MASA, Abidjan's Performing Arts Market: What It Is and Why It Matters

In Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer), one of the largest and most professional cultural events is MASA, held in Abidjan. It is more than a festival: it is a "market" where African dance, music and theatre companies meet programmers from around the world and negotiate partnerships. If you are interested in contemporary African performing arts, MASA is the most efficient way in.

From a ministerial conference to a permanent institution

The idea for MASA was put forward in 1990 at a conference of Francophone culture ministers in Liège, Belgium, and the first edition took place in 1993. In 1998 it was established as an international organisation promoting African performing arts; in January 1999 the Ivorian government signed an agreement with MASA to host its headquarters in Abidjan.

The early editions, in 1993, 1995 and 1997, were biennial. In the 2000s the event shrank because of the country's domestic situation and was suspended after 2007, returning only in 2014 with its 8th edition. That year an international jury selected 62 companies and more than 480 artists, while some 60 further companies took part in the OFF programme, with performances across Abidjan's 13 communes as well as in Bouaké and Grand-Bassam. The edition's budget was around 1.3 billion CFA francs (about €2 million), jointly funded by the Ivorian government, the Abidjan district, the OIF and other international and private partners. It also added new categories — storytelling, comedy and fashion — and extended invitations to Africa's English- and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The event's name varies slightly across periods and media. Common forms include Marché des Arts du Spectacle Africain (African Performing Arts Market) and Marché des Arts du Spectacle d'Abidjan (Abidjan Performing Arts Market); both are abbreviated to MASA.

IN and OFF: two ways to take part

	MASA IN	MASA OFF
Who can take part	Artists and companies chosen through the official selection	Established or emerging artists not on the official list
Costs	MASA covers accommodation, meals, international flights, local transport and performance fees	Paid by the companies themselves
Disciplines	Dance, music, theatre, etc.	Music, dance, theatre, storytelling, stand-up comedy, etc.

According to MASA's official website, the OFF programme features more than 200 performances across Abidjan. The market's value lies in the contracts it generates: official figures show that a third of the companies selected in 2001 signed at least one performance contract.

The 14th edition in 2026

The 14th MASA ran for eight days, from 11 to 18 April 2026, with the Bernard Binlin-Dadié Palais de la Culture in Abidjan as its main venue. It was organised by the Ivorian Ministry of Culture and the Francophonie, in partnership with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the Autonomous District of Abidjan. The programme covered theatre, dance, music, comedy, storytelling and circus, along with workshops, forums and professional business sessions. Morocco was guest of honour, with Brazil as special guest.

Making the most of MASA

For Asian festivals, theatres and cultural institutions, MASA's great advantage is concentration: in a single week you can see a large number of pre-selected companies from across Africa and meet agents and producers directly during the professional sessions. The most efficient approach is to study the selection list before you travel and focus on the disciplines you want to see, then use the OFF programme on site to discover new companies. If you plan to invite a company, find out early about its line-up, touring experience and technical requirements.

One line for Asian readers

If you are a curator, festival programmer or cultural institution, MASA lets you see a large number of African companies in one week and talk to them directly; for the dates and registration process of the next edition, refer to the announcements on MASA's official website.

References: MASA official website – Brief History; Fraternité Matin – MASA 2026 opening (2026); AllAfrica – MASA 2026, Abidjan carrefour mondial des talents (2026); Abidjan.net – Suspendu pendant la crise, le MASA revient (2014)