Each year, students from several schools walk from Traffic Light to the Alliance Française in the colors of La Francophonie. Upon arriving at the Alliance, they gather at the outdoor theater to share skits, songs, dances… in French! A wonderful opportunity to highlight this language and praise the benefits of multilingualism.
On February 26, 2025, more than 500 students and teachers marched from Kairaba Traffic Lights to the Alliance Française in Banjul to celebrate Francophonie Day. A look back in pictures at a day rich in connections, culture, and celebration of the French language. For the 2025 edition, the chosen theme was “I educate myself, therefore I act.”
This edition brought together students from several institutions, including Marina, SBEC, Grace & Glory Baptist, Presentation of Mary, Swallow, the Senegalese High School, St. Peter’s, Nusrat, and many others. Together, they celebrated the spirit of La Francophonie by parading through the streets of Banjul in a friendly atmosphere, accompanied by the rhythm of the Gambian police band.
After the march, festivities continued at the amphitheater of the Alliance Française in Banjul with artistic performances. Theater, poetry, public speaking, and dance were on the program, performed by talented students.
Thanks to all the teachers, students, the Gambian police band, and our partners for their valuable contribution! This march and the celebrations that followed illustrated the importance of the French language as a vehicle for cooperation, education, and dialogue between cultures.
For this special edition, we designed tote bags, caps, and t-shirts in the colors of La Francophonie. These exclusive items were distributed to participants during the event.
On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, more than 500 participants paraded on Kairaba Avenue to celebrate Francophonie Day. A beautiful demonstration of unity, diversity, and enthusiasm around the French language.
Students, teachers, and volunteers walked down Kairaba Avenue, Francophonie flags in hand, in a festive atmosphere. From Traffic Light to the Alliance Française, this march brought together about twenty schools to share this special day.
After the march, time for the show! Students from the twenty invited schools once again shone on stage. Accompanied by their teachers, they presented dances, songs, poems, and plays in a warm atmosphere.
This year, the “10 words of La Francophonie” and the theme of sport inspired performances rich in creativity and emotion. Thank you all for your talent and commitment!
Thanks to the students, teachers, partner schools, volunteers, and the entire team at the Alliance Française in Banjul for making this day a memorable event. Francophonie 2024 was a great success thanks to all of you!
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Alliance Française in Banjul, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, organized the traditional Francophonie March. 19 schools and more than 415 students paraded on the main avenue of Banjul to celebrate the French language and the values of La Francophonie.
Hosted at the Musa Ngum Artists’ House, the residency brought together the Tchookar collective, the Oriki Music group, and Senegalese singer Woz Kaly. Four musical workshops were offered to Gambian schools as well as amateur musicians.
This wonderful adventure concluded with an exceptional film-concert around the movie “La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil” by Djibril Diop Mambéty on March 3.
On March 13, the Alliance hosted the grand final of the “Génies en Herbe” contest, organized by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. The four finalist schools were rewarded with prizes including Festhi educational materials.
On March 13 and 14, the Alliance, in collaboration with the French Embassy and the Gambia Tech Project, organized meetings between Senegalese entrepreneurs from Teranga Tech (Ziguinchor Alliance) and economic actors from Banjul.
These exchanges helped to identify avenues for cooperation around innovation and Francophone entrepreneurship.
On March 15, 52 learners from the Gambian armed forces and police received their French language diplomas. This training is part of a linguistic cooperation program initiated by the French Defense Mission.
The ceremony, attended by Mr. Jean-Charles Allard, Colonel François Audy, and other officials, concluded with a Franco-Gambian cocktail.
On Thursday, March 16, the Alliance and the Ministry of Education brought together 19 schools and more than 415 students for a big march on the main avenue of Banjul. A strong and festive moment under the colors of La Francophonie.
Francophonie 2023 ended on March 20 with an official cocktail bringing together all Francophone partners. On this occasion, the French Ambassador, Mr. Philippe Lalliot, signed a linguistic cooperation agreement with the Minister of Education, Mr. Pierre Gomez.
The Ambassador also inaugurated the Campus France office and the Musa Ngum Artists’ House, a new cultural space at the Alliance.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the Alliance Française in Banjul, in partnership with the Ministry of Basic Education, organized the Francophonie March. 26 schools and more than 360 students paraded on the main avenue of The Gambia to celebrate the French language. The march ended in the open-air theater of the Alliance, with artistic performances in honor of La Francophonie.
In March, the Alliance hosted the artistic residency “Veuillez patienter” (Please Wait), directed by Senegalese director Abdou Sambou and French scenographer Anne Laure Jullian de la Fuente. For one month, 13 Gambian actors participated in intensive workshops that led to the creation of the play “Nekuñufi” (Absence).
Three screenings open to the general public were organized during the month of March:
The Alliance’s media library hosted a literary workshop for young audiences, led by French author Emily Joof. This exchange moment allowed children to discover reading in a different way, through interactive stories and discussions about books.