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MASA: A Pillar of the Performing Arts in Africa

Held every two years, MASA is now an international biennial that, for one week, brings together artists, performing arts professionals, programmers, and audiences from all five continents. It provides a unique platform for the promotion, distribution, training, and professionalization of the performing arts, while fostering meetings and exchanges among cultural actors from around the world.

32 Years in the
Service of Artists

MASA’s originality lies in its unique format, which combines a performance market, a professional exchange forum, training programs, and a popular festival spread across several neighborhoods of Abidjan.

MASA is committed to welcoming selected artists to Abidjan by providing them with financial and technical support, along with full coverage of their stay (accommodation, meals, and local transportation).

During the 2024 edition, MASA brought together nearly 500,000 spectators, 423 national and international journalists, more than 160 programmers, and representatives from 59 countries. This turnout reflects MASA’s growing impact on both the African and global cultural scene.

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC COMMITTEE 2026

Abdon Fortuné Koumbha

Director of Dol’En Scène Festival – Brazzaville, Congo

Amee Slam

Artist – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Antonio Gutierrez

Founder & Director, Rec-Beat Festival – Brazil

Brahim El Mazned

Artistic Director, Timitar World Music Festival / Founder, Visa For Music – Morocco

Carole Umulinga Karemera

Actress, Dancer, Saxophonist – Rwanda

Danielle Hoover

Director of Festival de Circo do Brasil – Recife, Brazil

Gregoire Furrer

Owner & CEO, Montreux Comedy – Switzerland

Hassane Kassi Kouyaté

Director, Festival des Francophonies en Limousin – Limoges, France

Júlia Novela

Executive Director & Director of Azgo Festival – Mozambique

Karim Troussi

Stage Director, Playwright – Rabat, Morocco

Moez Mrabet

Directeur Général du Théâtre National Tunisien

Monique Martin

Creative Producer – USA

Nadia Beugré

Dancer, Choreographer – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Qudus Onikeku

Founder & Artistic Director, QDance Center – Nigeria

Rucera Seethal

Artistic Director, National Arts Festival – Makhanda, South Africa

Ruth Juliet Wilker

Deputy Director of Programming for Circus at TOHU – USA / North America

Sébastien Lagrave

Director of Africolor Festival – Paris, France

Soleine Jang

Korean Project Manager, CINARS - South Korea

Sylvain Cornuau

Deputy Director, Cinema, Music, Performing Arts and Literature – Canadian Cultural Centre – Canada

Valéry Ndongo

Actor, Comedian, Stage Director, Producer – Cameroon

MASA MARKET 2026

Held every two years, MASA has become a major international biennial of the performing arts. For one week, artists, programmers, and professionals from five continents gather to promote, showcase, and professionalize artistic creation within a space dedicated to cultural exchange and collaboration.

MASA FEST 2026

The MASA Festival, the festive component of the Abidjan Performing Arts Market, showcases established artists, emerging talents, and groups outside the official selection. More than just a festival, it often serves as a genuine springboard to the international stage. Each edition brings Abidjan to life with more than 300 performances across all disciplines, presented throughout the entire district.

Networking Sessions

At MASA, ideas circulate as much as performances. Through conferences, round tables, and networking sessions, the 13th edition brought together artists, researchers, and professionals to reflect on the major challenges of the performing arts in Africa: contemporary creation, distribution, mobility, funding, and more. Highlights included the General Assembly on Humor, sector-specific forums, and more than 900 professional meetings, which resulted in 200 signed contracts.

PARTICIPEZ AU MASA 2026

ARTISTES, PROFESSIONNELS ET MEDIAS,
CANDIDATEZ MAINTENANT !

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