Culture

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean-Michel Abimbola, unveiled on November 29 an initiative that’s already making waves: Paris–Cotonou flights at preferential fares for the holiday period. This scheme, designed for the diaspora and travelers during the festive season, relies on a simple strategy: making access to the country easier for those who […]

The construction site of the Musée international du Vodun, located at the entrance to Porto-Novo, was visited by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Babalola Jean Michel Hervé Abimbola, on Thursday, November 27, 2025. This visit is part of the close monitoring of the major cultural projects undertaken by the government. The minister […]

Du 16 au 18 octobre 2025, Lagos accueillera la deuxième édition du Forum Création Africa, une initiative du ministère français de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères, portée par MansA – Maison des Mondes Africains. Après une première édition à Paris en 2023, l’événement s’impose comme une plateforme majeure de coopération entre l’Afrique et l’Europe autour […]

The Residence of the European Union in Benin came alive on 16 October 2025 with colors and shapes at the opening of a joint exhibition by two Beninese artists: Verckys, painter, and Génia Ohini, sculptor. This event is part of the European Union’s ongoing commitment to cultural dialogue, the promotion of the creative industries and […]

The Beninese government announced, at the Council of Ministers on September 24, 2025, an ambitious tourism development project in Ouidah, more precisely in the Avlékété area. This major hotel program provides for the construction of three upscale hotel complexes intended to strengthen the region’s tourist appeal and stimulate the local economy. Project details The project […]

The monument bearing the inscription « Cité historique de Ouidah », located at the entrance to the tourist town, was demolished during the week of September 15, 2025. Announced for Thursday, September 18, the operation caused sadness and questions among residents. The building was completely reduced to rubble following the intervention of heavy machinery. Why […]

Angélique Kidjo, the legendary Beninese singer and multiple award-winner (5 Grammy Awards), makes history. She became the first African artist to receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The official announcement of the selection for the Walk of Fame Class of 2026 was made during a conference organized by the Hollywood Chamber […]

On Monday, April 28, 2025, the French Senate unanimously approved a bill authorizing the restitution of the Djidji Ayokwê Talking Drum to Ivory Coast. The decision was warmly welcomed by Françoise Remarck, Ivorian Minister of Culture and Francophonie. The next step will be approval by the French National Assembly, which will pave the way for […]