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Benin took center stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, on July 4 with a vibrant cultural showcase at the Women’s Pavilion, curated by the Fondation Cartier.
Titled “The Amazons of Art,” the event highlighted the creative force of Beninese women and paid homage to the legendary Amazons of Dahomey—one of the world’s most iconic female military corps.
As one of the few African countries represented in the pavilion, Benin delivered a compelling three-part program featuring an art exhibition, a documentary screening, and a dynamic lecture-debate.
Visitors from Japan and around the world explored the works of eight Beninese visual artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, and textile design.
The pieces explored themes of resilience, transmission of heritage, and feminine identity.
Curator Carole Borna opened the event by reflecting on Benin’s cultural diplomacy and the government’s vision to use the arts as a vehicle for international engagement.
She emphasized how the initiative aligns with Benin’s broader efforts to amplify women’s voices in contemporary art and culture.
The panel featured high-profile guests, including Flora Coquerel, Miss France 2014, who is actively involved in maternal health advocacy in Benin.
She was joined by Mèdèssè Nathalie Sagbo, creator of the comic strip Tassi Hangbé, which recounts the life of Queen Tassi Hangbé—a rarely remembered monarch of Danxomè and a symbol of female leadership in West African history.
The venue itself—designed by Japanese architect Yuko Nagayama and visual artist Es Devlin—was first unveiled at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Its intricate wooden architecture, inspired by traditional Japanese techniques and reused for Osaka 2025 as part of a sustainability initiative, created a fitting backdrop for Benin’s celebration of heritage, gender equity, and cultural pride.
Benin’s participation formed part of the country’s Benin Horizons national program, overseen by the Benin Tourism Agency.
With culture and inclusion as central pillars of its global image, the initiative underscores the country’s rising influence on the international stage through art, history, and diplomacy.
