Benin/Act 1 of the Ouidah International Carnival: A media release to clarify the details of the preparations

The organizing committee of the Ouidah International Carnival (Cio), supported by partners and political and administrative authorities, held a press conference on 6 April 2022 at the Ouidah International Art and Music Center (Ciamo). A media event that officially launches the preparations and professionalization of this major event.

To make the international carnival of Ouidah (Cio), an attraction of great scale and a product which forces the admiration. This is the overall objective aimed by its organizing committee. The achievement of this objective requires a good preparation and a professionalization in order to raise the Cio to the rank of the most fashionable carnivals of the world.Thus, the French embassy in Benin through the project "Sites and museums for the development of territories" (Smdt) selected the Cio project following a call for projects to support it technically and financially in achieving its objective. It is with this in mind that on April 6, 2022, the members of the organizing committee, surrounded by partners and authorities, held a press conference at the Ouidah International Art and Music Center (Ciamo).On this occasion, the general delegate of the IOC Wilfrid Houndjè unveiled the objectives of the preparation and professionalization phase of the event. According to his explanations, it is a question of training and preparing the cultural and tourist actors of Ouidah for offers and professional services during the Cio, of informing and sensitizing the professors of the high schools and colleges of Ouidah for a better understanding of the event.ges of Ouidah for an appropriation of the Cio in order to mobilize the school youth around the carnival, to inform and sensitize the influential layers for a popular adhesion to the project and to revitalize the communication of the Cio to ensure a strong visibility and a media attraction.Wilfrid Houndjè came back on the main activities that will furnish this preparatory phase that goes from April to September 2022, that is to say 6 months of intense activities. Among these, there will be the organization of information and awareness workshops for 20 teachers from 10 colleges and high schools of Ouidah, 20 cultural, artistic and tourist actors of the town, the living forces of the town of Ouidah, namely religious leaders, community leaders, women's groups, cab drivers, etc.. Without forgetting the realization of video clips and posters of attraction to communicate around the IOC and trips inside the country to mobilize the "Ouidanians" around this innovative and attractive project.The delegate general of the IOC took the opportunity of this media outing to appeal to the support of political decision-makers, including the Head of State Patrice Talon who aims to make Ouidah a major tourist destination. "We ask for the commitment of the Beninese state to be stronger and more practical. The event will need many resources," he said.

Commitments to accompany the event

Present around the delegate general at this press conference, the various partners and other members of the organizing committee Organizing Committee are committed to playing their part to make the IOC, one of the flagship cultural events in Benin and the sub-region. In his speech, Gerard Brun representing the French embassy, reaffirmed the commitment of his institution to support the international carnival of Ouidah. He also congratulated Wilfrid Houndjè and his entire team for their determination around the project. "The Cio is perfectly in line with cultural cooperation, heritage, colonial that Benin and France have wished at the highest level, "he said.Gabin Tchiakpè, responsible for the mobilization of school youth around the Cio will say for his part that the objective pursued in the idea of associating the youth to this event is to allow them to realize the cultural wealth of their country. Like him, the person in charge of the craftsmen of the commune of Ouidah Jerome Acakpo and the person in charge of the groups of women of Ouidah and the others also took the commitment to work for the success of the project. The departmental director of Tourism, Culture and Arts Atlantic has, on behalf of Minister Jean-Michel Abimbola, assured the entire IOC committee of the support of the government of President Patrice Talon. It was the same for the chief of the 3rd district of Ouidah who carried the voice of the communal authority to this conference. This press conference was interspersed with artistic performances and ended with blessings from the dignitaries of the Vodoun cult of the city of Kpassè. Remember that the 1st edition of the Cio is planned for December 2022.

Source: matinlibre.com