HÉBÉ! Festival

HÉBÉ!: The Feminist Festival Giving Voice in the Landes

Born in 2021 from the reflection of two engaged women — journalist Margaux Labarthe and activist Salima Sensou — the HÉBÉ! festival is the result of an observation: feminism often remains confined to big cities, and people living in rural areas are excluded from it. HÉBÉ!'s ambition is to create a space for meeting, reflection, and celebration among the inhabitants of the Southwest, grassroots activists, and contemporary feminist figures.

The Team Sama Association

HÉBÉ! is supported by the association Team Sama, founded in 2019, which has brought together nearly 200 volunteers around the issues of women's place in society. The association's name, Sama, means "to listen" in Arabic, embodying this desire for listening and dialogue. Team Sama organizes the festival and carries out feminist actions throughout the year in the Landes.

An Eclectic and Engaged Program

Each edition of HÉBÉ! offers a dense program centered around an annual theme. The 2025 edition, for example, explored the theme of anger: the legitimacy to feel it, express it, and show it depending on who you are (woman, racialized person, gender minority, disabled person). The program includes:

• Concerts: Musical programming highlighting female and minority artists, in various genres (pop, rock, rap, electro, chanson)
• Creative and Political Workshops: Feminist writing, screen printing, self-defense, discussion circles, empowerment workshops
• Conversations and Roundtables: Debates on current feminist issues, interventions by activists, researchers, and journalists
• Literary Encounters: Book presentations, readings, and exchanges with feminist authors
• Creators' Market: Stalls of artisans, creators, and small engaged brands
• Clothing Swap: Clothing exchange space, in an eco-responsible approach
• Tattoos: Tattoo sessions by invited female tattoo artists
• Activities for Children: Fun and educational workshops on equality and respect
• Food Truck and Bar: On-site catering throughout the festival

Château de Nahuques: A Historic Venue

The festival takes place at the Château de Nahuques, in the Peyrouat district of Mont-de-Marsan. This tree-lined park offers a green and peaceful setting to welcome festival-goers. The choice of this location, in a working-class neighborhood, is a strong political statement: anchoring feminism in the heart of the city, as close as possible to the residents.

An Entirely Free Festival

True to its values of accessibility, HÉBÉ! is entirely free. However, the festival invites those who can to contribute with a donation of their choice to support the association and ensure the event's sustainability. This free access is made possible by the work of volunteers, the support of institutional partners, and donations from participants.