Archive for June, 2016

La Foire Africaine – Part VI – Behind the Scenes

Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
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Following the opening ceremony on Friday evening, master of ceremonies Daffirma Ibamu escorted dignitaries around the exhibition hall to meet the exhibitors.

Appolinaire Timpiga Compaoré - Daffirma Ibamu

Appolinaire Timpiga Compaoré and Daffirma Ibamu with Bookseller
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

In the photograph above, Madame Ibamu holds the microphone while a bookseller talks about his books with Appolinaire Timpiga Compaoré, the major sponsor of the faire.

While I was walking around the exhibition hall on Sunday, I ran into Fofo Forey Fumey, a photojournalist whom I met at a recent photo exhibition. Fofo guided me to a press conference that was taking place in a private area where journalist Mica Manquat was interviewing dignitaries.

Ginette Côte d'Ivoire and Mariana-Guinea

Ginette from Côte d’Ivoire and Mariana from Guinea
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Two young women (pictured above) acting as hostesses greeted me in the press room. Then, I turned my attention to the conference that was taking place.

Mica Manquat Interviews Dignitaries at the African Fair

Mica Manquat Interviews Dignitaries at the African Fair
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

In the photograph above, Mica (wearing earphones) poses some questions for Appolinaire Timpiga Compaoré (in the center, to the right of the poster).

Marie-Michaël (Mica) Manquat

Marie-Michaël (Mica) Manquat, Journalist
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

As well as her work as a journalist, Mica publishes a blog (in French) about Creole culture in Paris.

I didn’t stay for the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, but as I was leaving I stepped into the hall and was greeted by the lovely sight of four women who had won honors at a recent Miss Afro-Ethnic France pageant.

Miss Afro-Ethnic France 2016

Miss Afro-Ethnic France 2016
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Acetou Camara of the Soninké community (on the right) is the winner of the title Miss Afro-Ethnic France.

Thanks to Astou Arnould, public relations specialist, who helped me identify many of the people whom I photographed!

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La Foire Africaine – Part V – Fashion and Accessories

Saturday, June 11th, 2016
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Abdel Nasser Diallo

Abdel Nasser Diallo – Noor Art
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I stopped at a stand that was selling pendant earrings from Ghana and Kenya. On display was beautiful jewelry made from banana leaves (Ghana), and coconut shells and zébu horns (Kenya).

Pendant Earrings by Noor Art

Pendant Earrings by Noor Art
Top: Earrings made from banana leaves
Bottom: Earrings made from coconut shells
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Abdel Nasser Diallo from Guinea told me that he makes the rounds of exhibitions to sell his products. Later, I learned that he also exhibits at pop-up stores. His products can be viewed on-line at the following link: https://www.instagram.com/noorart.gh/.

And I met Samiratou Tabé at another stand. Before launching a career as a fashion designer, Samiratou, who hails from Benin, studied economics and political science at the University of Montreal.

Samiratou Tabé - Ô'dam

Samiratou Tabé – Ô’dam
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Samiratou’s apparel can be viewed here: https://www.instagram.com/yourodam/. I learned that the name of her company, Ô’dam, means “pretty” in the Fodo language, a dialect in the north of Benin.

Axelle from the Ivory Coast

Axelle from the Ivory Coast
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Axelle, pictured above, was modeling one of Samiratou’s creations.

Next…behind-the-scene photos of the fair.

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An African Fair in Paris – Part IV – Vendors and Exhibitors

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
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Albassane Ag Alaly of Mali - Touareg

Albassane Ag Agaly of Mali
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Hand-crafted Jewelry

Hand-crafted Jewelry
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The first stand I visited exhibited hand-crafted jewelry by Albassane Ag Agaly, a member of the Touareg ethnic group in Mali. He received a certificate of recognition for his jewelry from UNESCO in 2000.

Esther - Central African Republic

Esther – Central African Republic
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bags and Hats

Bags and Hats
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Next, I came upon Esther, from the Central African Republic. She was selling a number of items: hats made in Madagascar from raffia; bags made from raffia by prisoners in Cameroon; shirts from the Central African Republic. Esther was selling these items to raise money and awareness for the non-governmental organization Femmes en Danger, “whose objective is to fight against the impunity of perpetrators of violence against women in times of peace as well as in times of war in Africa in general and in Central Africa.” (My translation.)

Necklace Made from Bamboo Fruit

Necklace Made from Bamboo Fruit
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Esther with Doll

Esther with Doll
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I returned to Esther’s stand on Sunday afternoon, and she showed me more hand-crafted products that had not been on display on Friday. In the photographs above, she shows a necklace made from the fruit of bamboo, which is called “pierres végétales” (vegetable rocks) and a doll, both made in the Central African Republic.

Next…more vendors and exhibitors.

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An African Fair in Paris – Part III – Food and Beverage

Tuesday, June 7th, 2016
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Chez Maman Alice

Chez Maman Alice – The Dining Area
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I arrived at the exhibition hall around 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27 and decided that I should get lunch before walking around to look at the exhibits. I saw that the food stand called Chez Maman Alice had a nice area for sit-down dining, so I decided to try the food there.

One of the women invited me to take a table, so I entered the dining area and made myself comfortable. I ordered two beef kabobs, three beef samosas, a serving of rice, and a green salad. I also ordered a Heineken beer, which was served in a 67cl size can. It was a delicious meal, and the price came to only 11€.

Maman Alice and Her Staff

Maman Alice and Her Staff
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I took a photo of Maman Alice and her staff. From left to right are Marie, Adele, Maman Alice, Frida, Maroua, and Youdi. All but Maroua hail from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Maroua is Moroccan.

With a full belly, I was ready to explore the exhibition.

D'Jackson Suriam and Christophe Luijer

D’Jackson Suriam and Christophe Luijer — So’Kanaa
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Sokanaa machine

Christophe Luijer’s Cane-juice Extraction Machine
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I came upon D’Jackson Suriam from Martinique and Christophe Luijer from Holland, where they were selling fresh-pressed juice from the sugar cane. Christophe told me that he invented the machine that crushes a stick of sugar cane to extract its sweet juice. I tried a cup and found it to be wonderfully refreshing. Christophe calls his company So’Kanna.

D'Jackson Suriam with Océana Magazine

D’Jackson Suriam with Océana Magazine
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

D’Jackson is Christope’s partner at So’Kanna. He is also editor and director of a new international culture and lifestyle magazine called Océana.

Next…vendors and exhibitors at the fair.

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An African Fair in Paris – Part II – The Fashion Show

Sunday, June 5th, 2016
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Following the music and dancing, six models exhibited the ready-to-wear clothing of Martinican fashion designer Mireille Barclais.

Cressylia Dubousquet - Miss Multicolor France 2016

Cressylia Dubousquet
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net2016

Cressylia, who hails from Martinique, was elected Première Dauphine at the Miss Multicolor France pageant this year. Read more about her (in French) here.

Balbina D'almeida

Balbina D’almeida
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Balbina, who hails from Togo, was elected Miss Togo France Europe in 2015. Read more about her here.

Dialel Ba

Dialel Ba
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Dialel hails from Senegal. She was finalist in the Miss Senegal France pageant for 2016.

Koudia Mbaye

Koudia Mbaye
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Koudia hails from Senegal.

Cressylia's Children

Cressylia’s Children
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Cressylia and Her Children

Cressylia and Her Children
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Cressylia’s daughter and son took the stage to model children’s wear.

Khoudia Presents Mireille Barclais

Khoudia Presents Mireille Barclais
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

At the end of the fashion show, Mireille Barclais came on stage to acknowledge the audience’s appreciation of her beautiful clothes.

Next…food and beverage at the fair.

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An African Fair in Paris – Part I – The Opening Ceremony

Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
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The 5th annual African Fair was held last weekend at Les Esselières, an exhibition hall in the Paris suburb of Villejuif. Organized by the Chambre de Commerce Africaine de Paris and sponsored in large part by Appolinaire Timpiga Compaoré, a businessman from Burkina Faso, the fair featured food, music, dance, and exhibits by artisans, non-profit associations, fashion designers, public relations specialists, telecommunications, cosmetics, and more…

Four Officers of the African Chamber of Commerce of Paris

Four Officers of the African Chamber of Commerce of Paris
From left to right: Maximilien Bouteillier – General Secretary, Boubacar Sabaly – Public Relations, Michel Réchal – Technical Manager, Marc Yao – President

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Daffirma Ibamu presided as master of ceremonies.

Daffirma Ibamu

Daffirma Ibamu – Master of Ceremonies
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

At the opening ceremony, a number of dignitaries took the stage to express their aspirations for African economic development.

Lasana Kouyaté - Former Prime Minister of GuineaSiaka Koné - Commercial and Marketing Director of Télécel FasoMamadou Sangaré - Minister Counsellor of the Ambassador of Burkina Faso

Lasana Kouyaté – Former Prime Minister of Guinea
Siaka Koné – Commercial and Marketing Director of Télécel Faso
Mamadou Sangaré – Minister Counsellor of the Ambassador of Burkina Faso

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

And then the fun began!

Academie Woyo

Academie Woyo
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The Academie Woyo, representing the Woyo people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, performed drums and dance. A video of their practice session held at Parc de la Villette in Paris can be viewed here.

Dancing…

Woyo drumming and dancing

Woyo Drumming and Dancing
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

and singing…

Mélodie Rémy and Celia Soulmusic

Mélodie Rémy and Celia Soulmusic
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Celia Soulmusic’s Facebook page can be viewed here.

Next…a fashion show.

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