I CIOFF Benin

Benin joined CIOFF as a National Section in 1997 even if the contacts were first established during the first mission, led by Jean ROCHE, coordinator of the Africa Programme, in 1995.

The Beninese CIOFF Section integrates into its team several festivals, cultural associations, theatre companies, traditional music and dance groups, sets of ballets, musician artists, basket makers craftsmen, sculptors, specialists of braids, specialists of Beninese gastronomy, writers, historians, anthropologists and sociologists. Mr. Gilles Bokpe is its President since its creation. He is supported by the General secretary Mr. Marcel Zounon.

Actually, a projet of restructuring runs its course.

II Information about ours partners

M.Marcel Zounon is the artistic director of towara group. It is a art traditional's compagny of dancers and musicians. Since many years, this artists travels through the world and the CIOFF's festivals.

III Benin and UNESCO

“This country is very active in the international scene. The traditions of Gelede were declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.” UNESCO's source

IV Cultural life and festivals

Benin is one of the main centres of the African traditional culture: Benin is the birthplace of voodoo which extended beyond the frontiers and continents.This confers to it a privileged place in the eyes of the others countries from West Africa concerning the cultural promotion. The benin voodoo festival which toke place in january 2008 is one of example.

 Back