Montpellier Euro-Africa Biennale : culture, to cement a new Franco-African relationship

On September 29, 2023, Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and Vincent Cavaroc, Managing Director of Halle Tropisme, presented the first edition of the Montpellier Euro-Africa Biennale. It is unique week of events celebrating excellence in culture, from October 9 to 15, 2023, in the presence of Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, Sophie Léron, Strategic Director of Montpellier’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2028, and Madeleine Johnson, representative of the ‘Africa in all its diversity’ group of associations.

‘A week to discover the cultural, scientific and economic cooperation between our region and Africa, to celebrate contemporary African cultures and to link the European and African research and innovation ecosystems,’ the organizers said in a press release.

Reinventing Euro-African relations to create a more equitable and beneficial framework for actors on both continents, strengthening and rethinking cooperation
between the African and European continents and facing future challenges

‘Following the new Africa-France Summit held in Montpellier in 2021, it is necessary to reinvent Euro-African relations in order to create a more equitable and beneficial framework for actors on both continents, to strengthen and rethink cooperation between the African and European continents, and to face future challenges, particularly with regard to water management,’ the press release continues.

‘In 2021, Montpellier hosted the new Africa-France Summit, an event designed to reinvent the relationship between Africa and France. A summit that celebrated the links between civil societies and where the participants were not heads of state or ministers, but artists, entrepreneurs, sportspeople and African and French researchers and academics,’ says Michaël Delafosse. In Montpellier, these citizens engaged in a frank and passionate debate on relations between Europe and Africa, but also on the need to completely rethink the way we work tog
ether, the way we see each other and the way we relate to each other.’

A framework conducive to innovation, imagination and the collective implementation of concrete solutions

Meanwhile, Montpellier has decided to bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2028. ‘We’re making a real case for culture. I wanted this first edition of the Montpellier Euro-Africa Biennale to be a highlight of our bid,’ continues the mayor. Over the course of a week, we will bring together a wide range of players at the crossroads of our two continents to discuss the issues that unite us from a cultural, sporting and scientific perspective. Whether it’s water, a crucial issue for our territories and so central to our MEDVALLÉE, or the importance of changing the way we look at the African continent, Montpellier is creating a framework for innovation, imagination and the collective implementation of concrete solutions through this Biennale.’

A meeting with Wole Soyinka, Noble Prize-winner for Literature

A dozen exhibitions
will be held, including one by Emery Baï at the Maison des relations internationales, one by some of the biggest names in African photography at 10 boulevard Ledru-Rollin, and one by Ernest Dk at Espace Bagouet.

Concerts include Patrice at Rockstore on October 10, Kokoko at Victoire 2 on October 12 and 11 hours of live music at Halle Tropisme.

For food and crafts, there’s a daily African market at the Maison des Relations Internationales.

Nadia Beugré’s dance show will take place on October 12 at 6pm on Place Salengro. Salia Sanou will perform in front of the Opéra on October 14.

There’s also the Grand Village Africain, where Made in Africa products will be on display.

Other major events include a meeting with Noble Prize-winner for Literature, Wole Soyinka, two dance events, a night of workshops, a night of African series and hip-hop battles.

Source: Africa News Agency