As part of ongoing preparations for the highly anticipated West African Festival of Arts and Culture (ECOFEST), a joint delegation from ECOWAS, UEMOA, and Senegal’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has carried out a technical inspection of potential cultural venues in Dakar.
The delegation, led by Dr. Emile Zida, Head of the Culture Division at the ECOWAS Commission, and Dr. Donikpo Koné, Head of Culture at UEMOA, toured eight symbolic sites across the Senegalese capital.
These include the Dakar Arena, the African Renaissance Monument, Remembrance Square, the Douta Seck Cultural Centre, the refurbished former Palais de Justice, the National Gallery, the Grand Théâtre Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose, and the Museum of Black Civilisations.
The tour was aimed at evaluating the readiness of these venues to host key events during ECOFEST 2025, scheduled for November in Dakar. Discussions have commenced to finalize the official selection of venues, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.
The day’s activities concluded with a strategic meeting between the Regional Committee and representatives from Senegal’s Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. Discussions focused on progress made, the unveiling of the festival’s updated format, and the delineation of responsibilities between the regional and host committees.
This year’s ECOFEST theme, “Changes and Political Crises in West Africa: What Can Culture Do?” seeks to reassert culture’s role in promoting regional dialogue, peacebuilding, and social transformation amid ongoing challenges facing the subregion.
The festival promises to be a unifying event, highlighting the richness of West African arts while addressing the pressing need for cultural diplomacy in turbulent times.
