In Agonmè, a village on the outskirts of Abomey-Calavi in southern Benin, the community calls it “Adjrouhoué,” which means “village of tales” in the local Fon language. Every Wednesday and Sunday since 2008, professional storyteller Fidèle Anato, 45, has hosted gatherings for around 30 young people, some of whom travel nearly 35 kilometers from neighborhoods like Godomey and even Akpakpa in central Cotonou. “There are kids who live right here; others come from Godomey, and some even travel from Akpakpa,” Anato said.

These gatherings include live storytelling, Q&A sessions, and games, all accompanied by hibiscus flower juice provided by the center. It’s a ritual the young participants rarely miss.

In Benin, as in much of Africa, storytelling remains deeply popular. “Adults are nostalgic for the storytelling evenings of their youth, and children are eager to discover what it’s all about,” said Anato. To meet this growing interest, he draws not only from traditional African tales but also from stories he collected during his time in Belgium and France.

One reason for the enduring appeal of storytelling is Africa’s strong oral tradition, with the tale serving as one of its most powerful tools. “Like music, storytelling is a powerful form of expression and an effective vehicle for transmitting values and cultural wisdom—personal or collective—that help educate,” said Father Israël Mensah, a French-Beninese Oratorian priest and founder of Memories of Africa, which has hosted an annual “Night of Tales” event in Benin since 1998.

Storytelling as a Christian tool?

In Benin, storytelling often highlights the traditional values of African culture—respect for elders, discretion, patience, and perseverance—all of which are also echoed in Christianity. So, can storytelling be a vehicle for passing on Christian faith and values?

“Since Christian values are first and foremost human values, there’s clearly common ground between African tales and Christian teachings, especially in the wisdom they both aim to impart,” said Father Roland Techou, a priest who uses storytelling in Café Philo, a philosophical workshop program for children.

“The Bible isn’t a book of fairy tales, but it can be told like one—it contains beautiful Christian stories worth sharing,” added Father Mensah. He pointed to figures like Abraham, David, and Solomon, whose struggles, doubts, and triumphs resonate with our deepest human longings: for meaning, justice, redemption, and forgiveness. The key, he said, is “to read these stories to children in the style of a folk tale.”

For Anato, storytelling may be the last of the traditional oral forms that can still serve as a vessel for Christian values. Why? Because of the growing interest in reconnecting with African roots, more and more people are turning to tales.

Specifically, he sees it as a way to instill values like tolerance, peace, forgiveness, and community—what he calls “the foundation of society”—in children and women. “These are values I draw from my Catholic Christian faith,” he said.

Armelle Nagoba, an actress and storyteller since 2019, believes the Church should take more initiative. “The church should organize public events where professional storytellers take excerpts from the Bible and turn them into stories for the public,” she said.