Every year and for a long time, the celebration of Europe Month traditionally opens with a cultural activity. “ Culture has its place in the partnership between the European Union and the Congo, and there will be a lot of talk about it throughout this month of celebration of Europe. The scene of a film, the striking color of a painting, the gestures of a choreography, the phrasing of a text, the musicality of a glass have, for example, this capacity to unite us in emotion, however dissimilar we are from each other. Culture can reconnect the bond that has been broken, repair what has been damaged, rebuild what seems broken to us. ”, said Ambassador Giacomo Durrazo in his speech.
For the opening of this 64e edition, two activities have been planned including the opening of a photographic exhibition materializing the theme of this edition. “ If we have arranged to meet you first in the hall, it is because the theme of this celebration of Europe Month is acting with young people to transform the world. And when we say the world, it means the world in its normality, but also its daily life here in Congo. We therefore wanted to highlight, through this exhibition, portraits of a certain number of young people with whom the EU-Congo delegation or the IFC collaborates. Some for years, others more recently, in all areas”, explained Azaad Monte, communications manager of the EU-Congo delegation.
Among these young people showcased, we cite the singing artists Nestelia Forest and Jessy B; slammers Mariusca Moukengue and Mwassi Moyindo; slammer writer Fann Attiki; photographers Lebon Zed, Armel Mboumba, Baudoin Mouanda, Mirna Kintombo, and Ralff Therance; the comedian Just Perfect; the scientists Line and Naomie; environmental sentinels Paule Sarah Nguie, Andy Bongo and Divine Ibinda; carpenter Shadi Kaya; agroecologist Leaticia Owoa; etc.
“Batiment 5” launches the European and African cinema festival
After visiting the exhibition, the officials composed, among others, ambassadors of the EU, France, Italy, India, Brazil… and other guests headed towards the room Savorgnan to follow the screening of the film in honor of the opening evening of this 64e celebration of Europe Month: “Building 5” also called “Les Undesirables”. Feature drama film of approximately 1 hour 40 minutes directed by Ladj Ly, “Bâtiment 5” tells the story of Haby, a young black woman very involved in the life of her commune in France, who will discover the new redevelopment plan for the district in which she grew up. Indeed, the building where she grew up will soon be demolished. With her family, she launches into a standoff against the municipality which is carrying out this project, to prevent the destruction of building 5….
With this film, Ladj Ly, French director-screenwriter of Malian origin, draws up a catastrophic assessment of these Parisian cities which were nevertheless the expression of a utopia in the 1960s. An urban fresco and immersing the viewer in the France- Africa, ”Building 5”, unsanitary, confronts back to back two realities, two worlds which no longer understand each other: on one side, inhabitants living on a small-time basis, on the other, a disconnected political caste , stuck in electoral strategies.
With the cast of Anta Diaw, Alexis Manenti, Aristote Luyindula…, this film allowed, among others, the Congolese public to free themselves from a certain idealism of Europe but above all allowed everyone to become aware that violence and injustice only fuels violence and rebellion. “ The film ends on a hopeful note. I find that everyone loses in the situation and that ultimately, either by activating policies that are not very favorable to people in social difficulties, but also by creating this climate of violence. This should make us think about how to deal with this kind of problem. ”, confided the head of the EU-Congo delegation.
Celebration of Europe Month: a rich and varied program
This year, the celebration of Europe Month breaks free from the traditional boundaries of the month of May to extend until the end of June around a range of activities, namely the film festival mixing European and African films which will take the organizers to the districts of Brazzaville to meet the public, but also to Pointe-Noire and Owando, for screenings and exchanges in the form of film clubs.
Furthermore, this celebration will vibrate to the rhythm of a fashion week in partnership with the IFC; a “Kokutan’art” photography festival in partnership with Mbongui art photo; youth citizen meetings; training in documentary production.
On the political level, this Europe month will naturally focus on the European elections which will take place from June 6 to 9 and will see the main bodies of the EU renew themselves for the next five years.
