News
Les arts de la démocratie - Les écritures plurielles du politique: retour sur un colloque itinérant à Abidjan (in French only)
From May 12 to 15, 2025, the city of Abidjan vibrated to the rhythm of the arts and literature at the international symposium "Les arts de la démocratie: les écritures plurielles du politique". Organized by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Fondation de l'Innovation pour la Démocratie, with the support of the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Culture and the Francophonie, the event attracted over 800 participants.
The Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Françoise Remarck, officially launched the proceedings, underscoring the importance of literature and the arts as levers for social transformation. Representatives of the event's initiating organizations set the tone with an inaugural conference at ENSEA, laying the foundations for a rich and plural reflection.
Panels for a new way of thinking about art and literature
Spread over six venues in Abidjan, from the Fondation Donwahi to the Palais de la Culture, the Institut Français and the INJS, the colloquium featured eight panels, a film screening and several artistic performances.
Among the highlights, the panel on African literature questioned the expectations placed on the continent's writers. "Writing is a pleasure of the text, no matter how serious the subject," recalled Alain Mabanckou, underlining the liberating power of the pen.
Cinema was also in the spotlight with the screening of Alain Kassanda's film Coconut Head Generation, followed by a poignant debate on the student condition and the aspirations of African youth.
Arts, society and civic engagement
The symposium also explored unexpected terrain: soccer as a political passion, the place of natural resources in literary narrative, and the symbolism of immigration. Discussions highlighted major societal issues and their resonance in the arts.
Literature, cinema, sport, ecology, migration: these were just some of the themes addressed, in a spirit of interconnection and dialogue between disciplines. Artistic performances by Pascal Beugré-Tellier, Véronique Lou and Dorcy Rugamba, Placide Konan and others added a poetic touch to the event.
Rethinking models
Beyond the discussions, the symposium led to concrete recommendations: strengthen book production chains, promote local and women's soccer, rethink our relationship with natural and human resources, promote safe and selective immigration, and encourage a diversity of voices and stories.
This colloquium was not just a space for reflection, but a veritable think tank for inventing a more creative, more inclusive democracy, deeply rooted in the cultural realities of the African continent.
No comment
Log in to post comment. Log in.