Harare is set to celebrate the richness and diversity of the French language when the 29th edition of Francophone Week roars into life tomorrow.
The event boasts a diverse program that includes film screenings, conferences, concerts and buffets.
It is organised by Alliance Francaise de Harare in partnership with the embassies of France, Belgium,
Switzerland, Canada, Romania, Rwanda, Greece and Egypt.
The event is a celebration of the French language and Francophone culture and will run until March 24. It falls within the context of the International Francophonie Day on March 20, which takes place every year around the world, in French-speaking countries, as well as in countries where the French language is less widely spoken.
In Zimbabwe, festivities will take place across the Alliance Francaise network in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and will showcase a series of cultural and educational events.
The opening day in Harare will start with a workshop on comics led by comic book artist Bill Masuku.
On the same day, Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo will host English and French African francophone storytelling for kids while the Harare chapter will unveil the Kubuni African comic strip, an exhibition translated from French to English.
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First displayed at Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo last month, the exhibition was originally showcased at the French Comics Festival of Angoulême by the different Alliance Francaises of Southern Africa and has toured South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, and Zambia.
Kubuni (Swahili for imaginary creation) is a bilingual roadmap dedicated to the discovery of comics from sub-Saharan Africa, including a special focus on Zimbabwean comic artists. It comprises guest artists, a reading room and a live drawing competition. Attendees will view the exhibition throughout the course of Francophone Week.
Between March 12 and 22, cinema lovers can look forward to watching animation, fiction, comedy and drama screenings courtesy of films from Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Greece and Romania. BKB, a French-Burkina Faso band of three sisters, will perform at Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo on March 15 alongside dance trio Asante Mo.
Both groups will make an appearance again at the & Mixx
Concert' scheduled for the next day at Alliance Française de Harare where they will share the stage with SANKROX from Switzerland and multi-traditional instrumentalist Othnell Mangoma Moyo.
Francophone Week is known for fostering collaboration and cultural exchange. Last year the duo of Afro-fusion artist Fatima Katiji and percussionist, singer Blessing Chimanga collaborated with French musical group Sages Comme Des Sauvages which resulted in a visit to France and a feature on the
French band's song titled ‘L'inverse’ taken from their album Maison Maquis.
The lineup of activities includes a conference on studying in French-speaking countries which will be hosted at the University of Zimbabwe on March 21 and will be graced by speakers from the consulate of Belgium, the embassies of Switzerland, Canada and Egypt as well as Campus France and the European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS).
On the last day, there will be a ‘buffet de la Francophone’ where attendees will embark on a culinary journey through the French-speaking world. Performances will be by Josh Meck Trio and the Dzikwa Trust Fund choir.
