At the heart of the International Mental Wellness Festival, one space is drawing particular attention: the African Wellness Village. This initiative, set up at the Interstis VIPP group space until October 24, 2025, is part of this event. The village, located in Cotonou’s Haie Vive, stands as a showcase of African therapeutic genius, where art, alternative medicine, and spirituality unite to reinvent mental health on the continent.
In Cotonou, art is becoming a remedy. For its third edition, the International Mental Wellness Festival is transforming the Beninese capital into a space of resilience. Under the theme “Create to Heal: When Art Becomes Therapy,” artists and therapists offer a sensitive immersion into the world of mental health. Visual art pieces, exhibited at the Interstice VIPP space, explore the intricacies of the human soul through the power of colors and textures.
“To recap, the festival is the International Mental Wellness Festival, and its core objectives are to put art at the service of mental health.”
At the heart of this edition, the Wellness Village attracts visitors in search of balance. Here, naturopaths, energy healers, coaches, and artisans come together. They all share a holistic approach to care, often inspired by African traditions. Between local herbal teas and recycled objects, daily life becomes a source of well-being.
“We have various booths. The one I am presenting is about naturopathy, treating the body, mind, and spirit. We also have a booth for pranic healing, yoga, and accessories created from recycled and local materials. It’s a beautiful showcase of everything Africa can offer the world.”
A highlight of the festival: a pranic healing session led by the Pranic Healing Center of Benin. An energy practice that, without physical contact, claims to relieve physical pain by rebalancing the body’s vibrational fields. A method at the crossroads of science, intuition, and spirituality.
“Right now, we are conducting a pranic healing session for lower back pain. We are demonstrating how pranic healing works to relieve pain. After the application, we ask the patient to move to assess the level of relief.”
Here, care is not separated from culture. The festival affirms a conviction: wellness can be conceived from Africa, with its own knowledge and creations. An inclusive and rooted approach, where art becomes therapy, and identity, a path to healing.