REMINISCENCE FESTIVAL: AN EXCEPTIONAL EXHIBITION IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE
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17/8/2024
THE BIRTH OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE CULTURAL IDENTITY
This January, the heart of Côte d’Ivoire won't only beat to the rhythm of soccer; culture will also be celebrated with the Reminiscence Festival—a multidisciplinary event held in Abidjan and Grand-Bassam.
Aboudia, Lafalaise Dion, Marguerite Abouet, DJ Arafat, Alpha Blondy, the Coupé-Décalé, Koffi & Diabaté, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Philippe Lacote; Ivorian artists have expressed their talents in many fields, and managed to export their creations beyond their country, but who and what preceded them? The exhibition highlights a particular period in the country's history: the post-independence years from the 60s to the 80s, when fashion, architecture, literature, cinema, music, and plastic arts creation blossomed, giving birth to many iconic artists and artistic movements.
Reminiscence Festival invites you on a journey through Côte d’Ivoire's rich history, arts, and culture that shaped the country's identity.
POST-INDEPENDENCE CÔTE D'IVOIRE: A WONDERFUL TIME
At the initiative of Stephanie Swi, the Reminiscence festival is a dive into the pivotal period of post indépendance: the Ivorian miracle. The country gained independence on August 7, 1960, with Félix Houphouët-Boigny as its first president until he died in 1993. The exhibition analyzes the cultural content that developed during that crucial time, under the leadership of the new President and in the middle of a unique economic boom: the trade, finance, and agriculture sectors were booming, driven by the development of coffee and cocoa crops, of which the country has become and remains the world's leading exporter. This positive dynamic, encouraged by remarkable political stability, led to a rise in its population's standard of living and increased investment.
At the beginning of his presidency, Houphouët-Boigny focused on modernizing the country's infrastructure: the iconic business district of the Plateau, the Pyramide, the presidential palace by French architect Pierre Dufau, and the legendary Sofitel luxury hotel by Israeli architect Moshe Mayer were built during those years, and Abidjan emerged as the business and economic capital of the country.
Witnesses of their time, artists developed creations that reflect these upheavals. The Ivorian people were dancing to the rhythms of Lougah François, Mamadou Doumbia, Les Grands Colombia d'Adzopé or Ernest Djedje's, or the songs of Amédée Pierre, the « Ivorian music doyen.» In the arts, artists such as Christian Lattier, whose sculptures were exhibited at the Dakar Festival of Black Arts in 1966, and the photographer Paul Kodjo made their mark.
It was a buoyant cultural period reflecting the Ivorian prosperity, a visual and sensory revolution in fashion, music, architecture, and literature, an enchanted interlude years before the turbulent times and socio-political crises that later shook the country.
With its political, social, and economic narrative, the exhibition will allow visitors to (re)discover the creations of more than 70 of those emblematic Ivorian artists in different locations between Abidjan, the former colonial capital, and Grand-Bassam, the district frequented by many artists. Held during the upcoming African Cup of Nations 2023, the Reminiscence Festival promises to be a major cultural event in the capital.
REMINISCENCE: A MULTI-FACETED FESTIVAL
In October, a prelude to the more extensive exhibition was organized. As a foretaste to the Festival, "Perspectives: Intergenerational Dialogue" focused on the photographic and the architectural heritage of Côte d’Ivoire, presenting archive photos by Louis Normand, a significant photographer of the A.O.F. (Afrique Occidentale Française) with his "Photo Service" studio. A selection of contemporary images by the new generation of Ivorian photographers, including the duo Marine Jeannin and Luc Roland Kouassi, Kevin Treche, and Lucie Pavy, was also presented.
A multidisciplinary event, the Festival is divided into several themes and several venues:
Plastic arts at Villa Colomb. A retrospective of the pictorial movements of modern Ivorian art, including the painter Michel Kodjo, a pioneer of contemporary art and his mystical-style paintings, Théodore Koudougnon and Youssouf Bath, the " Sorcier Vohou," representatives of the vohou-vohou movement. Côte d’Ivoire surrealism will be illustrated with work by Jacques Samir Stenka, and Ivorian sculpture will be on view through the work of Christian Lattier through a discussion with professor Yacouba Konate.
In terms of architecture, several buildings, will be analyzed from their historical and architectural angles. The main projects of the President was the development of infrastructure, in particular through public buildings, such as the emblematic 220 dwellings in Adjamé initiated by Sicogi, a state-owned company, the first sizeable modern housing complexes in Côte d’Ivoire. The exhibition includes period photos of the construction of these iconic buildings in the Ivorian capital.
Fashion and the major artists and trends on the music scene at the time, from the Comoé sisters to Lougah François, can be discovered at La Manzane in Grand-Bassam. Finally, in the historic district of Grand-Bassam, at the Musée National du Costume (National Costume Museum), visitors can explore images of former first lady Marie-Thérèse Houphouet-Boigny. Also known as the African Jacky Kennedy, she rivaled the greatest names in fashion with her style during her many appearances and state trips. Archives and reconstructions of her outfits reflect the changing fashion of the time.
A literary interlude is proposed at the Diga gallery in Cocody, where visitors can discover the writings of great writers such as Bernard Dadié, Ahmadou Kourouma, and Niangora Porquet. Photography will be in the spotlight in the Plateau, with photographs displayed on the front of the Bressole Park in the Plateau. Visible from the street, to be as close as possible to the general public and break down the barrier of the museum or exhibition venue, this disposition illustrates the initiative's desire to open up access to art and culture to as many people as possible.
BLA-NIAN : A FRUITFUL COLLABORATIVE WORK FOR A SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECT VISION
A long-term project organized by Bla-Nian, an Ivorian multidisciplinary cultural collective, the Reminiscence Festival seeks to promote the Ivorian cultural heritage, which is still too little known, and to encourage social and intergenerational dialogue in a cultural context.
Surrounded by experts, Stephanie Swi brought together a team of young and talented experts from various fields: Akebehi Polo, the founder of the Oshiri jewelry brand, is responsible for the fashion exhibition, Marie-Hélène Banimbadio for cinema, Modeste Palé for architecture, Mathieu Richard for music, and Alvine Yao for literature. Elsy Tobin, freelance curator, writer, and artistic consultant, oversees logistics and scenography. Their extensive knowledge of the cultural Ivorian landscape and history and their complementary approaches, visions, and backgrounds make a team that resonates perfectly with the project.
The Festival results from months of research, interviews, discussions, and soul-searching to create a coherent vision and deliver high-quality content. Much thought has been given to how the public can experience the content interactively and openly. Every detail of the exhibition is designed to provide an authentic experience in discovering the cultural elements of the period, supported by the power of technology, from videos and audio to 3D models and Q.R. codes to make the visit dynamic and immersive. The Festival is also punctuated by various events, including vernissages, workshops to raise awareness of the world of culture, shows, talks, guided tours, and special performances.
In addition to its cultural dimension, the initiative is also intended to impact local populations through partnerships with associations Pro-kids in Yopougon and the Company Les Pieds dans la Mare in Adjamé. They will benefit from training in the art of music, workshops on writing, showing the importance of access to art and culture for all.
Mixing culture, history, past, and present with a vision for the future, the Reminiscence Festival is a unique occasion to experience an overview of Ivorian culture. This major initiative demonstrates the role of art as a crystallizer and illustration of the hopes and changes of the time. One of the aims of this ambitious event, developed by a group of talented experts from the world of culture, is to make these trends more visible to the Ivorian public and the many tourists expected to attend the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
An exhibition you won't want to miss!
Reminiscence Festival
Abidjan - Bassam
January 11th - February 13th
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