Toulouse. Africa in all its colors on the Jules Guesde alleys
It’s permanent summer that settles down until August 28 on the Jules Guesde alleys in Toulouse. With “The Village of African Arts”, it is the culture of a continent that comes to share and exchange with the Pink City. No less than thirty exhibitors of textiles, jewellery, food, musical instruments, toys, separate the space with free concerts, such as the group Take Five, debates, conferences, outdoor cinema.
“The first festival was held as a reminder in 2014, Sylvie Ader, treasurer. Set up by the Africlap association, this moment is this year, divided into two parts to allow the public to choose more serenely: until 28 August , the Village des Arts puts crafts, contemporary art, music, African literature into perspective and in November, African cinema with Africlap, around fifty films, led by Bernard Djatang, artistic director. Along the aisles we embark on a mini-journey where colors and music are everywhere. Like the lighting stand of Eve Horo, designer of lamps fashioned from the multicolored African fabric Wax from Côte d’Ivoire. “I creates lampshades, lamps, mobiles and lighting garlands. Everything is handmade. These are objects that give a room a good-humored and serene atmosphere”. Further on, we fall in love with the dolls on the stand nicely called “Bonne Arrival”: “A phrase that we always say to our hosts in Togo, says Efoé, who comes from Lyon and who, for the first time, exhibits in this village in Toulouse. We also unveil leather goods, home accessories, etc. This event makes it possible to present a showcase of Africa and thus to better know our country”.
Issaka is a musician artist. He is also a manufacturer of wooden musical instruments: “These are musical instruments from Burkina Faso, he explains. This one is called a kalimba for example. Composed of steel blades that the active player to produce sounds, it was invented in the 1950s from another traditional African instrument, 3,000 years old”.
There are also calabashes, the basis of an instrument like the drum or the maracas, the djembe, a cup-shaped percussion instrument that acts as a sound box. This is the first time that Issaka has taken part in this festival “to share and discuss with Toulouse residents. I like when the public asks me questions about my work. Such an event shows that we also have real creativity and a real Culture.”
Two highlights
“The Village of African Arts”, until August 28 on the Jules Guesde alleys in Toulouse, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Supported by the town hall of Toulouse and the Monnaie Libre d’Occitanie collective for logistics. Several free concerts are offered as well as meetings, literary cafés and conferences. Info: 0 601 340 658 or [email protected]. A festival that needs support. To make a donation: www.africlap.fr/soutien-africlap