Pascal Abikanlou

Pascal Abikanlou (1936? – 2009)

was a Beninese film maker, director and producer. He is considered the "father of Beninese cinema". Pascal Abikanlou was born in Pobe, a locality close to the border with Nigeria. Abikanlou is of Nago-Yoruba origin and comes from a royal lineage of Pobe. His father was sentenced to four years in prison by the French colonial authorities for defending a possible attachment of Pobe to Nigeria. He was educated at Maurice Delafosse High School in Dakar and was an industrial designer by training. He trained as a photographer by correspondence, then became a reporter and assistant cameraman and finally a director.