Enjoy this year’s Francofete

THE Alliance Française of Durban in collaboration with eThekwini Municipality will host the fourth annual free Human Rights Day Francofête under the trees in Sutton Park, Morningside, on Saturday 21 March.

The Francofête boasts an astonishing line up of extraordinary international musical acts. The international line up is complemented by an astonishing mix of local performers, visual artists and puppeteers. The MC for the day will be Iain Ewok Robinson.

The ever proactive Alliance Française uses this annual opportunity to showcase some of the best French, Francophone and French-inspired music, dance, theatre, story-telling, workshops, visual arts, exhibitions, and of course wonderful food and crafts in the alfresco afternoon and evening market.

There is a feast of special guests – among the highlights on the programme will be dexterous and passionate Swiss pianist, text sculptor and arranger of complex melodies, Nicolas Fraissinet. Rumbacdordeon, a duet collaboration between Congolese rumba maestro and respected Afro-Cuban guitarist, arranger and composer, Papa Noel, and eclectic French accordionist Viviane Arnoux.

From the Reunion Islands comes Maloya Blues performer, Sofy Mazandira, a Senegalese female singer who will be performing with her musicians whose innovative and authentic lyrics combine traditional instruments with African rhythms to create an intensely warm and original sound.

Also joining the international line up is Marema. Born in Dakar, from a Mauritanian father and Senegalese mother, the cultural mixes are very much part of her identity and her music. She performs her own repertoire on guitar and vocals.

The fête supports the civic initiative of encouraging activity and optimal utilisation of the city’s suburban parks. The fête also supports one of the campaigns being explored by Alliance Française: “Imagining a City Without Walls” – promoting new ideas and design practice that intends to positively impact on safety and social cohesion.

There will be a dedicated children’s area with activities by teachers, story tellers and puppeteers. There will also be a museum and a library bus.

Take a sunhat and picnic blanket and enjoy a full afternoon-through-evening comprehensive on-stage programme, browse through the market, taste some authentic cuisine and take time to relax in one of Durban’s beautiful suburban parks.

Visit the Alliance Française at 22 Sutton Crescent, Morningside, or contact 031 312 9582.