“Ça va, ça va le monde !”: Francophone voices from outside Europe 

Promoting Francophonie through theatre

For over 10 years, “Ça va, ça va le monde !” has given the public the opportunity to discover texts by authors and playwrights living in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East who write in French, presenting a multilingual and multicultural world. Every year, six texts – often brand new or never previously performed in Europe – are read to the public at the Avignon Festival. The aim is to not only create a forum for expression, giving voices from the South a global reach, but to also call for reflection and action for a better world.

A diverse and inclusive programme

This 12^th edition, led by theatre director Armel Roussel, shone a light on the talent of writers from Cameroon, Senegal, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Benin.

The authors of the six new pieces looked at powerful subjects that echo major contemporary issues, sometimes shaking the audience’s convictions and questioning Western and non-Western societies.

Éric Delphin Kwégoué, winner of the 2023 RFI Theatre Prize, kicked things off with “À cœur ouvert” (with an open heart), a piece denouncing the repression of press freedom in Cameroon that was inspired by the murder of a journalist, Martinez Zogo. Nadale Fidine took over the following day with “Wilé”, which addresses the disappearance of children in Cameroon. The other pieces presented throughout the Festival covered varied but equally compelling themes: Jocelyn Danga from the Democratic Republic of the Congo evoked the pain of exile, while Senegal’s Penda Diouf focused on the dangers of global warming and Gaël Hounkpatin from Benin examined violence linked to traditional beliefs. Lastly, Haitian author Stefanie François concluded the series by using her poetic writing to immerse the audience in the chaos of her country.

To discover or rewatch these readings, head to the 2024 Avignon Festival playlist on the RFI Facebook page now. They will also be broadcast on the radio at 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays from 17 August to 7 September – find the programme here.