Masa Festival

The concept of MASA was developed in 1990 at the Liege conference of the Ministers of Culture and Francophonie.

The MASA was formally established in 1993. The two groups organized 1993, 1995, and 1997 editions of the MASA as a biennial.

In 1998, the MASA was officially named “an international organization for the promotion of African performing arts”.

In January 1999, an agreement was signed between the Ivory Coast Government and the MASA establishing its headquarters in Abidjan.

The MASA is a cultural platform for promoting African Performing Arts. Its main objectives are :

To Support creativity and good quality productions
To facilitate the movement of artists and their works within Africa and throughout the world
To train artists and key professionals in the production field
To promote African Performing Arts

Over the years, the MASA has had a significant impact.

It is now a permanent and the most prestigious art event in Côte d’Ivoire and a meeting place for non Professional and Professionals.
It has become an important showcase for African contemporary creation and it adds commercial value to groups and their performances
It leads to the signing of contracts between promoters and artistic groups. In 2001, one-third of the groups selected for the MASA signed at least one contract
It has helped Performing Arts professionals organize their sector by creating formal and informal networks
It has trained technicians to meet high standards for their work
It has been a financial success in that income has been equal to expenses

The MASA is attended by a large public in the capital city of Abidjan, particularly as more and more performances are organized outdoors.