Washington is welcoming the largest celebration of French culture and language in the world -- the Francophonie Cultural Festival.
Ballake Sissoko, of Mali, and Vincent Segal, of France, play the Malian lute-harp called the kora and the cello. The duo performed in March as a part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration of French language and culture in the Washington area that runs through April 13. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
On April 12, Kaissa, singer-songwriter, transforms the Smithsonian's African Art Museum and International Gallery into a night spot of fashion, music and dancing to finish out the six-week Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, which ends April 13. The festival integrates music, dance, cuisine, theatre, film and other demonstrations in celebration of French culture and language. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Cheick Hamala Diabate, a West African historian in the Griot tradition, is a recognized n'goni player, which is a lute-like Malian instrument. He performed March 13 in the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration - through April 13 - of French culture and language in the Washington area incorporating music, dance, cuisine, theatre, film and other demonstrations. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Ambassador of France to the U.S. Francois Delattre spoke at the opening ceremony for the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration - through April 13 - of French culture and language in the Washington area incorporating music, dance, cuisine, theatre, film and other demonstrations. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Terakaft, a desert rock band from Mali, uses two rhythm guitars and a bass to depict the sounds of their homeland, such as a camel walking across sand, to form an "exotic and yet somehow familiar" sound. The group performed March 13 in the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration - through April 13 - of French culture and language in the Washington area incorporating music, dance, cuisine, theatre, film and other demonstrations. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
With more than 100 microbreweries, Quebec has a reputation for small, independent beer production. Sylvain Bouchard is the head sommelier of Unibroue, the most iconic microbrewery in Quebec, is known for its use of a European Trappist monk traditional method of beer-making. As the first North American beer-maker to incorporate this method, Bouchard will teach the tactic and other secrets of the trade on June 18, two months after the end of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013. Bouchard's event was postponed back in March due to weather conditions. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
"Moliere Dom Juan" invaded the Lycee Rochambeau on March 11 as a part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a celebration of French culture and language. Sophie Paul Mortimer performed the entire play solo in French, allowing for a bit of creative spark and audience participation. The six-week festival ends April 13. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Belgian-inspired theatrical performance "Visions" has solo actor, dancer, filmmaker and director Pierre Megos diving into a dynamic medium. On April 5, Megos integrates all of those talents at Montgomery College in Takoma Park as a part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration of French language and culture through April 13. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Switzerland-born Bastian Baker performed on March 22 at the French Embassy's Grande Fete, the biggest part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013. The festival is a six-week celebration of French language and culture in the Washington area. Baker has won numerous awards and describes his sound as a mix between pop-folk and rock. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
"Make the Girl Dance," an electronic French duo - Greg Kozo and Pierre Mathieu - re-debuted in 2012 with a worldwide tour to Europe, Korea, Japan and the U.S. They are back in the six-week Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a Washington-area celebration of French culture and language, by popular demand. The pair specializes in Parisian electronic music, performing and teaching workshops in the festival in March as a part of a Mix Elektronik series. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
"Make the Girl Dance," an electronic French duo - Greg Kozo and Pierre Mathieu - re-debuted in 2012 with a worldwide tour to Europe, Korea, Japan and the U.S. They are back in the six-week Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a Washington-area celebration of French culture and language, by popular demand. The pair specializes in Parisian electronic music, performing and teaching workshops in the festival in March as a part of a Mix Elektronik series. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
"Isaac Delusion" describes their sound as incorporating dreamy ballads and "sleepwalking" tunes. The French duo aims to be elusive in its style. The pair performed in the six-week Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a Washington-area celebration of French culture and language, as a part of the festival's Mix Elektronik series in March. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Le Choeur des Armaillis de la Gruyere (The Chorus of Herdsmen) is a male choir from Switzerland of the French-speaking region of Fribourg. The award-winning group performs folk songs, Gregorian chants and popular mountain songs on April 5 as a part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration of French language and culture in the Washington area through April 13. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013
Ballake Sissoko, of Mali, and Vincent Segal, of France, play, respectively, the Malian lute-harp called the kora and the cello. The duo performed March 1 a "quiet" and "refined world music" as a part of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013, a six-week celebration of French language and culture in the Washington area through April 13. (Courtesy of Francophonie Cultural Festival 2013)
WASHINGTON – With 220 million French speakers worldwide, French advocates think the language and its culture deserve a toast.
The largest celebration of French culture and language in the world — the Francophonie Cultural Festival — is returning to the Washington area March 1 through April 13. Organized by the D.C. Francophonie Committee, the 13th annual D.C. festival includes six weeks of music, dance, cuisine, theater, film and demonstrations from Francophone performers throughout the world.
The word “Francophonie” references French-speaking communities or countries. Countries range from Lebanon to Romania, Djibouti and Mali. “Francophone” means French-speaking.
There are 75 member states and governments within the International Organization of La Francophonie, making up one of the largest linguistic zones in the world and more than one-third of United Nations members.
Organizers say events such as literary salons, concerts, culinary samplings and children’s workshops help teach the D.C. community about French culture.
“This is an opportunity to explore the French-speaking world and to understand how vast it is,” says festival spokeswoman Deb Fiscella. “It includes Africa, Asia, the Middle East and more.”
In 2012, the festival’s events attracted more than 8,000 people. At each festival, artists from French-speaking countries are invited to perform in venues throughout the Washington area, including the Smithsonian museums, embassies, Lycee Rochambeau — a local bilingual French and English private high school — and theaters like the Avalon Theatre.
Jennifer Pietropaoli, spokeswoman for the Alliance Francaise — one of the collaborating organizations presenting the Francophonie Cultural Festival — says this year’s festival has a wide selection of Francophone countries.
“It’s one of the most varied collection of events we’ve had,” she says.
This year’s performers and events are hosted by Lebanon, Senegal, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Haiti, Mali, France, Djibouti, Quebec and the Republic of Cameroon.
On April 12, singer-songwriter Kaissa will change the dynamic of the Smithsonian African Art Museum, blending African and Western musical styles. A Cameroon vocalist raised in Paris, she has worked with artists including Paul Simon and Diana Ross.
Other upcoming events include a lecture by Haitian author Franketienne, who specializes in the relationship between Creole and French, a presentation and tasting with Quebec’s beer sommelier Sylvain Bouchard, a solo performance of Moliere’s “Dom Juan” — the French version of the Spanish “Don Juan” — several children and adult award-winning film screenings and more.
On March 22, the festival held a sold-out Grande Fete, or “Big Party,” at the French Embassy. The gala had about 1,700 guests, and showcased more than 40 embassies’ foods and traditions, according to Fiscella.
Pietropaoli attended the festival and the Grande Fete for the first time this year.
“The Grande Fete was incredible — chaotic, but incredible,” Pietropaoli says. “It was really wonderful to see so many passionate people coming together to share their culture, mostly through cuisine.”
In addition to the countries listed above, the Francophonie Cultural Festival is presented in collaboration with the D.C. Francophonie Committee, the Smithsonian Associates, Alliance Francaise, La Maison Francaise and the French-American Cultural Foundation.
