Toward the First “Vogue Africaine” Event
The ASSITEJ West African Regional Cooperation Project is preparing for its first General Meeting. It will take place during the Djaram’art International Puppetry and Related Arts Festival in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal, from June 15 to 21, 2026. The event will bring together artists and delegates from the three partner countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal), certain professionals from the associated countries (Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Togo), as well as a delegation from the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International.
The meeting marks the conclusion of Phase 1 of the project, which focused on needs assessment, defining specifications for the production of performances in 2026–2027, and developing a training plan involving as many participants as possible in the region. Phase 2 will focus on the creation of performances and, at that time, the implementation of training programs.
The objective of the project, funded primarily by ASSITEJ under the European Creative Europe program, is the development and structuring of performing arts for children and young people in West Africa. The actions implemented aim both to support artistic creation in the region and to enhance young audiences’ access to the arts and cultural life.
For more information: https://assitej-international.org/pdfviewer/regional-cooperation-programme-en/?auto_viewer=true#page=&zoom=auto&pagemode=none
The MASA (Abidjan) opens up to young audiences
Submit your application before 20 August
The next edition of the Abidjan Performing Arts Market will take place from 11 to 18 April 2026, and will see the creation of a programme aimed at young audiences. The organisers are launching two calls for entries, with a deadline of 20 August 2025:
- The MASA market, open to artists from Africa and the African diaspora;
- The MASA festival, open exclusively to non-African companies and artists.
In both cases, shows created less than three years ago that have never been performed at MASA are eligible. The disciplines accepted are : Street Arts, Circus, Storytelling, Dance (urban, contemporary, heritage), Humour, Young Audiences (all disciplines), Puppetry, Music, Slam, Theatre.
Applications must be submitted online via the official MASA website: http://www.en.masa.ci/
Deadline: 20 August 2025.
Publication of results: The list of groups shortlisted for the official selection will be published by 16 December 2025 at the latest.
For further information: candidatures@masa-ci.org
Download the call for applications (pdf, ENG): click here