Articles tagged with: Nafée Faigou

  • Celebrating creativity and diversity in Niagara with SAFRAN 2024

    Saturday, April 06, 2024 | By

    Brock Professor Jean Ntakiturimana of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures

    Image caption: Brock Professor Jean Ntakiturimana of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures, (right) at the Sunday morning long table about the world of publishing, hosted by Binta Wague of les Éditions Touana (Toronto , centre-right, in green). 

    Brock University recently welcomed the Salon du livre des Francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN) 2024 for a diverse and dynamic weekend of events and performances celebrating literary creativity and diversity in the Niagara region.

    Hosted by Brock’s Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture (STAC) and Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC) in collaboration with SOFIFRAN, the event was held from March 21 to 24 at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, with an opening ceremony at the Film House in the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre. With the important collaboration of the Maison de la culture francophone du Niagara, the event coincided with the UNESCO World Poetry Day, World Puppetry Day and International Francophonie Day.

    Director of the Salon du livre and MLLC Instructor, Nafée Faigou, hosting the opening ceremonies at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

    “It’s been an absolutely remarkable celebration of language and culture, beautifully led and produced by Director of the Salon du livre, Nafée Faigou and Fété Ngira-Batware Kimpiobi, Director General of SOFIFRAN,” said Professor David Vivian, Director of the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture. “Our learning community is so much richer for having hosted SAFRAN.”

    Guests and community members from the Niagara Francophone community and beyond were treated to a diverse offering of cultural interactions including entertaining and thoughtful puppet shows by Le chemin qui marche from Quebec, workshops for youth on robotics and AI and compelling roundtable discussions  in the MIWSFPA venues.

    A highlight was the publisher’s fair in the MIWSFPA lobby, igniting important long-table discussions amongst publishers and authors that celebrated the Francophonie of the region, including both Franco-Ontarian and new Franco-Canadian voices.

    For more information about the event, please visit the STAC website.

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  • Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN), a special collaboration at the MIWSFPA, opens March 21

    Friday, March 01, 2024 | By

    Le Safran logo

    Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN):
    Les contradictions dans les littératures

    March 21-24, 2024
    Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts
    15 Artists’ Common, St. Catharines

    SOFIFRAN is delighted to announce the details of the next edition of the Salon du Livre des Francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN), an exceptional literary event in and for the peninsula. The event will take place March 21st to 24th, 2024, and will begin at 10am each day in the prestigious space of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University, downtown St Catharines. The opening will be held at the Film House, in the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, also located in downtown St Catharines.

    We are especially honoured to present Nafée Faïgou, the director of the Salon du Livre des Francophonies du Niagara. Nafée Faïgou is passionately devoted to Niagara’s francophone literary ecosystem and plays a central role in the planning and development of this major event. You can contact her directly at the following email address: lesafran2024@gmail.com.

    SAFRAN is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Francophone Affairs, through the Francophone Community Grants Program.

    We invite all members of the community to come and celebrate the diversity of francophone literatures at the Salon du Livre des Francophonies du Niagara. Join us and immerse yourselves in captivating stories, literary discoveries, workshops, and inspiring encounters.

    For more information and to stay connected with the latest updates, follow us on social media and visit our official website: www.sofifran-safran.com.

    —

    SOFIFRAN annonce avec enthousiasme la 2ème édition du Salon du livre des Francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN)

    SOFIFRAN est ravie de dévoiler les détails de la prochaine édition du Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN), un événement littéraire et culturel incontournable qui se tiendra du jeudi 21 mars au dimanche 24 mars 2024. L’événement débutera à 10h chaque jour et se déroulera au prestigieux espace de l’école des beaux-arts Marilyn A. Walker de l’université Brock, située à St. Catharines.

    Nous sommes particulièrement honorées de présenter Nafée Nelly Faïgou, la directrice du Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara. Nafée Nelly Faïgou apporte une passion dévouée à l’univers littéraire francophone et joue un rôle clé dans la réalisation de cet événement majeur. Vous pouvez la contacter directement par courriel à l’adresse suivante : lesafran2024@gmail.com.

    Le SAFRAN est rendu possible grâce au soutien financier du Ministère des Affaires Francophones, dans le cadre du Programme d’appui à la Francophonie ontarienne (PAFO).

    Nous invitons chaleureusement la communauté à se joindre à nous pour célébrer la diversité littéraire francophone au Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara. Venez plonger dans un monde d’histoires captivantes, de découvertes littéraires et de rencontres inspirantes.

    Pour plus d’informations et pour rester connectés avec les dernières actualités du SAFRAN, suivez-nous sur nos réseaux sociaux et visitez notre site web officiel : www.sofifran-safran.com

    —

    Organized under the  main theme of Les contradictions dans les littératures,
    programming will address the sub themes of:
    – Sensitivity and Sensationalism
    – Waiting: Hope and Despair
    – Spaces and Comfort Zones (status quo in opposition to evolution)
    – Beliefs (in oneself and in others), Fear and Courage
    – Nature and Materialism/Artificial Intelligence/Technology
    – Individuality and Sense of Group
    – Body/Mind/Psyche

    Free event, open to the public.
    la programmation est disponible ici / The program is available here.

    Les auteurs

    Le Safran a pour objectif de promouvoir la diversité culturelle et linguistique des francophones du Niagara, de valoriser les auteurs et les artistes d’expression française, et de favoriser le dialogue et les échanges entre les différentes communautés.

    SAFRAN aims to promote the cultural and linguistic diversity of French speakers in Niagara, to celebrate authors and artists of French expression, and to promote dialogue and exchanges between different communities.

    Didier Leclair
    Mireille Messier
    Gaston Mabaya
    Kalula Kalambay
    Unblind Tibbin
    Marie Yanick Dutelly
    Binta Wague
    Marlène Thélusma
    Serge Stéphane TESSA
    Michèle Laframboise
    Mélina Seymour
    Khadydja Ndoye
    Nafée Faïgou
    Fété Ngira-Batware Kimpiobi
    Aristote Kavungu

    avec la précieuse participation de professeurs et d’instructeurs de l’Université Brock du département / with the special participation of Brock University faculty and instructors from the
    Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures:

    Nafée Faïgou
    Nicholas Hauck
    Richard Ndayizigamiye
    Jean B. Ntakirutimana
    Catherine Parayre (also Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture)
    Paul Savoie
    David Vivian (Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture/Department of Dramatic Arts)

    …and others. For more information: www.sofifran-safran.com

    To reserve a ticket for events organized by the Maison de la culture francophone du Niagara in honour of the Journée internationale de la Francophonie et les Rendez-vous Poétiques 2024 (March 20, 2024) and the Journée mondiale de la marionnette et les Rendez-Vous Poétiques 2024 (March 21, 2024) : mcfniagara.com/programmationsVeuillez noter q’un laptop est nécessaire pour s’inscrire à cet atelier./ Please note that a laptop is required to participate in this workshop. lesafran2024@gmail.com pour s’inscrire/to register

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  • Spirit of Mali: Kosar’s Corner – Part 2

    Monday, February 27, 2023 | By

    Professor David Vivian, Director of the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture (STAC) and the students of DART 3F61 Design: Theatrical Design visit Stève Viès and the exhibition. photo: Paul Jams.

    In my previous post, I provided some general information about The Spirit of Mali exhibition, including the backstage production and specific events. In this post, I intend to examine the exhibition critically and discuss its importance and contribution. 

    The Spirit of Mali brought a diverse community together for a celebration of Malian art at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, from the 1st to the 10th of February, 2023. The exhibition presented textile art, sculpture, puppets, masks, musical instruments, games, and wooden crafts and immersed its audience in the art and culture of Mali. Visitors could enjoy a variety of arts and were welcomed with lectures, individual guidance, live music, dance, food, and an opportunity for socialization in an artistic space. One of the main components of this exhibition was the textiles, some of which are intended to narrate historical and mythological stories which were mentioned in my previous post. Throughout the exhibition, Stève Viès, the curator of this exhibition and a multidisciplinary artist, told the stories upon which the textiles were created. The audience, however, was invited to make their own reading from the works in the exhibition. “Not everyone connects with an artwork the same way”, said Dr. Jean B. Ntakirutimana, a professor in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Brock University, a lead partner in the production of this exhibition. In the round table discussion on February 3rd, Dr. Ntakirutimana shared the profound feeling he had when he entered the space for the first time and talked about one of the objects in the exhibition, the crocodile mask.  He stated that the aesthetics of the crocodile which was hung on a piece of white fabric stood out for him initially. He mentions that aside from the symbolism of the crocodile, which represents strength, power, and friendship, one can have their own interpretation when seeing the artifact. He encouraged the viewers to see the artifacts and feel. He added that artworks are stimuli to provoke “vibrations”, and the vibrations are different for each person. He later mentioned that for him, the exhibition connected him with a motherly source.

    Dr. Jean B. Ntakirutimana (left) and Stève Viès discuss last minute planning before the guided visit and round table discussion. Photo: Paul Jams.

    Nafée Faigou, a St. Catharines artist, poet and community leader, the former artistic director of SOFIFRAN, talked about the expression of every component of a work of art, saying the process of making a textile from a plant is “itself a story, which is the story of life”. She continued that “life is not just the matter, but also the spirit”. She mentioned that in this exhibition, the spirit was put into a material space. She stated that the spirit of Bogolan art is fluid and can be described in many ways and may resonate differently for everyone.

    Nafée Faigou shares her insight during the roundtable discussion. Photo: Paul Jams.

    For me, the exhibition was remarkable in the range of meaning that it offered. It encouraged the personal and symbolic interpretation of the artworks. It provided its audience with information about the artworks but asked them to reflect upon the artworks. What stood out for me in some of the textiles was the use of patterns as a way of coloring some parts of paintings. Some of the patterns, however, symbolized concepts, values, and elements. To me, the patterns seemed like the creation of an intertext in the artwork that connects it with other stories. By providing visual hints to the viewers, they also seemed to be presenting a lens to see the image, suggesting how to interpret the story that the composition depicts. The work, Spiritualité Bambara, for example, depicts an aspect of Bambara culture –  the idea of care in a community that is not limited only to humans. A community is formed by interactions between humans and other living entities. In this textile, we see patterns that symbolize marriage, a subtheme for this composition. According to Stève Viès, marriage in Mali culture is not just between two individuals;  with the tie of marriage, one becomes responsible for all their new family members. This care and responsibility is not limited to family but can also be seen in the workplace.

    From left, Maman Fété Ngira-Batware Kimpiobi, Justine Djoléi Gogoua and Stève Viès welcome the guests during the opening night ceremonies. Dr. Jean B. Ntakirutimana is seen far right. Photo: Paul Jams.

    According to Stève Viès, some of the objects such as masks and puppets presented in the exhibition are used for storytelling in performing arts traditions in Mali. They contribute to the transmission of knowledge in Malian culture. The puppets presented in the exhibition are designed by Torri Diarra for the play The Legend of Bogolan, a musical that was written and performed by Stève Viès and Isabelle Garceau. Torri Diarra has made hundreds of puppets and masks to educate young audiences on the importance of preserving nature, protecting endangered species, and planting trees.

    In the opening and closing celebrations of the exhibition on February 4th and 10th, 2023, the audience were immersed in the culture of Mali through music, dance, and food. The organizers of the project from Brock University, Dr. Jean B. Ntakirutimana (Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) and  Prof. David Vivian (Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture/Department of Dramatic Arts) engaged the audience in meaningful conversations about the artworks. The group dance exercise was a joyous practice of community building. The celebration ended with notes about collective identity, a sense of belonging, and the importance of the improvement of the self. Community engagement was one of the purposes and outcomes of this exhibition, according to Dr. Ntakirutimana. 

    “After the closing ceremony”, Dr. Ntakirutimana remarked, “I started feeling a separation like the anxiety a child feels after being weaned.” He referred to Africa as a mother figure for him and the arts presented in the exhibition as the spirit of that continent. The exhibition was a moment for individuals of all ages to see art, appreciate it, discuss it, make connections, dance, and play.

    Stève Viès demonstrates a musical instrument in his collection. Photo: Paul Jams.

    In order to share the art of Mali with a larger audience, Stève Viès will continue to tour the exhibition and develop a website at impressionsdeterre.com. He presents the art of Mali culture with a “positive vibration” and looks forward to bringing the artists, whom he calls brothers and sisters, to future exhibitions so that they may spark intercultural conversations and knowledge transmission.

    Museum in the Hallway / Boîte-en-valise, a project of the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture, situated on the second floor of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, continues a small exhibit of art and objects from Mali until the closing reception on March 3, 2023.

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  • Spirit of Mali visits St. Catharines

    Monday, January 16, 2023 | By

    The Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture, with the support of the Departments of Dramatic Arts, Music, and Visual Arts at the MIWSFPA, in collaboration with the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures and with the support of Brock International, Social Justice Research Institute, Department of History, Brock University Faculty Association, and the Office of Human Rights and Equity, are collaborating with Solidarité des femmes et familles interconnectées francophones du Niagara (SOFIFRAN, Welland sofifran.org ), the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (FOPAC, St. Catharines firstontariopac.ca ), and Impressions de Terre ( impressionsdeterre.com ), under the patronage of the Embassy of Mali in Ottawa, to produce an exhibit on art and culture from Mali, accompanied by live music performances and documentary films:

    Spirit of Mali

    with Stève Viès, multidisciplinary artist

    February 1-10, 2023
    Robertson Theatre, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines ON

    Exhibition hours
    Wednesday, February 1 and Thursday, February 2: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
    Friday, February 3: 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm
    Saturday, February 4: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
    Sunday, February 5 thru Thursday, February 9: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
    Friday, February 10: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

    Guided Tour & Discussion / Visite guidée & table ronde: Friday, February 3, 2023,
    7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
    featuring a guided tour of the exhibition by Stève Viès, curator, followed by a panel discussion about the exhibition and the art, with contributions by Gertrude Brew (graduate student, MA in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts (SCLA), Brock University), Nafée Faigou (St. Catharines artist, poet and community leader), Olatunji Ojo (Historian, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History, Brock University), Jean Ntakirutimana (linguist and language teacher, Associate Professor of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Brock University).  They will offer reactions, commentary, personal experiences and celebrations of the art on exhibit. This will be followed by a brief Q&A.
    All are welcome!

    Opening/Vernissage for the arts and cultural program: Saturday, February 4, 2023,
    5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, including cocktail reception at 7:00 pm
    with guest artist Amadou Kiénou

    Closing: Friday, February 10, 2023
    6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, closing reception
    with guest artists Justine Djoléi Gogoua and Amadou Kiénou

    The exhibit and special events are free and open to the public.
    The exhibit and special events are drop-in, no tickets or registration is required.
    Programming will be offered in French and in English.
    See the event listing at the FOPAC for more information.

    thumbnail of a youtube video to click and start in a new page

     

     

     

    See the video produced by Impressions de Terre in our youtube channel.

    Listen to the interview by Karl Dockstader of CKTB 610 with Professor Jean Ntakirutimana, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Brock University.

    www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/audio/the-drive-with-karl-dockstader-jean-ntakirutimana-associate-professor-of-the-department-of-modern-languages-literatures-and-cultures-brock-university-1.19173483?mode=Article

    Listen to the interview by Isabelle Ménard of CBC/Radio-Canada with Stève Viès, artist, educator and curator of the exhibit.  (en français)
    Le mois de l’histoire des Noirs : Exposition Esprit du Mali
    https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/dans-la-mosaique/segments/entrevue/431062/exposition-esprit-mali-steve-vies

    Read the article in Le Régional (Welland, en français. click to open PDF)
    Voici l’écho francophone de l’événement : https://leregional.com/sofifran-presente-la-diversite-culturelle-du-mali/

    See the gallery of photographs from the opening events on the SOFIFRAN website.

    Exhibition as presented at TOHU of the Cité des arts du cirque in Montreal, QC.

    The exhibition

    The Spirit of Mali exhibition is the culmination of a remarkable collective effort, orchestrated by Stève Viès and produced by several great master craftsmen of Mali: Boubacar Doumbia, Mamoudo Nango, Tiorri Diarra and Abou Konan

    Bogolan textile art and sculptural art are a national pride. Bogolan means ‘the action of clay on fabric’. Earth-colored dyes are made from foliage and bark. Sculpture plays a significant role in cultural tradition and story­ telling. The puppet is used for street theatre and in folk festivals. The Dogon mask dance, or funeral dance, is a sacred and mysterious practice within the rich cultural heritage of Mali.

    The Spirit of Mali Exhibition is committed to valuing and preserving traditional knowledge. More than ever, this diverse and beautiful collection of Malian culture expresses an awareness of deep wisdom and rich spirituality. It transmits to us the strength of action in solidarity, weaves the creative web that unites our differences and reminds us of the importance of cultivating peace to make room for prosperity.

    The exhibition will be installed in the Robertson Theatre of the FOPAC with smaller elements and digital media to be installed at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts as part of the STAC project: Museum in the Hallway / Boîte-en-valise.

    About Stève Viès

    Originally from La Loire, France, Stève Viès is a Montreal based artist and educator whose work celebrates the rich cultural heritage and diverse artisan traditions of West Africa.

    It was in 2008, in Mali, with his meeting of two great masters of textile art, Boubacar Doumbia and Mamoudou Nango, that his vision to preserve and share this great cultural tradition became clearer.

    The Spirit of Mali exhibition is representative of 20 years of passion and exchange for the art and culture of Mandé.

    Please check this webpage regularly for program updates. See also the event listing at the FOPAC for more information.

    This project is supported by the Faculty of Humanities Dean’s Discretionary Fund and the Social Justice Research Institute at Brock University, as well as Brock International, the Department of History, the Brock University Faculty Association, and the Office of Human Rights and Equity, as well as government and community partners.

    A short teaser video of the exhibition including images from when presented at TOHU of the Cité des arts du cirque in Montreal, QC, and including the guest artists Justine Djoléi Gogoua and Amadou Kiénou.

    part of:

    Festiv’Ébène 2023

    produced by SOFIFRAN

    A short teaser video about the artists performing at the closing festivities for Festiv’Ébène 2023 on February 25, 2023, at École secondaire catholique Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf 620, chemin River Welland (Ontario) L3B 5N4.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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