(Pictured
in front of Alliance Française de Durban’s replica Eiffel Tower are
participants
from this year’s Francofête taking place on Human Right’s Day.)
(Photo
by Maxime Cercel)
Alliance Française de Durban invites
everyone to their seventh Francofête taking place on the grounds of Alliance
Française de Durban in Morningside on Human Rights Day on Wednesday, March 21,
2018.
The mid-week public holiday sees a fabulous
programme jam-packed with free entertainment starting at 11h00. The
ever-proactive Alliance Française uses this annual opportunity to showcase some
of the best French; Francophone and French-inspired music; dance; theatre;
workshops; visual arts; crafts and of course, wonderful delicacies, food and
drink.
Emcee for the day is the magnifique spoken
word hip hop poet, Iain EWOK Robinson.
Opening up the 2018 Francofête, the vibrant
troop of drummers, Club Iwacu from Burundi kicks off the festivities. Following
them, the team from Assitej, the organisation which supports the nurturing of
youth theatre, will perform. Assitej’s Pietermaritzburg’s Art’s Kollective will
be performing their piece entitled Mind
your Language, an enchanting tale of three pre-schoolers getting lost on a
school trip, all speaking different indigenous languages. The trio needs to
team up and overcome their different languages to re-join the school trip: a
beautiful story affirming our differences and diversity and the need to find
commonality and work together.
The main acts on the stage in the afternoon
include punky Reggae band from Pietermaritzburg, Undivided Roots.
Multi-talented French Congolese singer, Rene Tshiankanyi will be serenading the
audience with his French songs, original multi-lingual compositions and
ballads. The main act, Madala Kunene and Mabi Gabriel Thobejane kick off their
50 Years Anniversary South African Tour here at the Alliance. The renowned duo,
king of the Zulu guitar, Kunene and veteran percussionist, Thobejane have an
acoustic bluesy set lined up celebrating both of their musical journey spanning
half a century.
During the day there will be face painting,
a kiddies drawing corner, dance and music.
Director for the Alliance Française,
Vincent Frontczyk said, “We are delighted that this is our seventh year. Our
fête is very family-orientated, it is a fun day activity. We will have car
guards around the Alliance perimeter .... And best of all, there is no entry
fee!
“The Francofête celebrates diversity and
tolerance on the occasion of Human Rights Day and Francophone week, bringing
together all walks of life in Durban, transcending through all cultures,
generations, home languages and communities. We look forward to a festive day
of social cohesion in English, isiZulu, French, and more,” he continues.
Livening up the day, there will be a live
art performance taking place. Led by Nivesh Rawatlal who recently exhibited his
artworks at the Alliance, joining him for the live mural painting are artists
Wonder Boy and Luke Molver.
Back again, Swiss chef, Markus Bänziger
will be sharing his Swiss delights offering his Francofête culinary favourites,
together with his refreshing craft beers on tap. Alliance’s own French fusion
café will be offering tantalising cuisine.
Doors open up at 10h30. Entrance is free,
and drinks and food are for your own account.
Alliance Française would like to thank the
Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, the Swiss Art Council Pro-helvetia,
Assitej SA and Black Coffee.
For more information visit
http://www.alliance.org.za/durban/ or like their Facebook page or visit them at
Alliance Française at 22 Sutton Crescent, Morningside, Durban, or phone 031 312
9582.
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