Dakar is set to come alive to the rhythm of West African art and culture: the first edition of the West African Arts and Culture Festival, named ECOFEST, will take place from November 30 to December 6, 2025.
Exploring the role of culture as a driver of social cohesion and peace in a region facing profound upheavals
Co-organized by ECOWAS and WAEMU, and hosted under the auspices of the Senegalese government, ECOFEST establishes itself as a major milestone in the promotion of West African culture. The chosen theme — “Socio-political Change and Crisis in West Africa: What Role Can Culture Play?” — reflects a clear ambition: to explore culture’s role as a vector of social cohesion and peace in a region confronted with deep transformations.
This cultural gathering will bring together artists, creators, intellectuals, and institutions through artistic performances, exhibitions, debates, and professional exchanges.
A strategic space to strengthen sub-regional cultural integration and promote creative industries
ECOFEST will not be merely a moment of entertainment: at the heart of the program are professional workshops, meetings between cultural and institutional stakeholders, art exhibitions, music and dance performances, and panel discussions. This setup promises to be a strategic space to reinforce sub-regional cultural integration and promote creative industries.
A new must-attend event on the region’s cultural calendar
The inaugural edition of ECOFEST could mark a turning point: it places culture at the center of West African unity, not only as a heritage to celebrate but also as a tool for dialogue and resilience in the face of sociopolitical challenges. If successful, it could become a staple event on the region’s cultural calendar, laying the groundwork for sustainable artistic cooperation between ECOWAS and WAEMU member states.