ECOFEST Dakar 2025: ECOWAS, UEMOA, and Senegal Launch Cultural Site Inspection Ahead of Landmark Festival.
By Raymond Enoch
In anticipation of the highly awaited West African Festival of Arts and Culture (ECOFEST) set for November 2025, key representatives from ECOWAS, UEMOA, and the Senegalese Ministry of Culture conducted an intensive on site pre-festival technical visit to major cultural sites in Dakar on Wednesday, July 2nd.2025
The high-level delegation, led by Dr. Emile Zida of ECOWAS and Dr. Donikpo Koné of UEMOA, embarked on a strategic site inspection to evaluate locations likely to serve as primary venues for the upcoming cultural spectacle. This collaborative visit marks a significant milestone in the countdown to one of West Africa’s most prominent cultural events.
During the tour, the team engaged in on-site assessments, logistical reviews, and strategic consultations concerning site readiness, accessibility, and cultural significance. The purpose: to finalize venue selections that will best showcase the rich artistic tapestry of West Africa during the festival. The final list of selected venues is expected to be announced in an upcoming official statement.
The visit culminated in a closed-door technical meeting with Senegalese cultural authorities. Discussions focused on the operational roadmap for the festival, progress on infrastructural preparations, and the delineation of institutional responsibilities among the organizing bodies.
This year’s edition of ECOFEST comes at a pivotal moment for the region. With the theme, “Political Change and Crisis in West Africa: What Can Culture Do?”, the festival seeks to position culture not just as entertainment, but as a formidable force for peacebuilding, social cohesion, and transformative dialogue amid ongoing political transitions across West Africa.
ECOFEST 2025 is poised to attract a diverse array of artists, cultural leaders, intellectuals, and policymakers, making it a dynamic platform for exploring the unifying power of the arts in the face of regional instability.
As the continent braces for this grand celebration of cultural identity and resilience, the successful execution of this technical visit signals strong institutional commitment and growing momentum toward a memorable and meaningful festival in Dakar.
