Culture, youth and heritage take centre stage in Benin, 21–25 October 2026
By Wilfried Boko, Country Representative, Benin – AFIDFF
From 21 to 25 October 2026, Cotonou, Benin, hosted the African Youth Leadership and Culture Summit (AYLCUS), organised by the Afro-Caribbean Chamber of Culture and Tourism (ACCCAT) under the theme “One Africa, Many Cultures: Youth Innovation for Trade, Peace, and Identity.” AFIDFF took part as a partner in the promotion of the event, and was represented by two team members: Wilfried Boko, Country Representative for Benin, and Binta, our Community Manager, who travelled from Abuja, Nigeria.
Why AFIDFF was there
AYLCUS brings together young Africans around culture, innovation and continental integration, themes that sit very close to AFIDFF’s own cultural mission. Partnering with the summit was a natural step for the organisation, and an opportunity to present our work to a new, youthful and engaged audience.
Our two representatives role was twofold: ensure media coverage of the summit, sharing highlights on AFIDFF’s social media channels live and after the event, and present the organisation to participants and partners.
A summit full of energy
More than fifty participants took part, coming notably from Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Delegates and Panelists from the Caribbean also joined the panels live by videoconference, a reminder of the strong ties between Africa and its diaspora.
What stood out most were the inspiring talk shows, where panellists spoke directly to young people and sparked lively exchanges. Participants engaged with enthusiasm and joy throughout. The cultural evenings were another highlight, with talented artistic troupes from Nigeria sharing music and performance. During the idea and innovation debates, AFIDFF’s team contributed to the discussions as young professionals, drawing on the organisation’s own experience to share ideas and points of view.
From the summit to the heritage sites
Beyond the conference rooms, our team made the most of its time in Benin to discover heritage sites and build connections with them for future collaborations.
In Ouidah, Wilfried and Binta shot a documentary at the Temple of Pythons, one of Benin’s emblematic places of history and heritage. Throughout the summit, they also produced and published videos online to share the richness of local culture with AFIDFF’s audience.
Building connections for what comes next
Informal conversations with the summit’s different partners opened the door to possible future collaborations. The team also carried out scouting and networking for upcoming cultural events in Benin, notably festivals such as Vodun Days, in order to prepare AFIDFF’s future participation and facilitate access on the ground.
AFIDFF’s perspective
For AFIDFF, AYLCUS confirmed that culture is not a side topic in conversations about youth, innovation and Africa’s future; it is at the heart of them. Heritage sites, living traditions and the stories they carry are resources that young Africans can document, share and build upon, and this is precisely what AFIDFF sets out to do through film and media. Being present at the summit allowed the organisation to listen, to contribute and to strengthen its network across borders. AFIDFF thanks ACCCAT and the organising team for the invitation and the welcome.
What’s next
By vote of the participants, the next edition of AYLCUS will take place in Egypt. AFIDFF looks forward to following the summit’s journey and to continuing the conversations started in Cotonou.
Follow AFIDFF’s social media channels to watch the videos and highlights from Cotonou.
