From Lomé, a Continental Call to Reclaim Joy, Movement, and Mental Health in African Urban Spaces
Lomé, TOGO, 14 July 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- In a context where mental health remains one of the most urgent and under-addressed challenges facing Africa’s youth, the Bluemind Foundation proudly joins Ubuntu’Blue Week 2025, a continental initiative focused on restoring dignity, hope, and wellness through collective expression and movement.
This year’s theme, “The Danced City,” invites all generations to rethink the African city not as a place of pressure and silence — but as a living, breathing space of freedom, rhythm, and healing.
Fortuné B. Ahoulouma, Vice President of Bluemind Foundation comments “This year, our theme “The Danced City” is not only a metaphor — it is a vision of what is possible when joy becomes a tool for healing and mental well-being!”.
The Power of Collective Movement
Through dance, music, and storytelling, the campaign “The Danced City” aims to break the chains of mental health stigma. From salons and schools to sidewalks and stages, African youth are leading the way in reclaiming their right to emotional well-being, safe spaces, and joy.
As part of this shared movement, Bluemind Foundation brings its continued focus on youth engagement, peer support, digital access to care, and community-based mental health awareness.
Building Blue Cities with AIMF
Ubunt’Blue Week 2025 also marks a pivotal moment in Bluemind Foundation’s collaboration with the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF). In May 2024, both parties formalized a strategic partnership to co-develop the “Villes Bleues” (Blue Cities) initiative — transforming local urban governance to prioritize mental health inclusion.
Together, AIMF and Bluemind are engaged to working to:
- Promote local mental health policies in African cities
- Mobilize municipal leaders and civil society
- Empower women, youth (ages 12–25), and vulnerable communities to co-create well-being in their environments
This initiative is a cornerstone of making African cities more humane, supportive, and emotionally responsive places to live.
A Shared Vision for Ubuntublue 2025
Bluemind Foundation aligns with the spirit of this week through bold and inclusive programming that aims to:
- Spark intergenerational dialogue around mental health and identity
- Normalize joy as a form of civic expression and self-care
- Amplify youth voices through digital storytelling and live engagement
- Deepen public understanding of psychological well-being as a human right
This is more than a campaign. It is a celebration of healing, community collaborations, and bright possibilities
What to Expect
- City activations in Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon
- Youth-led video campaign and storytelling series
- Public debates, media partnerships, and social challenges
- Local and global visibility across TV, radio, and social media
Our Youth Ambassador Spotlight
“We’re not just dancing to be seen. We’re dancing to be heard, to be free, and to remind the world that our joy is revolutionary.”
— Miss Songhaï, Bluemind Youth Ambassador
Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Bluemind Foundation.
About Bluemind Foundation
Bluemind Foundation is an international non-governmental organization driven by a clear and powerful belief: mental health is health. With the ambition to make mental health a social, cultural, and political priority, the foundation is committed to breaking the stigma around mental illness and ensuring access to care for all.
Headquartered in Lomé, Togo, Bluemind Foundation also has offices in Douala (Cameroon), and Paris, (France).
Contacts
welcome@bluemindfoundation.org
Facebook : @Bluemind.Foundation
X : @Bluemind_Fdn
LinkedIn : @Bluemind.Foundation
Follow: #UbuntBlueWeek2025 | #TheDancedCity | #MentalHealthIsHealth
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