Continuing his series of meetings with heads of institutions to forge partnerships, Prof. Yacouba Konaté, managing Director of MASA had a working session on Monday 29 January 2018 with the Executive Secretary of the Council of his excellency Patrice Kouamé.

The meeting, held at the headquarters of the West African institution, aimed to present MASA (Abidjan Market for Performing Arts ); to inform the representative of the Council of the Agreement of the evolution of the preparations for the 10th edition of MASA which will take place from 10 to 17 March 2018 in Abidjan; and especially to ask for partnership.

On the first point, Professor Konaté explained to his host of the day how, from a demonstration bringing together a few countries in its beginnings in 1993, the MASA became twenty-five years later as the essential platform for African artists and also those of the diaspora. Following this, the CEO of MASA announced to HE Patrice Kouamé that the five countries that make up the Council of the Entente (Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Niger) by the quality of their productions, all appear in the official selection of the MASA 2018. Desiring that at the institutional level its structure enjoys the support of the Council of the Entente, Professor Konaté expressed the wish for a partnership.

Impressed by the quality of the activities carried out by the structure he heads, the representative of the Council of the Entente promised to Konaté to use his interpersonal skills to formalize a platform for collaboration on the upcoming edition. Thus, to initiate this active take-up, the Conseil de l’Entente will be represented on MASA stands on March 10th. A great opportunity to take advantage of the representativeness of the event to promote the institution for which he is responsible. At the end of the working session, the Director General of MASA expressed his satisfaction with the exchanges which presage close relations between his structure and the West African organization.

In addition to the Managing Director, the Masa delegation consisted of Ms Chantal Nabalema, Head of the Communication Department and Ms Doua Armène, Assistant to the Director-General. On the side of the Council of the Entente, the Executive Secretary received his guests with Mr. Ousmane Orou-toko, Head of the Political and Cultural Service.