The French Cultural Services of the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, KPFK , 90.7 Pacifica Radio Los Angeles, CAAPEI (California African-American Political & Economic Institute), CSUDH, The Immigrant Magazine, Esowon Books, and Kym Newberry-Kabaila present a celebration featuring entertainment and information.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Historic Leimert Park Village
KAOS Network Arts Center
4343 Leimert Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
FYI - info forwarded from Kym Newberry-Kabaila:
“Siggi Dimanche”: A Celebration of Francophone Africa and the French speaking African diaspora with:
- Kym Newberry-Kabaila
- Nnamdi Moweta
- Ben Caldwell
Music, food, information, readings, listening kiosks with African film and music clips, & more!
“Siggi”, in the West African language, Wolof, means “Lift up your head”
Dimanche means “Sunday” in French.
March is the official month of La Fete de la Francophonie. This month long festival is intended to celebrate the international and linguistic community that share French -- either as a first language or even a second one -- that is referred to by the coined term La Francophonie.
Francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals groups, or places. The term specifically refers to people whose cultural background is primarily associated with the French language, regardless of ethnic and geographical difference.
African French is the generic name of the varieties of French spoken by an estimated 115 million African people spread across 31 francophone African countries. This includes those who speak French as a first or second language in these 31 francophone African countries. Africa is thus the continent with the most French speakers in the world.
Please join acclaimed film and television actress, Kym Newberry-Kabaila, world famous KPFK “Radio Afrodicia” host, Nnamdi Moweta, and artist Ben Caldwell in Leimert Park on Sunday.
Together, we’ll become a part of the world-wide celebration of the French language, and experience Africa and the African Diaspora as Kym speaks, writes, sings and cooks…in French!!!
Mission of "Siggi Dimanche"
The mission of “Siggi Dimanche” is to be an ongoing yearly event coinciding with other Francophonie celebrations putting forward the French language as it is utilized and enjoyed by the inhabitants of the 31 Francophone African countries and the French speaking Caribbean. At times taking on a didactic approach, our goal is for individuals with limited or no experience of the language as well as native French speakers to participate in an interactive evening of brief readings from the works of African and Caribbean writers, including Alain Mabanckou [currently a professor in the UCLA Dept. of French & Francophone Studies], Aime Cesaire, Lenora Milano, Edouardo Glissant, Maryse Conde, Briago Diop, Mariama Ba and more. Those comfortable with the language, are encouraged to bring a 3-4 minute selection from a favorite novel, poem, recipe…whatever…it’s simply sharing the enchantment of Africa through literal expressions from the continent and beyond.
An innovative and exciting segment of this evening will be the “Cinematheque” media stations, a type of “listening post” kiosks, where clips of Francophone African and Diasporian films and music will run throughout the evening, inviting movement and mingling among guests. The bringing of Laptops and MP3 players is encouraged in order to insure a fully integrated evening for all.
Of course there would be no African “Fete de la Francophonie” without “le Roi de la Musique Africain”, Nnamdi Moweta the true musical voice of Africa. Nnamdi will bring us up on the latest as well as some of his favorite classic Francophone African and Afro-Caribbean music.
Finally, what African celebration would be complete, without a few global culinary delights?!! Be prepared for a fantastic African tasting journey provided by Artnfood. Sisters Vanessa and Joanna Cain specialize in African cuisine, and for this evening, they will be preparing one of the recipes from Youssou N’Dour’s sumptuous cookbook, “Senegal: La Cuisine De Ma Mere”. [Youssou N'Dour has a cookbook? Who knew?] The complete text of the recipe as well as photos from this gorgeous book will be available at artnfood@yahoo.com.
A brief overview of the language including a French “class" type workshop will open the evening, conducted by French teacher Djeneba Outurra from Burkina Faso. An information packet will be provided complete with useful facts, glossaries, interesting articles about French as it relates to the African continent, the African Diaspora and, a “webography” for at home research and preparation for next year!!!
So mark your calendars…save the date, and come “lift up your head” and explore Africa through one of the world’s most robust and enchanting languages.
We look forward to seeing you,
A Bientot !!!!= Kym
For questions, more info, contact Kym Newberry-Kabaila at 213-422-6916 or gabrielprosser@prodigy.net.
Kym Newberry-Kabaila 213-422-6916
gabrielprosser@prodigy.net.
Sponsor(s): The French Cultural Services of the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, KPFK , 90.7 Pacifica Radio Los Angeles, CAAPEI (California African-American Political & Economic Institute), CSUDH, The Immigrant Magazine, Esowon Books, and Kym Newberry-Kabaila. Information about non-ASC events is forwarded for informational purposes and does not necessarily reflect opinions of or endorsements by African Studies personnel.