Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite

FICO

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Arts & CultureBangui
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
Duration6 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsMore than two decades of consecutive
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: XAF
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite in Bangui

Created in 2002 and known by its acronym FICO, the Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite is Central African Republic's main storytelling festival, organized continuously by CREA under director Gervais Lakosso. The most recently documented edition ran November 25 to 30, spread across venues including Missy Momo, the Alliance Francaise de Bangui and the Ombella Palace hotel, dedicated to storyteller Privas Emmanuel Yangala and extended into roughly ten Bangui-area schools to reach younger audiences.

Known locally by its acronym FICO, the Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite was created in 2002 and has become Central African Republic's principal gathering for oral storytelling, run continuously since by CREA, the Centre de Recherche et d'Education par les Arts, under longtime director Gervais Lakosso.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

More than two decades of consecutive editions since 2002 make FICO one of the longest continuously running cultural festivals documented in Bangui, giving it an institutional depth that newer festivals in the capital have not yet built

02

The mystery stays covered

Spreading performances across five separate venues rather than one central hall, and extending directly into roughly ten schools in recent editions, shows a deliberate strategy of meeting audiences, especially younger ones, where they already are rather than expecting them to travel to a single ticketed site

03

The city starts moving

International storytellers traveling to Bangui for the festival also give it a cross-border dimension distinct from CAR's more locally focused music festivals

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Preserves Central African and wider African oral storytelling traditions

Water and renewal

Living ritual

treating spoken folk tales and legends as living performance rather than archived history

The sacred route

Living ritual

deliberately passed to younger generations through school visits alongside the main venue program

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

For Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite, plan transport around the exact Bangui venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Smart-casual clothing suited to evening performances across multiple indoor venues, comfortable shoes for moving between sites, and a light layer for air-conditioned halls.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite, stay near the part of Bangui you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

XAF

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map4.36 N, 18.55 EOpen in Google Maps

Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic

Nearest airportBGF — Bangui M'Poko
TransportFor Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite, plan transport around the exact Bangui venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite, stay near the part of Bangui you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Bangui via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Bangui, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual clothing suited to evening performances across multiple indoor venues, comfortable shoes for moving between sites, and a light layer for air-conditioned halls.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Central African Republic and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite?

Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite is listed for Past edition: 25–30 November 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival International du Conte et de l'Oralite take place?

The festival is listed in Bangui, Central African Republic. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

6 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLoubanguimedias.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusOfficial source linked
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