On July 6 and 7, 2019, the Mairie du 15ème arrondissement de Paris vibrated to the rhythms and colors of Africa thanks to the "Journées culturelles Week-end en Afrique", an event organized by the Dekkal Thiossane association in partnership with the Au Fil des Cultures association and the Racines Guinée-Bissau NGO. This multicultural festival, under the theme "Journeys to the heart of Senegal, Algeria and Guinea-Bissau", offered visitors a sensory voyage through the exhibition and sale of works of art, craft products, books and gastronomy, all accompanied by shows, fashion shows and cultural entertainment.
On Saturday, the festivities began with a warm welcome, punctuated by the enchanting notes of a Maghreb folk troupe and traditional dancers from Guinea-Bissau. The opening ceremony, organized with the usual mastery of Madame Paulette CORREA and her teams, was enriched by a Tuareg tea ceremony, a moment of sharing and conviviality. His Excellency Bassirou SENE, Ambassador of Senegal to France, took a guided tour of the stands with Madame CORREA. The Embassy of Senegal in France, sponsor of the event, set up a prestigious stand manned by Ms Marie Amy MBOW (Cultural Counsellor), Mr El Hadj Malick MBAYE (Head of the Tourism Office in Paris) and Mr Sidy Mactar MBAYE (Cultural Specialist, Senegalese Ministry of Culture), promoting destination Senegal. Opening the ceremony were speeches by Mr. Amadou DIALLO, Consul General of Senegal in France, followed by Mr. Daniel IAGOLTNIZER of the Daniel IAGOLTNIZER Foundation, patron of the association.
The day's musical performances highlighted the talents of Diniz Costa (a singer from Guinea-Bissau) and AYA'M (a Franco-Senegalese singer).
The afternoon was punctuated by musical entertainment, a fashion show featuring traditional "Thiossane" garments from Senegal, and dynamic performances by Belgian-Congolese rapper DEDINE HARMONIE from Belgium. Face-painting workshops for children and a tasting of culinary specialities from the three guest countries were also on offer. The day concluded with a gastronomic dinner celebrating the diversity of African flavors.
On Sunday, the festive atmosphere continued with a solidarity arts and crafts exhibition-sale, braiding and henna workshops, musical entertainment and an Arabic calligraphy workshop. The authors' stand welcomed numerous writers, including Professor Yaya DIANKA and poet Ndongo Mbaye, who declaimed Léopold Sédar Senghor's poem "Joal". The entertainment reached a climax with a rousing demonstration of traditional Guinea-Bissau dance, initiated by members of the NGO Racines Guinée-Bissau, who spontaneously drew the entire audience onto the dance floor. Members of the Au Fil des Cultures association then took over with an equally successful and infectious demonstration of Arabian dances, creating an atmosphere of contagious joy and sharing.
The main aim of these two days was to demonstrate the vital role of culture in bringing together peoples, communities and individuals. The spirit of sharing and the desire to encourage the public to discover the crafts, fashion, literature and gastronomy of these three marvellous countries guided the development of this event, whose success was unanimously hailed by the participants.
Story by Gilbert SARR
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