In 2011 we founded the Centre Académique des Arts Africains et d’Écoutes de Grand-Popo in Benin. We offer travel arrangements, accommodation and courses for anyone to visit and experience Africa in all its splendor.

Free workshops for children

The main purpose though of our center is to to stimulate the local children of lesser means and offer them free workshops, concerts and performances in different forms of art. Our hope is to give them a alternative platform to stand on for the future. We have already been able to offer different events and the response in the area has been tremendous. Here are some examples:

During the Christmas break of 2011 we opened our doors to the children of Grand-Popo with workshops in manufacturing and manipulation of marionettes, dancing, singing and contes (storytelling). Click here to see more at our past events.

On the Chrismas Eve the 24.12 we celebrated the afternoon with 52 children in the garden, singing, dancing, practicing marionettes and contes and in the evening we offered entertainment in collaboration with the restaurant and hotel Saveurs d’Afrique and the musicians of the band CLAN. The children performed for each other with what they have learned to the accompaniment of CLAN, Papa Noël visited and delivered gifts to the accompaniment of the ballafon. Click here to see more at our past events.

 Free professional workshops

During december of 2011 we invited the musician and puppeteer Richard Ahoungassi from Mali to teach how to manufacture and manipulate marionettes through a professional, three-week-course free for a group of local musicians of Grand-Popo. Our goal is to inspire and teach a way to make a living of the Art of marionettes. Click here to see more.

We also welcome anyone in the community who is interested in learning the arts to join us in our workshops and practicing time. CLAN regularly practices in the Center and eager dancers and singers have payed us visits to enjoy the music.

If you like to donate something for our cause, you can contact us here.

Here is a video were Tanko from our parter CLAN explains the ideas behind Centre Académique des Arts Africains et d’Écoutes de Grand-Popo.