Saturday 1is April 2023, the Djeliya center in Bobo-Dioulasso served as the setting for the press conference to present the “fasting hyena” project. The conference was led by Mahamadou Papa Kouyaté (architect and scenographer) and his closest collaborators.
This project, which aims to create and distribute the theatrical play “a fasting hyena” by Massa Makan Diabaté, is co-financed by the Djeliya center and the Cultural and Tourist Development Fund (FDCT) as part of the support program Creative Industries and Cultural Governance (PAICGC) with the support of the European Union (EU). To carry out the project, Mahamadou Papa Kouyaté has brought together a project team, made up of several cultural actors from the region (actors, dancers, slammers, singers, etc.)
Brief summary of the play
According to project leader Mahamadou Papa Kouyaté, it is the story of Samory Touré, who would have stood up against French colonial penetration for 16 years, which will be traced in the play. “Samory Touré having signed a treaty of protectorate sent his son, his heir to meet the French who decided to lead the latter in the country of the hexagon. During his stay, the latter, having seen during a parade the armament of French soldiers, was amazed. Once back, the son of Samory makes a speech in front of his fighters, saying openly that they will not be able to win this war against France. Samory Touré had him imprisoned and decided to go to war against the French. On the starting point, he said considered me a hyena on an empty stomach,”suggested Mahamadou Papa Kouyaté. Still according to him, this creation will make it possible to deal with topical issues, namely governance and the presence of foreign forces in West Africa, in particular military and political cooperation which is decried in most countries plagued by terrorism. Social values such as human integrity and territorial sovereignty will also be highlighted.
Implementation of the theatrical play
For the implementation of the theatrical play “a fasting hyena” by Massa Makan Diabaté, the director, Noël Mimoungou, intends to draw inspiration from KOTEBA to better communicate with the populations because according to him, ”our cultural values contemporary should be highlighted. Reasons why, they are at the heart of his thinking. Still according to him, this will make it possible to discover the historical character of Samory Touré with a look of today. To do this, three major steps are planned. This is first of all the implementation stage of the project which goes from March to April 2023. Once this stage is completed, will come the creation stage which will be followed by the dissemination stage in Bobo -Dioulasso, Bama, Houndé, Orodara and Banfora.
For Issa Barry, head of the regional branch of the Cultural and Tourism Development Fund (FDCT), the indicators are good, and at their level, he remains hopeful about the progress of the project and has no doubts that the show will be daunting. Noted that the Djeliya center is located in sector No. 1 of Bobo It operates mainly in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. In addition, the center gives priority to young people and children, who represent the first target of the activities, to artists from Bobo-Dioulasso and to people who want to promote their talents and their ideas through creative residencies with, at the end, restitutions open to the public free of charge. Finally, the Djéliya center offers people artistic and cultural performances in a movement of free exchange.
Aymeric THIS
