What 25 West Africans took home from the World Social Forum

What 25 West Africans took home from the World Social Forum

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Thu, 08/20/2026 - 09:18

Michael Tettey went to Cotonou to talk about land. Victoria Ebunoluwa Olatunde went to talk about water. Souleymane Guindo travelled from Mali to argue that water is a common good rather than a commodity. All 25 of them, one of the largest missions brought to the World Social Forum by the World Council of Churches (WCC), set out knowing the government of Benin had told organizers it would not host it.

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WCC encountered many faith actors at the World Social Forum 2026.

Photo: World Council of Churches

They came from across West Africa, with one participant travelling from India. Among them were general secretaries and programme officers, young theologians, but also farmers, food processors, a dietitian, a lawyer, and youth organizers. For several it was a first journey outside their own country. The WCC convened the mission with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa, and Bread for the World, Germany supported participants ’ attendance.

The forum had been scheduled for 4-8 August. On 21 July,…