Porto-Novo is preparing to come alive on August 2 and 3, 2025, as it hosts the much-anticipated second edition of the Mask Festival.
Endorsed by Benin’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the event aims to spotlight the country’s rich intangible heritage and its significance across West Africa.
At a press conference held on July 18 at the Art Residence Hotel in Avakpa, festival organizers revealed key highlights for this year’s edition.
Minister Jean-Michel Hervé Babalola Abimbola was present to reaffirm the government’s vision for the festival.
“This festival is a historical rendezvous,” he declared, underlining the event’s crucial role in preserving and transmitting collective memory. “Each masquerade, each ritual, each scene is meaningful, embodying a living identity,” he added.
Charlemagne Yankoty, mayor of Porto-Novo, described the festival as a strategic milestone. Reflecting on the success of the inaugural edition, he said, “This new step marks our commitment to making Porto-Novo a center of African culture.”
Yankoty also emphasized the educational importance of the festival, designed to raise awareness about traditions that are often overlooked or misunderstood, despite their powerful symbolism within the collective imagination.
The Mask Festival not only celebrates artistic expression through vibrant masquerades and cultural rituals but also serves as a platform to deepen appreciation for Benin’s ancestral roots.
As the city prepares to welcome visitors and performers alike, the festival promises to reinforce Porto-Novo’s position as a beacon of cultural heritage and a hub for African identity.
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