Francophonie is first and foremost a group of men and women who share a common language, French. It is estimated that 300 million people speak French on five continents.
The institutional framework for the Francophonie was created in 1970 with the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT). This then changed its name to become the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). The aim of this institution is to promote the French language throughout the world. There are now 80 member or observer states of the OIF.
The majority of people who speak French on a daily basis live on the African continent: 44% are in sub-Saharan Africa – Indian Ocean. In the future, French will be spoken more on the African continent than anywhere else.
Every year, on March 20, the International Day of La Francophonie is celebrated around the world. The Alliance Française de Banjul is dedicating the whole month of March to the French-speaking world through a variety of rich and varied events.
A day dedicated to art and Francophonie: The Alliance Française de Banjul is participating in the international project “Inside Out” by artist JR.
As part of the celebration “Toutes Championnes, Tous Champions: Bearers of the Francophone Flame,” our teachers and partners are invited to participate in a unique artistic experience. Their portraits, captured during this day, will join a global collection celebrating the commitment and diversity of communities around the world.
Every year, pupils from several schools walk from Traffic Light to Alliance Française in the colours of the French-speaking world. Once they arrive at the Alliance, they meet in the outdoor theatre to share sketches, songs, dances… in French! A great opportunity to highlight this language and to praise the benefits of multilingualism.
Watch the video of the Marche de la Francophonie 2022
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Alliance’s cultural and technical team travels to schools to screen films for students. The film screenings are followed by an exchange in French. This “outdoor” activity is particularly beneficial to children who do not have the opportunity to attend our regular screenings.
Do you work in a school near Serrekunda and are you interested in this activity? Please contact us!
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The TCHOOKAR ARTISTIC RESIDENCY was held at the new Musa Ngum Artists’ House. Accompanied by the group Oriki Music and Senegalese singer Woz Kaly, Tchookar gave four musical workshops (two for Gambian schools, then two workshops for amateur/semi-professional musicians). The residency ended on Friday 3 March with a magnificent CINE-CONCERT PERFORMANCE OF THE MOVIE LA PETITE VENDEUSE DE SOLEIL, by Djibril Diop Mambéty.
On Monday 13 March, the Alliance hosted the final of the GENIES EN HERBE competition, organised by the Gambian Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. Four schools qualified, and the Alliance presented each with a prize including Festhi books.
On 13 and 14 March, the Alliance hosted an event on ECONOMIC FRANCOPHONY, co-organised by the French Embassy and the Gambia Tech Project (GTP). Seven Senegalese entrepreneurs from the Teranga Tech incubator (based at the Alliance in Ziguinchor) came to Banjul to talk to entrepreneurs from the GTP about the opportunities offered by the Francophonie economy.
In collaboration with the Gambian Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the Alliance, together with its institutional and educational partners, organised the MARCHE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE on Thursday 16 March. Nineteen schools and more than 415 students took part in the march along the country’s main avenue.
Francophonie 2023 came to a close on 20 March with a FRANCOPHONIE COCKTAIL bringing together all our French-speaking partners. The day was marked by the visit of the French ambassador to Senegal and the Gambia, Mr Philippe Lalliot, who took the opportunity to sign a LANGUAGE COOPERATION AGREEMENT with Mr Pierre Gomez (Minister of Education and President of the Alliance) and to meet candidates for the LANGUAGE ASSISTANT PROGRAMME. The Ambassador was also able to inaugurate the new Campus France office and the Musa Ngum Artists’ House, which will be completed in November 2022 and located in the garden of the Alliance.
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The ARTISTIC RESIDENCY “Veuillez patienter”, in collaboration with Senegalese director Abdou Sambou and French set designer Anne Laure Jullian de la Fuente, organised a month of workshops with 13 Gambian actors, for the final creation of the play Nekuñufi (Absence).
In collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, the Alliance orchestrated the MARCHE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE. On Wednesday 16 March, 26 schools and more than 360 students took part in the march along Gambia’s main avenue. The march ended with Francophonie celebrations in the Alliance’s open-air theatre.
THREE SCREENINGS for the general public were organised during March 2022: Système K, by Renaud Barret; Notre Dame, by Valérie Donzelli; Les Contes de la Nuit, by Michel Ocelot.
The media library also hosted a LITERARY WORKSHOP for young audiences, led by French author Emily Joof.