From September 22 to October 17, 2026, Fnac Paris Saint-Lazare is putting Benin in the spotlight. The nearly month-long program, featuring exhibitions, talks, debates, film and music, has already stirred public conversation in Paris and beyond about history, memory, spirituality and contemporary creation — and it raises a bigger question: what comes after?

A month that turned a Paris bookstore into a meeting point for Benin

For almost four weeks, Paris will move to the rhythm of Benin. From September 22 to October 17, 2026, Fnac Saint-Lazare is dedicating an exceptional series of events to this West African nation, with a lineup focused on its history and culture. Organized with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Benin in France for several of the announced events, the initiative will notably take over the meeting forum on the store’s third floor.

Far from a folkloric showcase, the program aims to explore multiple sides of Benin: its spiritual traditions, its past linked to the Kingdom of Dahomey and the transatlantic slave trade, questions of cultural property restitution, as well as contemporary artistic creation, literature, gastronomy and modern music.

Memory told through images

The opening on September 22 will feature the photographic exhibition “Ayérayé: Éternel,” devoted to the work of Beninese photographer and designer Eustache Ahomagnon. Until October 17, visitors can discover a body of work at the crossroads of photography and textile creation.

The artist explores memory, spirituality and contemporary creation through the world of the Egungun, figures linked to ancestor worship among the Yoruba. The images engage in dialogue with textile creations inspired by the forms, materials and movements associated with these traditions.

This exhibition immediately sets the tone: showing a Benin both deeply attached to its heritage and resolutely turned toward contemporary creation.

Spirituality, traditions and authors’ voices

On September 24, a discussion will bring together Saskia Cousin Kouton, professor of sociology and author, journalist Delphine Bousquet Hazoumè and researcher Richard J.V. Sogan. They will exchange views on spirituality, traditions and several books dedicated to Beninese heritage.

The next day, the public will meet chef Georgiana Viou. Born in Benin, she will share her journey and present her book “Oui cheffe! Du Bénin à l’étoile Michelin. Itinéraire d’une battante.” Her path also opens up gastronomy as a space for cultural transmission: Beninese products and flavors continue to accompany her work, even in a cuisine built between multiple influences.

Music then takes over. On September 26, Beninese artist Joe Kingston will offer a showcase around his “Afro futur vibes” universe, where hip-hop meets contemporary African influences. The following day, poet and slam artist Sergent Markus will present his album “Vodun Gospel,” a project nourished by musical references from Vodun culture.

From Dahomey to the restitution of works

The program will also address the most sensitive pages of Beninese history.

On October 1, a discussion will be devoted to Dahomey and the history of slavery. Writer and journalist Vincent Hugeux will speak with Frédéric Ravatin, engineer and scientific scenographer, notably about the work done around the “Bateau de la Mémoire” in Ouidah, conceived as a memorial device dedicated to the slave trade.

The next day, the question of cultural property restitution between France and Benin will be at the center of discussions. Ambassador Angelo Dan, Romain Da Costa and heritage curator Kolawodé Daniel Abidjo will look back at a historic process that has deeply marked cultural relations between the two countries.

This choice of themes gives the event a particularly strong historical and memorial dimension. It is no longer only about presenting works or artists, but about questioning how a country tells its past, preserves its heritage and builds its relationship with the world.

Cinema as a bridge between memory and the present

On October 4, cinema takes the stage with the screening of “Retour à Ouidah 1993. Les Revenants,” a documentary by Charles Najman about the return to Ouidah, a city intimately linked to the history of Vodun and that of the African diaspora resulting from the slave trade. The screening will be followed by a discussion with journalist, producer and programmer Emmanuelle Honorin.

Through this film made in the context of the Ouidah 92 Festival, the program will thus bring images of the past into dialogue with contemporary questions about memory, identity and the links between Benin and its diaspora.

A contemporary scene in full view

Current creation will not be forgotten. On September 30, a carte blanche will be devoted to director, co-producer and cinematographer Mr DYRECK. His work, produced between Benin and France, reflects a new generation of artists who use images to tell West Africa differently.

On October 10, music will take on a new dimension with the arrival of singer and jazz artist Mina Agossi, invited to present her album “Dynamic. Tribute to Dinah Washington.”

Finally, on October 17, the program will close with a showcase by the group Teriba, presented as Benin’s first all-female music group. Founded in 2002, the collective became known for its work around a cappella singing and its desire to promote Beninese cultural heritage.

Paris, a crossroads for Beninese cultures

Through this succession of events, Fnac Saint-Lazare is transforming its Parisian space into a true showcase dedicated to Benin for nearly four weeks. From photography to gastronomy, from slam to jazz, from cinema to history, the program draws a plural portrait of a country whose heritage continues to fuel contemporary creation.

It also reminds us that Beninese culture cannot be reduced to a fixed heritage. It is transmitted, reinvented and discussed. Between Vodun traditions, the memory of Dahomey, the history of the slave trade, debates on the restitution of works and new artistic expressions, an entire narrative of Benin is ultimately invited to the heart of Paris.

All announced events are free and open to the public, subject to availability. Fnac Saint-Lazare thus invites the curious, enthusiasts of African culture, members of the Beninese diaspora and, more broadly, anyone who wishes to discover or rediscover a country whose history and creation occupy a unique place in cultural exchanges between Africa and France.

Reactions and the road ahead

The Paris program has already sparked reactions. For many in the Beninese diaspora, seeing their culture occupy a major Parisian retail space is a source of pride and a sign of growing recognition. Others see it as an opportunity to deepen debates on restitution and memory, especially given the presence of figures like Ambassador Angelo Dan and heritage curator Kolawodé Daniel Abidjo.

But the central question remains: what comes next? Will this month-long focus lead to lasting partnerships, touring exhibitions or new cultural exchanges between Benin and France? The organizers have not announced any post-event commitments, but the level of public interest suggests that the conversation is far from over.

For now, the free events at Fnac Saint-Lazare offer a rare chance to engage with Benin’s past and present — and to consider what the future of Franco-Beninese cultural relations might look like.

By Maimouna Kaboré — Editor-in-Chief