ECOWAS, UEMOA, Senegal Launch ECOFEST 2025 in Dakar as Culture Frontlines Regional Unity.
By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Republic of Senegal have officially set the stage for ECOFEST 2025, unveiling the much-anticipated regional cultural festival at a high-profile press conference in Dakar.
The launch event, held on 20 November 2025 at the iconic Museum of Black Civilisations, brought together senior regional officials and culture stakeholders to present progress on preparations for the festival, which will run from 30 November to 6 December 2025 in Dakar.
Senegal’s Minister of Culture, Amadou Ba, flanked by Secretary of State Bakary Sarr and ECOWAS Commissioner Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, outlined the vision behind ECOFEST 2025, describing it as both a cultural celebration and a political statement about the indispensable role of creative industries in building peace and regional cohesion.
According to the organisers, Senegal is hosting ECOFEST 2025 “with responsibility and humility,” underlining that the country is not merely providing a venue, but assuming a leadership role in showcasing how culture can help heal fractures, foster dialogue and strengthen integration in West Africa.
At the heart of ECOFEST 2025 is a bold and timely theme: “socio-political change and crises in West Africa.” Against the backdrop of democratic transitions, governance tensions and social upheavals in parts of the region, the festival aims to transform Dakar into a shared space where artists, intellectuals, cultural operators and citizens can reflect on these challenges through creativity rather than conflict.
Over seven days, ECOFEST will present an immersive programme that spans:
Major exhibitions celebrating West Africa’s artistic heritage and contemporary creativity
Live performances across music, theatre, dance and spoken word
Artistic residencies bringing together creators from different countries to co-produce new works
Professional meetings and industry exchanges focused on the cultural and creative economy
Debates and reflection sessions on the role of culture in peacebuilding, social cohesion and “living together” in diversity
Organisers emphasised that ECOFEST is designed as a unifying platform, showcasing the breadth of West Africa’s artistic, cultural and culinary wealth, while helping to reposition the region’s cultural and creative industries as engines of development, youth employment and cross-border solidarity.
Speakers at the press conference also underlined the community and symbolic dimension of the event, stressing that Dakar is ready to welcome artists, official delegations, cultural professionals and audiences from all corners of West Africa. The city is expected to transform into a vibrant regional crossroads where traditional and contemporary expressions merge in a shared narrative of resilience and hope.
With ECOFEST 2025, ECOWAS, UEMOA and Senegal are signalling that culture is not a luxury, but a strategic tool for rebuilding trust, strengthening belonging and advancing the regional integration project – one performance, one exhibition and one conversation at a time.
