Born in Benin, he began working in the field 15 years ago. Because of the family business, he grew up in Nigeria and came back to Benin 10 years ago. In Nigeria he went to the school of arts for two years, to continue with the family tradition in the world of arts. His father was the one to start.
He has been living and working in Benin for 10 years, but in his work he is inspired by his home country, Niger. He came to Benin looking for a job, as the only artist in the family. His children are interested in the arts, but he wants them to develop fully their potential in whatever field they want.
Benoît is an art dealer and also creates some of the pieces he sells. He has 18 years’ experience in the crafts market. He was the first in the family to work in the arts and his children are not really interested. He loves designing and creating decorated tissues.
He is an artisan encouraged by his grandparents, who started the business looking to provide a way of living for the family. With all he learnt from his grandparents and parents, he found a shop in the center in Cotnou and started working to continue the family tradition.
The shop where he works belonged to his father, and he inherited it when he died. He is an art dealer selling all kinds of objects. During his 10 years working in the field, he was travelled around Africa looking for treasures, with the help of his older brother. It breaks his heart that his children are not interested in the profession, but he prefers them to look for alternative professional fields. Although he loves his work and the beauty of the African culture, he admits it is a difficult profession and the current situation does not provide too many joys, so he does not want his children suffering the same problems.
Charles is a young student who helps his brother while he continues with his studies. His brother is an art dealer who travels very often and trusts him to take care of the shop. He likes taking care of the shop, talking with tourists and telling the stories behind the products, but he still does not know what his future will bring.
He specializes in bags and necklaces. His parents are the real artisans behind the products he sells. They make them in the village and he brings them to the shop for sale.
After 32 years working, he knows quite a bit. He works with contemporary objects and antiques and his son is also in the business. He goes to school but helps him on weekends. His grandfather was the first (still alive in their home village) and after his father and now him. He hopes his son will replace him when he’s too tired to continue.
His grandfather introduced him to the field. He likes the profession, but all he can talk about is his dream to travel around the world as a tourist and be able to see in real life so many amazing places. China’s huge mountains have always amazed him. He would even want to go under water to see what’s hidden there.
This art dealer was impressed with the arts and he started working in the field. No family member worked before him, it was passion that brought him to this world. His children will decide whatever they want to do. Sometimes they come and help him, and one of them currently works with him because he could not find another job.
