Meetings in Aluku country for the writer Jean-Paul Delfino invited to the first Papaïchton book festival
It was a complete immersion in Aluku country for the writer Jean-Paul Delfino, specially invited to the Lobi Leysi Festi, the Papaïchton book festival which took place from November 22 to 23. The writer has been coming to Guyana regularly for 15 years, this foray into Boni Country allowed him to connect for a few days with college students who actively participated in his writing workshop.
The first Papaïchton book festival was held for two days at the Saïfa library.
According to the initiator of the festival Courthney Pinson, head of the municipal library, this first attempt to highlight the book made it possible to reach the school public from kindergarten to secondary school. Between the writing workshop and the diction competition, the middle school students particularly enjoyed their meeting with the Aix-based writer Delfino. They just want to do it again next year. Jean-Paul Delfino asserts this forcefully : more than ever, young people need literature to develop.
« Guyana is a land with an absolutely incredible mix of cultures from the four corners of the world and after having had the chance to meet the people of the coast, I wanted to go to the river communities… »
A wish to travel through Guyana which came true with first two participations in the Mapa Buku festi, the Maripasoula book festival which is in its 8the edition, then this year, a contribution to the first edition of the Lobi laser fixed of Papaichton.
« I wanted to see the life of the people of the river, that’s what interests me above all. Meet them and talk to better understand Guyana »
The meeting with the young people took place during a writing workshop. The writer who has 25 years of experience in this field wondered what reception he would receive. He was not disappointed :
« I travel for this. So I was able to meet 13 students from 4th from college and I had a very big surprise. These students, mostly young girls who were initially fearful, finally played the game. After 5 days, I had collected around a hundred sheets. I studied with the library manager the possibility of setting up the printing of a small booklet of their texts. My role is to help these young girls who, until now, have never written more than half a page, produce something of which they can be proud later. »
A downside, however, for the very disillusioned writer who did not fail to note that in Papaïchton as elsewhere in France the lowering of the level of students.
« But it was important to be there to show these schoolgirls that they are capable of writing and also of reading something other than manga, certainly useful for entering literature but you also have to be able to read something else. My role was to desecrate everything that is reading and writing. A society worthy of its name cannot do without these two pillars to move forward. It’s impossible ! »
And to remind that the eloquence competition which was also on the festival program is necessary :
« It’s important. Young people who read today do not have too much difficulty expressing themselves and reading, but for others it is much more complex. Without wanting to assert things, I saw the difference between the young Native American people of Maripasoula, they read very slowly and in a low voice while those of Papaïchton read very quickly and in a jerky manner. We talk a lot about reading and writing, but speaking is something fundamental. ».
These exchanges in the west of Guyana in the Maroni valley where space-time takes on another dimension inspire Jean-Paul Delfino with numerous reflections:
« What I liked about this first edition is that there is a swarm of ideas and not only on reading and writing… The whole work of literature is to open the door to reflection, taking ideas, emotions and then analyzing them and transmitting them to others. Literature is not fixed, it is something directed towards others and whose main quality is to transmit emotion. Taking the time to write means taking the time to put your ideas down, a luxury that few people allow themselves today. »
Discussions with Jean-Paul Delfino, successful author of 30 novels, some of which have won multiple awards, including « Guyanas » published in 2023 will continue during the Guyana International Book Festival which is held from November 27 to 30 at Zéphir.
The writer will be on Wednesday 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Monsinéry zoo for the launch of Jaguars a book album which depicts an initiatory story in the heart of the Guyanese forest. Jean-Paul Delfino will also speak during the professional morning of Thursday 28 at 11:30 a.m. on the theme : Literature and Artificial Intelligence.
Finally in the afternoon at 4:30 p.m., he will host a literary café on the theme : What difficulties to BDiser » his biography ?