ECOFEST 2025: ECOWAS and Senegal Unite West Africa Through Culture and Dialogue.
By Raymond Enoch
In a bold cultural renaissance set to reshape regional unity, ECOWAS, UEMOA, and to the Government of Senegal have launched a renewed drive to host the inaugural edition of ECOFEST — the West African Festival of Arts and Culture — slated for November 2025 in Dakar.
From July 2 to 4, 2025, the Senegalese capital will host a high-level Joint Meeting of the Regional Organising Committee, assembling key players from across West Africa — including government officials, artists, civil society, and cultural experts — to chart a cohesive roadmap for this landmark event.
Themed “Sociopolitical Changes and Crises in West Africa: What Can Culture Do?”, ECOFEST 2025 aims to use culture as a strategic lever to promote peace, social cohesion, and regional transformation amidst rising political and economic challenges.
This initiative is jointly organised by the Commissions of ECOWAS and UEMOA, in collaboration with the Republic of Senegal. It underscores a renewed commitment to reposition culture at the core of West Africa’s development dialogue — a mission long overshadowed by economic and security concerns.
At the heart of ECOFEST is the celebration of West Africa’s rich heritage and cultural diversity, with an emphasis on artistic expression, cultural innovation, and intercultural dialogue. The festival is expected to foster deeper unity among ECOWAS member states and reconnect citizens to a shared identity, in line with ECOWAS’ evolving vision: “From an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of the People.”
Participants at the July meeting will also conduct strategic visits to Dakar’s key cultural sites and fine-tune national and regional coordination plans to ensure a seamless rollout of the festival. The meeting seeks to clarify roles and responsibilities among all stakeholders, solidify the updated roadmap, and galvanize momentum after previous postponements.
With an estimated population of over 300 million and a combined GDP exceeding $734 billion, the ECOWAS region holds immense cultural and economic potential. As the bloc repositions itself post-crisis, ECOFEST stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and shared cultural destiny.
ECOFEST 2025 is more than a festival — it is a regional cultural awakening, offering West Africa a stage not only for celebration but also for critical reflection and collective transformation.
