The delegation was composed of Ms. Eloisa VALLE MARCO, Head of the Department of Cultural Cooperation and Promotion at AECID, and Ms. Angeles ALLEGUE FERNANDEZ, Coordinator of the ACERCA program. They met with the MASA General Directorate to explore opportunities for collaboration.

The meeting focused on joint initiatives aimed at promoting culture, supporting artistic development, and fostering international exchange.

In line with MASA’s commitment to creativity and intercultural dialogue, this encounter marks an important step toward building sustainable synergies between the two institutions.

Selected for the 2024 edition of MASA Marché in Abidjan, Nidhal captivated both local and international audiences with outstanding performances that left a lasting impression.

A Growing International Career

His participation in MASA propelled Nidhal’s career onto the international stage. He now tours worldwide and is scheduled to perform at the 22nd edition of the prestigious Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar, from February 14 to 16, 2025.

MASA: A Launchpad for Artists

Nidhal’s journey illustrates the essential role of MASA in promoting artists. By offering global visibility and opportunities for collaboration with cultural industry professionals, MASA actively contributes to the growth of creative talent and the promotion of African and international cultures.

3 — Mentorship Meeting Between Serge Arthur Dodo and Georges Momboye (MASA Lab)

Following the online introduction of incubated artists and their mentors, an in-person meeting was held between Serge Arthur Dodo and his mentor, Georges Momboye, on Monday, December 23, 2024, at MASA headquarters in the MASA Lab room.

Momboye was fully available for exchange, fostering a connection conducive to stronger collaboration. He also led insightful discussions on the project timeline for Serge Arthur Dodo’s King’art company. Encouraged by his mentor, the incubated artist was able to ask questions and share his ideas freely.

In short, this meeting allowed the dance mentor and his mentee to better understand the expectations and opportunities offered by MASA Lab. It also strengthened a collaborative dynamic essential for the success of the King’art company’s project.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Maison du MASA hosted a dinner bringing together MASA Lab incubated artists, mentors, and partners, with the aim of strengthening ties and fostering collaboration.

Mentors in attendance — including Blick Bassy (mentor of Reine Ablaa), La Chica (mentor of Jahelle Bonny), David Aubaile (mentor of Ruth Tafebe), and Georges Momboye (mentor of Compagnie King’Art led by Serge Arthur Dodo) — shared their experiences and advice with the incubated artists. Sow Souleymane, an incubated artist, was awaiting his mentor to begin his residency.

Partners of MASA Lab, such as the French Embassy, MASA, the Goethe-Institut, and Yelam’s, also took part in the event, reaffirming their support for the professionalization of artists and the development of the creative industries.

This gathering was a key moment to strengthen exchanges and create professional synergies, while supporting the international mobility and development of emerging creators.

Paola Yoko, a cultural promoter and manager of African artists, is also President of the Women Entrepreneurs in Arts and Culture movement. She is the founder of the MOFEAC program, whose flagship activity is a professional trade fair, and serves as General Coordinator of the Africa ProdFest festival.

An Initiative to Showcase African Music

As part of Africa ProdFest, a festival dedicated to sound, beatmaking, and music production held in Kribi, Cameroon and founded by Blick Bassy, an ambitious project was launched: the creation of the African Music Library.

This project seeks to highlight Africa’s rich musical heritage while supporting local producers. Its goal is to build a catalogue of African music to enrich audiovisual projects around the world. It is worth noting that Paola Yoko is assisting Blick Bassy in this major initiative.

A Decisive Meeting in Abidjan

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, Paola Yoko brought together about ten Ivorian beatmakers at the MASA Lab, a leading incubation center for cultural initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire.

The purpose of this meeting was to present the African Music Library project, which is set to launch in November 2025 with a catalogue of 3,000 tracks.

Producers welcomed the project with enthusiasm and engaged in discussions on its long-term sustainability, expressing particular interest in contributing to this groundbreaking initiative.

Next Steps

The next phase of the project will be the creation of an exchange platform connecting beatmakers with the Music Library team, including the legal department.

This platform will facilitate the submission of music while securing artists’ creations through formal contracts. The aim is to strengthen local music production and ensure that artists are fairly compensated for their contributions.