After a successful first edition, Cotonou will host from April 23 to 28, 2024 the second edition of the Benin International Arts Festival (FInAB) at the Palais des Congrès.
Cotonou, Benin, March 29, 2024 – The Empire group, leader in events in Benin and in the sub-region, is proud to announce the holding of the second edition of the Benin International Arts Festival (FInAB), which will take place will take place at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou from April 23 to 28, 2024. After a first edition which attracted more than 100,000 visitors and brought together more than 200 exhibitors, the festival returns with a reinforced ambition to celebrate the richness of African creativity. This year, the event will be under the theme: “Identity and multiculturalism: Impacts on the creative cultural industries in Africa”.
Building on an exceptional record during its first edition, this new version promises an enriching cultural experience, without a carnival but with exclusive masterclasses in music and cinema, as well as two unique fashion shows.
The 2024 edition will offer a privileged space for exchanges between artists, cultural actors and the public. The festival aims to exceed the number of visitors from the previous year, thanks to the presence of more than 100 African artists and an exceptional program.
On the menu, live performances and the celebration of culinary and visual arts through the Tokp’art market. The FInAB will pay tribute to significant figures of Beninese art and culture, including Gratien Zossou, NelOliver, Lolo Andoche, Koffi Koko, and Kiri Kanta. Guest artists include Toofan, Bobo wè, Suspect 95, Ayodélé and Meiway, reflecting the diversity of African talent. This year, FInAB is expanding its range of activities, including a radio platform and an increased presence of voice media such as podcasts, to support exchanges and the dissemination of knowledge.
Ulrich Adjovi, CEO of the Empire Group, expresses his enthusiasm: “This new edition of FInAB emphasizes the exploration of synergies between tradition and modernity, the emergence of new artistic voices and the promotion of intercultural dialogues. We have calibrated the program to provide an enriching space for dialogue for artists, cultural actors and the public. FInAB emerged as a response to Benin’s desire to position itself as a hub of art and culture in Africa, while boosting the local economy and strengthening its tourism industry.”
With this in mind, the FInAB is fully part of the national cultural strategy promoted by the government and supported by the vision of the President of the Republic, Patrice Talon. The latter sees in the promotion of arts and culture an essential lever for the economic development and influence of Benin on the international scene and has made vast investments since 2016.
About FInAB:
The Benin International Arts Festival (FInAB) is a major cultural event organized annually since 2023, aiming to promote and celebrate the diversity and richness of African creativity. Supported by the Empire Group, a recognized event leader in Benin and the sub-region, the FInAB is part of a dynamic of promoting African arts. It offers a space for meetings and exchanges between artists, cultural actors and the public. This event also aims to address the lack of visibility and funding for artists and creators, by providing them with a platform to promote their work to professionals and individuals from different fields and several countries.
About the Empire Group:
The Empire group is a pan-African entity active in various sectors such as entertainment, events, communication, night clubs, games rooms, 12D cinema, catering, new technologies, hotels, and representation commercial. Founded in 2012, this dynamic group founded and led by Ulrich Adjovi operates in six African countries: Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Congo and Nigeria.
