held in Cotonou, the president of the Vodun Rites Committee, Professor Mahougnon Kakpo, announced the extension of the Vodun Days Festival. Previously celebrated over three days, the event dedicated to Vodun arts, culture, and spirituality will now last an entire week, according to […]

Culture03 Aug 2026

Yassine Latoundji, un artiste praticien au gouvernement

BeninRestitution of cultural property: Yassine Latoundji sets up the national scientific committee in Cotonou

The Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Yassine Latoundji, officially inaugurated the National Scientific Committee for the Restitution of Cultural Assets this Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Cotonou. This strategic body will be tasked with leading the scientific and technical efforts aimed at bringing back 35 new cultural assets and archival funds currently held in […]

Culture14 Jul 2026

Francois Abiola, joueur de football, en action sur le terrain.

BeninRewrite the history of Benin: ANSALB unveils the foundations of a major scientific project

Invited on Sunday, June 28, 2026, to the Canal 3 Bénin set during the show Zone Franche, Professor François Adebayo Abiola shed light on the ongoing work at the National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Benin (ANSALB). Central to his intervention was an ambitious and sensitive program: the scientific rewriting of Benin’s history, […]

Culture29 Jun 2026

Tshisekedi décore Fally Ipupa après son double concert au Stade de France

DR CongoDRC: Tshisekedi honors Fally Ipupa after his double concert at Stade de France

Félix Tshisekedi decorated Fally Ipupa with the rank of Knight of the National Order of the Leopard after his historic double concert at the Stade de France. Through this distinction, the Congolese president praises the international influence of the artist and the role of Congolese music as a tool of soft power for the DRC. […]

Culture06 Jun 2026

BeninBenin: artists and culture professionals now have official status

The Beninese government has taken an important step in organizing the cultural sector. During a meeting of the Council of Ministers, it adopted a decree establishing a legal, social, and economic status for the benefit of artists and cultural professionals. This decision aims to fill a gap long highlighted by sector stakeholders. Despite investments made […]

Culture08 Mar 2026

Jean Michel Abimbola, du Tourisme, de la Culture et des Arts

BeninBenin: Jean-Michel Abimbola takes stock of the MTCA and passes the baton

At the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts, the transition took place under the sign of assessment and continuity. On the occasion of the handover ceremony, the outgoing minister Jean-Michel Abimbola looked back on the main achievements recorded during his time at the head of the department before formally handing over his responsibilities to his […]

Culture08 Mar 2026

Shadiya Assouman, ministre de l'industrie et du commerce

BeninMeeting of Benin’s Public Museums: List of Board Members

The Benin government has established the Administrative Council of the Réunion des musées publics du Bénin (RMPB), a strategic body charged with guiding and overseeing the policy for managing the country’s public museums. The Council is composed of representatives from the Presidency of the Republic, the overseeing ministries, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, […]

Culture03 Mar 2026

Le prÃ©sident de la RÃ©publique du BÃ©nin, Patrice Talon

BeninBenin: President Talon appoints the members of the Commission on Toponymy and National Memory

The President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon, signed a decree appointing the members of the Commission on Toponymy and National Memory. This newly constituted commission aims to contribute to a better structuring of the national memory through the study and revision of place names, public spaces, and street names, in order to align […]

Culture15 Feb 2026

BeninBenin: creation of an agency to assist with the return of Afro-descendants

The Beninese government announced in a cabinet meeting the establishment of a new structure dedicated to supporting Afro-descendants who wish to obtain Beninese nationality, following the adoption of Law 2024-31 of September 2, 2024 relating to the recognition of nationality for this category of beneficiaries. The initiative aims to streamline and safeguard the nationality acquisition […]

Culture29 Jan 2026

BeninVodun Days 2026: the government congratulates itself on the smooth running of the event

The Beninese government has given a positive assessment of the 2026 edition of the Vodun Days festival, praising the organization, participation, and cultural impact of this event, which was held recently in Ouidah. In a statement made on the margins of the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, January 21, the government spokesperson, Léandre Wilfried […]

Culture27 Jan 2026

BeninVodun Days Festival: significant economic impact, according to Jean-Michel Abimbola

On the occasion of the Vodun Days festival, a cultural event that has become a major fixture in Benin, Jean-Michel Abimbola highlighted the festival’s positive economic impact. Speaking on the festival’s socio-economic reach, Jean-Michel Abimbola noted that Vodun Days goes beyond simply promoting intangible heritage. He says the event generates direct and indirect economic activity […]

Culture13 Jan 2026

BeninTofa and Vodun Days 2026 in Benin: between the Fa prophecy and a global cultural showcase

Between spiritual revelation and popular fervor, Ouidah pulsed to the rhythm of the Tofa and Vodun Days 2026. Carried by the sign Losso Sa, herald of stability and prosperity, this edition confirmed Benin’s ambition to make Vodoun a cultural, spiritual, and tourist pillar open to the world. Every January, Benin becomes the epicenter of a […]

Culture11 Jan 2026

BeninIn Benin, around 1.25 trillion invested in culture and tourism over 10 years.

Benin has chosen to place culture and tourism at the heart of its strategy for economic development. On the occasion of Vodun Days, held from January 8 to 10 in Ouidah, the government reaffirmed this orientation through statements by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean-Michel Abimbola, a guest on France 24. According […]

Culture04 Jan 2026

BeninBenin: Cotonou launches the contractual phase of the Cultural and Creative Quarter

The contracting process for the construction of Cotonou’s Cultural and Creative Quarter (QCC) has been officially approved, paving the way for work to begin. This large-scale project covers more than 12 hectares and aims to provide the economic capital with an integrated space dedicated to the cultural and creative industries. Conceived as a genuine cultural […]

Culture17 Dec 2025

Dinis N'Tchama, porte-parole des putschistes en Guinée Bissau

Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau: key takeaways from the first meeting between the junta and ECOWAS

An ECOWAS delegation arrived in Bissau this Monday, December 1, 2025, hoping to engage in a dialogue with the new military authorities. This visit comes after the November 26 coup, which plunged the country into a serious institutional crisis. West African heads of state reacted quickly, condemning the coup and deciding to suspend Guinea-Bissau’s participation […]

Culture02 Dec 2025