Land of artistic and cultural renaissance

The revelation of Africa’s new cultural crossroads

Benin, rich in cultural and artistic heritage, stands out for initiatives such as the “Art of Benin yesterday and today” exhibition, which highlights restored royal treasures and the vibrant contemporary art scene. Thanks to major initiatives such as the future Quartier Culturel et Créatif de Cotonou and the Marina Boulev’art Gallery, the country is asserting itself as a cultural epicenter in West Africa. Explore Benin and discover a nation where tradition and modernity meet in harmony.

Beninese royal treasures

In 2021, Benin's 26 royal treasures were returned after 129 years of exile.

Marina Boulev'art Gallery

A graffiti wall that will eventually be the longest in the world.

The Venice Biennale

In 2024, Benin took part in the 1st Venice Biennale in its history.

Highlights from the arts and culture sector

Revelation! Contemporary art from Benin

Revelation! Contemporary Art from Benin" offers a panoramic tour of contemporary art from Benin. Through a diversity of media and supports. After Morocco and Martinique, this exhibition continues its tour of Paris, at the Conciergerie.

Benin at the Venice Biennale

Entitled "Everything Precious Is Fragile", the exhibition explores Benin's rich history through the themes of the slave trade, the figure of the Amazon, spirituality and Vodun. It looks at the contemporary world through the lens of Gèlèdè philosophy, and highlights the notion of "rematriation".

Le Marina Boulev'art Gallery

The Marina Boulev'art Gallery in Cotonou is an "open-air museum" located on the Boulevard de la Marina in the heart of Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. Destined to become the longest graffiti wall in the world, it features frescoes recounting the country's history and values.

The Festival of Masks in Porto-Novo

Held every year in the heart of Benin's capital, the Festival des Masques à Porto-Novo aims to strengthen Beninese arts and culture, with a particular focus on the traditions and practices associated with Vodun masks.

Cotonou's Cultural and Creative Quarter

The future Quartier Culturel et Créatif (QCC) in Cotonou will be the heart of Benin's cultural and creative industries. It will include major infrastructures such as the Musée des Arts Contemporains de Cotonou (MACC), the Institut franco-béninois Joséphine Baker, art galleries, artists' studios and residences, and the Arena de Cotonou.

Next : Benin at the Venice Biennale

Good to know about art and culture in Benin

Royal Treasures
Discover the 26 royal treasures to be returned to Benin in 2021
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Venice Biennale
Explore the Benin Pavilion for its 1st participation in the Venice Biennale
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Contemporary Art
Visit the exhibition "Révélation ! Contemporary art from Benin" exhibition in Paris
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Vodun Days
Take part in Vodun Days, an immersion in the heart of Vodun arts, culture and spirituality
Learn more
 
 

A culture that radiates around the world

Benin has a fascinating history that shines on the international scene, particularly in the cultural and creative industries, through films such as The Woman King and Black Panther, which pay tribute to the legendary Agoodjie.

Gèlèdé listed as a World Heritage Site

In Benin, Gèlèdé is practiced by the Yoruba-Nago community. For over a century, this ceremony has paid homage to the primordial mother, Iyà Nlà, and to the role played by women in social organization. In 2008, the Gèlèdé oral heritage was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

They talk about
Benin

Benin’s “soft power” in the limelight at the Venice Biennale
Jeune Afrique, pan-African media

« For its inaugural participation in the event with a national pavilion, Benin wants to reveal its contemporary art to the world and shed light on the major cultural projects underway in the country. »

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Contemporary art from Benin at the Conciergerie de Paris
Arts in the city, French magazine dedicated to cultural outings

« It’s a first, or should we say a revelation. After a stopover in Benin, Morocco and Martinique, this global exhibition makes a stopover in Paris, in the heart of the Palais de la Cité. »

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Benin asserts its place in the art world with its first pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Financial Times, American media specializing in finance

« The country recently enjoyed success with the return of 26 major works of art from the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. Their return was celebrated in 2022 with an exhibition at Benin’s presidential palace. »

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Benin, a laboratory for the restitution of African heritage
L'Obs, French generalist media

« This small country on the Gulf of Guinea has become a model after the return, in 2021, of twenty-six works previously held by the Musée du Quai Branly. A first step that calls for others. »