About us

Because we believe that devotion to our passion is the most formidable weapon for achieving our satisfaction - which is nothing other than satisfying our community in all humility, wisdom and love - we cling to it with self-sacrifice.

How it works

Our history

Inspired by a passion for the performing arts and a commitment to sustainable development in Africa, the idea for its creation came to fruition in December 2013. Entrusted to a young cultural player with a passion for the arts and culture, Mr HOUNKPATIN Zadok-Ange, the actions of the Réseau Panafricain des Passionnés d’Arts et Cultures d’Afrique began in Benin with the creation of REPAC-BENIN. In April 2014, having associated Miss Esther ADOUNSIBA, he organised the first casting to recruit actors and, with the help of other local cultural players, trained young actors and poets who were well versed in the task. With this young team, the REPAC train set off on its journey to this day.


For the record, the birth or creation of this educational, artistic and cultural network dates back to October 2013. Young Ange Hounkpatin, an actor and storyteller who was a student at the time, was approached by a Beninese cultural player living in Germany to take on the project of setting up this educational and artistic network in Benin. The aim was to carry out the pilot phase, scheduled to last 05 years, after which the results would be analysed in order to assess the relevance and necessity of its existence, the usefulness of its creation and the impact of its actions. It is to this mission that he has been working for more than three years now with a number of collaborators, co-opted actors.

5 years of experimental work

1st year
under the name of Phase initiative, the first year (2013-2014) of REPAC's management was marked by the setting up of the management system, recruitment and organisation of working structures. This culminated in April 2014 in the training of 18 children aged 07 to 11 and 05 young people aged 15 to 20 in the practice of oral arts. This was under the direction of 03 co-opted members of the administration, namely: Ange Hounkpatin, Esther Adounsiba, Moukaïla Soumanou
2nd and 3rd years
The next two years (2014-2016) saw trained comedians take part in a number of cultural events: festivals, international meetings, symposiums and public speaking competitions, winning several awards. These include the prize for best comedic talent, best storyteller, best hopeful storyteller (for children), best stage direction, best poet, etc. It should be noted that all this was marked halfway through by the organisation of new recruitments to allow other memberships and train them for other challenges. This led to an increase in the number of members and a renewal of the administrative team. In addition to increasing the number of opportunities for actors to perform, we initiated and organised the RenC'Arts Educatives festival, a project funded by our members, the third edition of which is scheduled for April-May 2018.
4th year
Représentant la 3ème étape, et placée sous la dénomination de phase d’évaluation, cette 4ème année –celle en cours (2016-2017) qui s’achèvera en octobre 2017- est consacré à l’évaluation des deux précédentes années d’expérimentations afin d’apprécier les méthodes de fonctionnement, l’impact des activités, les faiblesses et les perspectives. Cette évaluation a permis de noter qu’envers, le REPAC, est né un intérêt global manifeste de la population et de tous ceux qui ont entendu parler de ce réseau. Ainsi plusieurs demandes d’adhésions ont été sollicitées, même dans des catégories et disciplines qui n’étaient pas prises en compte dans les actions. D’autres groupes ont sollicité des affiliations pour faire de cette association un véritable réseau comme l’indique son nom. C’est par exemple le cas du club de foot de jeune, du club d’humour, et du club de danse qui verront le jour s’ils sont acceptés. Au vue de tout ceci, l’administration a alors décidé de procéder à des réformes pour intégrer toutes ces personnes et groupes de personnes afin que le REPAC soit une institution autour de laquelle fédèrent plusieurs activités et au sein de laquelle plusieurs entités retrouvent le plein épanouissement.
5th year
The last of this pilot phase of the REPAC implementation process is the one that remains to be carried out (2017-2018); the one that starts the day after the 4th Convention. It was marked by the implementation of the reforms resulting from the GA. It is the year of a new face for REPAC and of the last turning point that will have to mark whether or not such a network has its raison d'être. This year's assessment and evaluations reassure us that the network is welcome in its current form, with all the reforms undertaken. It has therefore been given the go-ahead to register with the relevant public authorities. It was registered under No. 18/010/SA/SAG/SG and published in the JO 129-18-N°17.
2013 - 2014
2014 - 2016
2016 - 2017
2017 - 2018

Our prize list

REPAC has been honoured on a number of occasions and ranks among the best cultural associations in the country, particularly in Porto-Novo. It has received

2018 & 2016
Best Emerging Storyteller 2018 and 2016
Winner of the third edition of the ADJROU International Storytelling Festival, as in the olden days; in the "conte espoir" category organised by multi-talented artist Mahuna Fidèle ANATO alias le BAOBAB. Represented by the student storyteller from REPAC's Storytelling Arts class (REPAC-Junior member), Miss Félicienne TOVIHOUDJI, the pan-African network of Arts and Cultures enthusiasts came out on top ahead of the nine other competitors in 2016. She returned in 2018 with Augustine ADOUNSIBA and won the prize for best French-language storyteller.
2018 & 2016
2016
Prize for Best Comedy Talent, Benin 2016
winner of the comedy competition organised by Africa Event Agency (AFEVAG) across the twelve departments of Benin. Represented by comedian Pascal Brather Abiona, a member of REPAC, the pan-African network of arts and culture enthusiasts, the competition went through the various stages of selection, from the communal phases to the national phase, via the departmental (the twelve departments) and regional (North and South) phases.
2016
2016
Prize for Best School Theatre Show 2016
1st prize for theatre at the Departmental Festival of Arts and Culture in Schools (FEDACUS 2016) won on behalf of the Lycée Technique Commercial de Porto-Novo under the supervision of REPAC's artistic director.
2016
2015 & 2014
The Best Poet Award 2015 and 2014
For the second time in succession (2014 and 2015), winner of the general public programme "je sais chanter" (I can sing) organised by Mr Nouréini Tidjani Serpos's Radio Bénin Culture. 1st prize in the Poetic Declamation category represented by young HOUNKPATIN Auguste, a student-storyteller in the Artistic and Orality class (REPAC-Junior member). In this challenge, the Pan-African network of Arts and Culture enthusiasts successfully passed the eight (08) stages leading to the determination of the best of this edition (the 12th), and of this category.
2015 & 2014
2015
Best Direction Award 2015
Prize for best staging, theatrical tale won on behalf of EPP AGLOGBE with artistic supervision and staging by REPAC's artistic direction. On the occasion of the second edition of the "Storytelling School" oratory arts competition organised by the Adjarra Museum in partnership with the town hall of Adjarra.
2015
2015 & 2014
Best Director Award 2015 and 2014
For the second time in a row (2014 and 2015), winner of the theatrical storytelling category of the general public programme "je sais chanter" organised by Radio Bénin Culture and presented by Mr Nouréini Tidjani Serpos, a UNESCO official. This first prize was won by REPAC's Dramatic Arts section.
2015 & 2014