Côte d’Ivoire’s Gbiwalogo Festival and Haiti’s Nègès Mawon Festival promote development and women’s rights

The fourth edition of the Gbiwalogo Festival will take place from 20 to 22 November 2026 in the tourist village of Soko, Côte d’Ivoire. Organized under the theme “Engagement and Resilience, pillars of true and harmonious development in Gontougo”, the event seeks to foster participatory and sustainable growth by promoting income‑generating activities, agricultural value chains such as tomato and pepper, and a permanent artisan space built from recycled materials.

From 22 to 25 July 2026, Haiti will host the 10th edition of the feminist Nègès Mawon Festival. The theme “Batay nou makonnen” highlights the impact of political, social, economic and security crises on women and vulnerable groups. Over four days the festival will feature workshops, a debate conference, performances, an exhibition, a reading, a “Fémini‑Thé”, concerts and cultural meetings, aiming to strengthen dialogue, citizen mobilisation and gender equality.

Both festivals use art and culture as levers for social change, aiming to improve livelihoods in rural Côte d’Ivoire and advance women’s rights in Haiti.