Sofifran shines during Black History Month

“We want to close the distance between peoples,” says Fété Ngira-Batware Kimpiobi, Executive Director of Sofifran. With that goal in mind, the organization put together Festiv’Ébène, an annual festival where musical activities and outstanding performances follow one another to give the community a memorable experience.

The celebrations began on February 6 at the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Brock University. Ms. Kimpiobi gave a presentation on her organization, Sofifran: its history, its mission, its goals and how far it has come since it was founded. She also spoke about a painful reality lived by some people born in Canada or who immigrated here at a young age: “holding two nationalities, yet feeling that you belong to neither people.”

Then on February 10, at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre in St. Catharines, and the next day in Hamilton, several workshops and shows took place, among them De votre foyer au nôtre. This series sets out to discover the cultural richness of Franco-Ontarians of every background through four artists: Wandara Topzo, a musician of Central African origin who plays the djembe and other string instruments; Saïd Ben Youcef, a storyteller of North African origin who read tales from the Thousand and One Nights; Paul Lemelin, a well known musician and violinist; and Djennie Laguerre, a storyteller who shared tales from Haitian heritage. “The beauty of these stories is that they all carry a moral, but it is up to each person to interpret it in their own way,” says Ms. Kimpiobi.

Exhibition

An exhibition on the theme L’écho des grands lacs africains : les voix et les voies du Rwanda was on display all month long at the Brock University library. It is the first in a three year project featuring three African countries. This year, Rwanda was in the spotlight through artifacts, traditional objects and crafts. “The exhibition sparked a lot of questions among young people and lifted the veil on the culture,” says the Executive Director of Sofifran.

A special day

On February 13, École secondaire Franco-Niagara in Welland held a day to mark Black History Month. Ms. Kimpiobi led a workshop there on African storytelling.

“I started with riddles and brain teasers from back home. Then I told a story about the different ways people behave when it comes to money and wealth, and about the consequences of the choices they made. After that, I let the young people draw their own moral,” she continues.

A memorable evening

To close the month in style, an evening with well known artists and rising talents was held on February 24 at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre.

Speeches were given before a meal prepared by a Ghanaian couple was served. A range of musical performances followed. Up and coming artists opened the evening with modern dance. There were the Snowbirds, children aged 3 to 8, and The Move, teens aged 13 to 18.

“It is important to showcase them, to recognize them and to encourage them. They need self-esteem in this world where emotional instability reigns,” she adds. Participants at the February 6 activities at Brock University. Other artists also stood out, such as Borelson, a rapper whose powerful messages lift up Black communities; Abel Maxwell, a singer whose musical style got everyone dancing; and Sérénade Mizik, the Caribbean touch of the evening with Kompa and Zouk. “I take two big ideas away from this wonderful month. First, people need to socialize. They are happy to come together and share, so Sofifran will organize more evening gatherings. Second, to bring diversity together, we have to keep sharing our own cultures with pride. Everyone brings something of value and learns from the others. That is how we will close the distance between peoples,” adds the Executive Director of Sofifran.

SAFRAN book fair

The first Salon du livre des francophonies du Niagara (SAFRAN) was held in 2020, just before the pandemic began. This year, Sofifran is bringing it back for a second edition, from March 21 to 24. “The goal of this book fair is to shine a light on French language literature in Niagara and, more broadly, in French-speaking Ontario. That is where the idea of a plural Francophonie comes from. Niagara is home to many different cultures and this is a chance to showcase our beautiful region,” explains Ms. Kimpiobi.

The fair opens on March 21 at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre at Brock University. The chosen theme is Les contradictions des lettres.

“We will look at the split that lives in each of us. We think one thing, but we say another. We plan one thing, but we act differently. Through several round table discussions, we will explore the various angles of this contradiction, the consequences it creates and how to face it,” she continues.

The SAFRAN steering committee, made up of people from Brock University and from the community, most of whom are published authors, met to choose the guest authors.

In all, some twenty authors and about fifteen publishing houses will take part in the fair. There will be a special focus on young people.

Fété Kimpiobi will also present her own project in progress: Le beignet africain. “It will be a wonderful fair, with our personal stamp and our own originality,” she concludes.

The honorary chair of the second edition of SAFRAN will be Paul Savoie, originally from Manitoba and now living in Toronto, the author of some forty books in French and in English, across several literary genres.

https://leregional.com/sofifran-sillustre-au-cours-du-mois-de-lhistoire-des-noirs/