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Villa Karo - Finnish West African Cultural Centre

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Bénin
Grand-Popo
Villa Karo - Finnish West African Cultural Centre

Villa Karo is the Finnish Institute for West-Africa consisting of a cultural centre and an artist and research residence in Grand-Popo, Benin, West-Africa

Villa Karo aims to promote knowledge about Africa and African culture in Finland and to support local culture in Grand-Popo, Benin. Finnish or Finland based residents and West-African ones who are artists, researchers and cultural practitioners of different sectors are admitted to Villa Karo annually for a period lasting from 4 weeks to 3 months working with and learning from local peers. Since th

e center was found in 2000, more than 700 residents have worked in Villa Karo. The centre has also had thousands of visitors ranging from university student groups to Tarja Halonen, the president of Finland. Villa Karo also offers different kinds of cultural activities and services: monthly concerts, Friday movie nights, a library, two museums, English classes, workshops and exhibitions. Please visit VK’s official website https://villakaro.org for additional information or contact us at toimisto{a}villakaro.org in French, English or Finnish.

11/06/2026

Soyez les bienvenus à la Villa Karo pour la restitution de notre résidente Tabitha vendredi 12 juin à 17h ✨

11/06/2026

John Adewale is a Nigerian visual artist and a music lover. He is in Villa Karo to research and learn about the Beninese traditional music. He is on a quest to map the similarities and differences of the Beninese music and the traditional Yoruba music. “There are some differences especially in the tempo. But the similarities are numerous especially in the beat, rhythm and even the dance steps.

During his time in Villa Karo, this hard-working artist has been working on a painting about Yoruba musicians. On this corner, there’s always Highlife or Juju music playing and John receives all visitors with a heartwarming smile. It’s hard to resist going for a little afternoon dance in John’s corner. And after all, why resist!

John is not only painting and playing music but seems to have a will to educate people around him. Some learn about the musical tradition; others learn some Yoruba words here and there. “There’s a message that the music shares. And without language, a part of the message doesn’t come through.”

John works as a part of the Early Career Peer Mentoring residency programme in dialogue with Eevi Oittinen. Together they share thoughts and practices of visual artistry but not only that. Both have a strong passion for music.

John, whose smile reaches from ear to ear is glad he came to Villa Karo. “This is a very good place. It is very welcoming. When everything is in order, you will be able to do things right. And in Villa Karo things are well in order!"

09/06/2026

Parmenas Awudza is a visual artist. He’s working with photography and installation. In Villa Karo, he is for his project that revolves around water, an element that surrounds Grand-Popo in every direction. He’s researching peoples’ relationships with water.

“My goal is not only to document people but to see what kind of traces they leave in the nature and the other way around.” Such a trace may be a bottle cap or a piece of fishnet on the shore. As it shows, there is an ecological aspect to Parmenas’s work.

As his final product, Parmenas will make an installation in form of a box. It will be a window where you can see things that reflect the artistic project.

Even though Parmenas works with water, it is especially peoples’ relation with the space they’re in that interests him. “I am interested in space, personal or public, and the way people exist in it. In Grand-Popo water is everywhere so naturally it became the focal point.”

Parmenas has truly enjoyed working in Villa Karo. He finds the sound of waves and bird songs inspiring. “Here I am in a place where I can have a walk on the beach every morning and every night.”

05/06/2026

We are very pleased to present Eevi Oittinen and John Adewale - the first two artists selected for the Finnish-Nigerian Early Career Peer Mentoring residency programme at Villa Karo. The programme is supported by the Finnish Culture Foundation and G.A.S. Foundation and it brings two visual artists per season together for professional collaboration and exchange, working side by side for eight weeks at a time. And who knows, perhaps also a sense of a special collegial connection for years to come!

The artists have been working both in dialogue and individually, sharing ideas, inspiration, and collegial co-operation. They both share a strong respect for each other's work and what connects them as artists is that they both have a special relationship to music, which also informs their practise. John points out Eevi's phenomenal sketching method and connection to colours whereas Eevi mentions that she is inspired by John's deep knowledge of the Yoruba culture and his consistency as a hard-working and highly productive artist.

Both artists’ residency will conclude with a public presentation of their work in a couple of weeks, offering insight into the practice and creative processes that have shaped their time at Villa Karo. We can't wait to discover the results of their work!

04/06/2026

Jonne Putkonen is a performer from Kajaani, Finland. In Villa Karo, he's working on his multilingual theatre production “Smashing kantele”, which will premiere in September. Kantele is a traditional instrument used a lot in Finnish traditional music. “I started from this instrument as the centre of my project. That leaves me an open field to work. I wanted to create a performance about the difficult relationship I have with the instrument."

How did Jonne then choose this instrument? “Growing up in Kajaani, kantele was everywhere, even in school. During the long history of the instrument, it has been appropriated by the nationalists. I have felt a detachment from it.”

Being this far from Finland may seem a strange choice for researching kantele. “I precisely wanted to see if the sounds of kantele become a part of the landscape or will the cultural connotations follow the instrument.”

The performance will be completely written and directed by Jonne. So far, the themes experimented with vary from political to playful. Jonne has been both learning about the use of kantele as a method of propaganda and experimenting with table tennis balls.

Jonne has enjoyed working in Villa Karo. He mentions the rhythm with a lot of “wasted time” an amazing method for creation. “I have been wasting time in the sense that I have given myself time to think. Time flows differently. This doesn’t mean I have actually wasted my time, I have achieved a lot, and the workdays have been long. Besides I don’t have my PlayStation with me.”

It’s his newfound relationship with time Jonne wishes to take home with him. “I wish to stay as relaxed and receptive to time as I’ve been here.”

After this he proceeds to throw kantele as far on the sand as he can.

Swipe for smashing kantele ➡️

25/05/2026

✨ We had the honor of welcoming H.E. Sanna Selin, Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Liberia, to Villa Karo this past Friday and Saturday.
These memorable moments began with a warm and convivial dinner bringing together our current residents and the management team, fostering meaningful and inspiring exchanges.
The following day continued with a visit to Grand-Popo, including the marine turtle conservation center and the salt island of Avloh. 🌊🐢
We are deeply grateful for her presence and truly delighted to have shared these meaningful moments together.

22/05/2026

Okwei Odili, a musician from Nigeria, was in Villa Karo to explore her two passions, music and herbs. She finds both practices healing and wants to preserve traditional knowledge in both fields.

During her time in Villa Karo, Okwei worked with sounds, recorded music, and performed with and for residents. One of the most memorable performances was her rooftop jam session with other current and former residents.

Her other passion, herbs, was presented to the residents and the Villa Karo staff in a workshop organised by Okwei. During the workshop the public got to learn about the use of healing herbs that can be found in the nature. The workshop was a big success with almost the whole staff of Villa Karo as well as other residents present.

Wherever Okwei went she lit up the rooms and made everyone around her feel special calling them her darlings. But the feeling is mutual, she gathered local musicians and residents around her making everyone feel good. In Villa Karo, she had a presence of a sister, a mother and a best friend all in one. Another beautiful spirit for the vast Villa Karo family!

📸1: Jouni Kaipia

21/05/2026

Attention! As a part of their Africa Day celebrations, The University of Eastern Finland invites everyone to join a guest lecture of the Beninese professor Patrick Effiboley from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin,Tuesday May 26, at 12:00-12:45. Join the lecture in Joensuu or save link and join through Zoom!
(https://www.uef.fi/fi/tapahtuma/reviewing-the-repatriation-of-the-danxome-treasures-2016-2026)

14/05/2026

Since May 14th, 2000, Villa Karo have been working toward a better comprehension and cooperation between humans through art, science and culture.

26 years of dedication and commitment to a better world.

Happy birthday to us!!! 🎊🎂🎉

13/05/2026

Kertu Sillaste is an Estonian illustrator, textile designer and art teacher. During her time in Villa Karo, she created new illustrations for newly found tales and had an exhibition with Katri Tapola, Kouton Kouassi and Aristide Adandete. The exhibition was based on traditional tales and illustrations inspired by them.

“It was very important to me that I could bring the illustrations—created far in the north—back to the place where these stories originate. I was glad to see that the exhibition interested the local audience and that they found the images engaging and fitting for their tales.”

Kertu sees similarities between the cultures that at first glance seem very distant. “Folk art traditions are not as distant from each other as one might think. Ingenuity, sustainability, and the use of all available materials have been equally valued in both Estonian and Beninese folk culture.”

During her time in Villa Karo, Kertu became an important figure who always had a moment for others around her. Long after her departure, mentioning her name brings a smile on people’s faces. Kertu too feels grateful for other residents who created a supportive community. “One took me to vodun ceremonies, another taught me the right time to swim in the ocean, and a third knew where the most wonderful local artists and craftsmen lived. All of this made the experience rich and memorable. Thinking back on these people gives me a warm feeling.”

An important part of Kertu’s project in Villa Karo was workshops for children. Kids got to practice their artistic skills. The way Kertu speaks about children is full of respect and curiosity.

“Children are children—wherever they are in the world, they are surprisingly similar. It was wonderful to see that my artistic approach, which focuses on play and creating images from various objects, captivated children in Estonia, Finland, and Benin alike.”

Kertu really gave a lot to the community but still feels like having received a lot herself. “For a while, it was my home—a dear home. Villa Karo gave me the courage and opportunity to travel to the other side of the world. Thinking about it still warms my heart.”

Adresse

Grand-Popo

Heures d'ouverture

Mardi	09:00 - 17:00
Mercredi	09:00 - 17:00
Jeudi	09:00 - 17:00
Vendredi	09:00 - 17:00
Samedi	10:00 - 14:00
Dimanche	10:00 - 14:00

Site Web

https://villakaro.org/

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