March is the month of Francophone, and in
celebration of all things French, the Alliance Française de Durban invite
everyone to come and enjoy a free day of cultural festivities on Human Rights
Day, Thursday March 21, 2019, in their Sutton Crescent, Morningside premises.
Francofête de Durban shares a significant
date with Human Rights Day where over the last eight years, the Alliance
Française welcomes locals to a day filled with music, dance, food, art and
craft. This year is no different, the grounds of the cultural organisation
alongside Sutton Park in Durban’s Windermere has a fun-filled line up that
starts at 10h00 and finishes at 18h00.
The morning is orientated more for family
fun, with children’s theatre by Assitej SA, a dance performance by Vusi Makanya
and the KwaMashu School of Dance along with kid’s activities taking place until
13h00.
Kicking off the musical programme on the
stage is reknowned performer, René Tshiakanyi, who will be sharing the stage
with the gorgeous Zimbabwean Tsitsi Sachikonye blending original sounds of
cello, percussion and guitar.
A Swiss-French combo, Pêcheurs de Rêves
(Fishermen of Dreams) combines the vocal talents of Laurent Brunetti with the
piano skills of Mario Pacchioli. The vibrant, fun duo describes their whimsical
music as ‘scattered memories of our sleepy childhood.’
Congolese singer songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist, Gloire Mapenzi and his “Black City Band’ are the
penultimate performance. Finishing off the day on a high note is the high
energy Sun Xa Experiment. This seven-piece Avant Garde out of the box band.
The eMCee for the day is the inspired
spoken word hip hop, poet Iain EWOK Robinson. During the course of the day,
artists Nivesh Rawatlal from Rolling Stone Design, and his crew will be growing
their works of street-art around the grounds.
Director for the Alliance Française,
Vincent Frontczyk said, “Our 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 so many other languages in our colourful city.”
Visitors feeling peckish can refuel at
either the Alliance Café or one of the two food trucks that will be on site.
Alliance Française would like to thank the
Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, Assitej SA, Black Coffee, Stratogo, the
French Embassy in SA, The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, eThekwini
Municipality and the Alliance Café.
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