Revitalization of theater in Benin: a thesis explores the integration of traditional rituals

Séwonou Mawugnigan Noussouglo, from the University of Marie and Louis Pasteur, defended his thesis in 2023 on the reactivation of theater in Benin, integrating traditional rituals. This approach aims to reconnect contemporary theater with its cultural roots, offering an opportunity to enrich the cultural landscape and attract a diverse audience.

Séwonou Mawugnigan Noussouglo's thesis addresses the current crisis of theater in Benin, emphasizing the need to reinvent this art form by drawing on its cultural roots. By studying the creation of 'Isis - Antigone or the tragedy of dispersed bodies', the author highlights the role of rituals in revitalizing theater, a crucial issue in a context marked by migrations and conflicts.

Noussouglo adopted an interdisciplinary approach combining social anthropology and performing arts, demonstrating how the integration of traditional rituals can give a soul back to theater. This approach allows theater to emerge from museums and reconnect with the life of communities, thus opening new perspectives for the representation of dispersed bodies.

The implications of this research are significant for decision-makers and cultural actors. By reactivating rituals in contemporary theater, it is possible to enrich the cultural landscape and attract a broader audience, while generating sustainable economic and social benefits. A concerted action among artists, institutions, and political decision-makers is essential to transform the sector.

« « By integrating traditional rituals into contemporary theatrical practices, we can give a soul back to theater and reconnect it with the life of communities, » says Séwonou Mawugnigan Noussouglo. »

« « Noussouglo's thesis opens interesting perspectives for decision-makers, highlighting the importance of access to knowledge and the integration of local cultural elements into theater, » states the Lektaris team. »