2024-04-24 23:10:58
After a remarkable first edition, the Benin International Arts Festival (FINAB) returns this year with even more ambitions. Music, cinema, dance, influential art, gastronomy: the palette is enriched for this event which aspires to become a must in the sub-region.
In Cotonou, the second edition of the Benin International Arts Festival (FInAB) officially started this Tuesday, April 23, marking the start of a series of cultural events which will be held until April 28. This event, announced during a press conference on the Place de l’Amazone esplanade, is intended to be a renewal and enrichment of the Beninese artistic landscape. The 2024 edition is placed under the theme “Identity and multiculturalism: impacts on the creative cultural industries in Africa”.
Supported by the Beninese government, FInAB aims to reinvigorate an international dynamic into the Beninese artistic scene. “ We felt the compelling need to reinvigorate our cultural heritage on the world stage and promote African art“insists Ulrich Adjovi, promoter of the festival, which attracted 100,000 visitors and several hundred exhibitors and artists during its first edition last year on its Tokp’art arts market. A vast commercial and exhibition area which is moving this year to the Cotonou convention center.
« This festival, which highlights the cultural and creative industries of Benin, obviously benefits from the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts“, supported Blaise Yaiwa Tchetchao, director of Arts and Books, in his inaugural speech, representing his supervisory minister.
This year, FInAB is broadening its horizons by embracing not only traditional arts such as dance, literature, cinema, visual arts, theater and music, but also by integrating more contemporary disciplines such as gastronomy, “integral part of African culture”, and the art of influence. These new features aim to celebrate and disseminate the diversity of African culture.
“Influencers, who have become essential players, contribute significantly to the sale of works of art. We take the initiative to give them increased visibility to recognize this art as one of the most important of the new generation”, justified the boss of the Empire group, regional leader in the cultural events sector.
“Today, many talented young Beninese and African artists struggle to make themselves known internationally, often due to lack of resources. The festival offers them an information and communication portal to sell their works on the international scene. We brought together many international journalists and media to highlight these creative generations”, he continues, specifying that certain festival activities began on March 18 with a cinema master class, led by Beninese filmmakers such as Adjaho Samson and Claude Balogun.
The “Revelation” program is among the major innovations of this edition, aiming to offer a launching pad for young local talents wishing to make a name for themselves on the international scene. “ This program serves as a springboard for our emerging artists who struggle to achieve global recognition, often hampered by lack of resources“, specifies the organizer.
For this edition once more, in addition to the interventions of local artists, the organizers invited influential personalities from the international circuit of African and international festivals, in order to “build a network conducive to the emergence of fruitful collaborations”. This will allow Beninese artists and other African artists to access prestigious platforms such as Visa for Music and FEMUA, hopes Ulrich Adjovi.
“This year we invited Brahim El Maznel, Moroccan, promoter of Visa for Music in Morocco, Alif Nabar, Burkinabé, promoter of the Rencontres Musicales Africaines (REMA), and Salfo Sore, alias Jah Press, organizer of the Koundés d’or in Burkina Faso , among others”, announced the cultural entrepreneur. And to add: “This year, like last year, we will organize intellectual meetings, conferences, talk shows, master classes and panels”.
During these 6 days, the festival will offer “a program rich in cultural activities”, including discovery concerts, fashion shows by Oyemi Fashion, and “chill” sessions, a very popular concept among young people. “ We invite everyone to enjoy the six days of festivities, which will provide a dynamic platform for all generations“, launched the promoter of FInAB.
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