A Voice from the Congo

On March 31st, Toto Kisaku presented A Voice from the Congo. Kisaku, a theater director, actor, set designer and producer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has traveled the world sharing his story of his life growing up in the DRC. His talk also touched on his socially conscious theatre work, and his point of view on the cost of freedom.

Kisaku was selected in 2003 among the young artists of Kinshasa by Jacques Livchine and Philip Boulay to represent Congo in the 20th edition at the Limoges festival and to perform in two pieces by Bernard M. Koltes. Kisaku was also in the French version of “Topdog / Underdog” by Suzan L. Parks at the Forum de Blanc Mesnil, the Théâtre Louis Jouvet and the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris. He has produced plays such as “Basal’ya Bazoba, “Rencontres au pluriel,” “Surface 1 et 2,” “20 ans, et alors!” and “Mort d’Oluwemi d’Ajumako” among others. Kisaku has also participated in the Avignon, Limoges, Paris Quartier d’Eté, Taz à Oostende, ICAF, Pilotobes, A/D Werf, Right About Now, Toseka, Mantsina, and Connexion Kin festivals.

In 2003, he founded a theater group, K-Mu Théâtre, (Kinois en Mutation) based in Kinshasa with other young Arts and Drama graduates from the National Institute of Arts as a Centre for Research and Artistic Creation in Urban Areas. Toto Kisaku and K-Mu Théâtre were the 2010 recipients of the Freedom to Create Prize, an international award that supports and recognizes artists who strive for social change in places where there is no freedom to create. The prize was awarded for their production of Basal’ya Bazoba a play about the violent persecution of children accused of witchcraft.

Watch for his 2018 production titled “Requiem for An Electric Chair”, which he will be presenting in Connecticut and New York.

Click here for photos
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Matinée Littéraire Starts June 6

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testament_francaisThis summer’s novel will be Le Testament français by Adrei Makine to be read aloud together in the beautiful setting of the Audubon Center Bent of the River, in Southbury.

Starting Saturday, June 6, this group meets twice a month on Saturdays (replacing Cafe Conversation) to discuss the text. Chairperson, Kathryn MacCullough, will be ordering the French version for ~$13.95 or those who also want the English version, it will be ~$14.95. The exact amount will be available soon.

Please send an email by May 7 to Kathryn at matinee@afnwct.org to be added to the participation list and/or to order a copy of the book.

Checks made payable to AFNWCT may be mailed to our Southbury AF Center: 1 Pomperaug Office Park, Suite 301, Southbury, CT 06488.

FYI: Amazon also sells a Bilingual (Francais/Anglais) Kindle version for $.99 which is downloaded wirelessly to your Kindle, iPad or iPhone.

Here is a brief synopsis:

Le Testament Français   par Andreï Makine
Every summer young Andreï visits his grandmother, Charlotte Lemonnier, whom he loves dearly. In a dusty village overlooking the vast Russian steppes, she captivates him with wondrous tales – watching Proust play tennis in Neuilly, Tsar Nicholas II’s visit to Paris, French president Felix Faure dying in the arms of his mistress. But from his mysterious grandmother Andreï also learns of a Russia he has never known: a country of famine and misery, brutal injustice, and the hopeless chaos of war. Enthralled, he weaves her stories into his own secret universe of memory and dream. A poignant story of a Soviet boy’s ascent into adulthood in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the novel is an epic tale full of passion and tenderness, pain and heartbreak, mesmerizing in every way.

More questions can be directed to Kathryn at matinee@afnwct.org

Click here for more details.

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Célébrons la Fête des Mères, May 7 Event Announcement

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5:00 to 8:00pm

clothingCome shop at The Loft and receive 40% discount on all purchases. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served while we shop for clothing at this Southbury retail clothing store. Fashion style experts and Mary Kay cosmetic consultants will give our members and guests the V.I.P. treatment! All participants will be entered into a drawing for The Loft gift certificates.

RSVP by May 4 by calling (203) 707-0710 or write to afnwct@afnwct.org.

CLICK HERE FOR: ADDITIONAL DETAILS

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Bon Mardi Gras!

Bon Mardi Gras!

You probably know that Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”, reflecting the practice of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting with no meat during the Lenten season.

It is said that the word “Carnival” comes from “carne levare” or “away with meat”. Mardi Gras Carnival celebrations begin on or after Epiphany or “King’s Day” and culminate on the day before Ash Wednesday. This period of time was also a time for mocking everything and everybody at everyone’s expense, behind masks, protected by disguises.

mask-185992_1280In the U.S. we tend to think of New Orleans or Brazil for Carnival celebrations. But the Carnaval de Nice is one of the largest in Europe and people from all over the world flock there to celebrate Mardi Gras. And it’s no wonder – Today’s temperature in Nice, France is 59 degrees and tomorrow it’ll be 62! Don’t you wish you were there? I do!

Each year the organizers choose a theme – especially for the main attraction which is the “King’s” float. This year’s theme for the Carnaval de Nice is “Roi de la Musique”.

carnival-253703_1280Floats decorated with the most stunning floral compositions parade down the Promenade des Anglais, and extravagantly dressed characters throw out mimosas, gerberas, and lilies into the public …

Bonne Fête! et Amusez-vous bien!

Previous Carnaval de Nice themes over the years…

1990 – Roi du Rire

1991 – Roi des Fous – Cancellation (Gulf war)

1992 – Roi des Rois

1993 – Roi de l’Europe

1994 – Roi des Arts

1995 – Roi du Cinéma

1996 – Roi de la Musique

1997 – Roi des Sports

1998 – Roi du Cirque

1999 – Roi du XXe siècle

2000 – Roi des Odyssées.com

2001 – Roi du IIIe millénaire

2002 – Roi de l’Euroland

2003 – Roi de la .comMedi@

2004 – Roi de la Clonerie

2005 – Roi du fol climat Merdaille et Cornipétant

2006 – Roi des Dupes

2007 – Roi de la Très Grande Mêlée

2008 – Roi des Ratapignatas,

2009 – Roi des Mascarades

2010 – Roi de la Planète Bleue

2011 – Roi de la Méditerranée

2012 – Roi du Sport

2013 – Roi des 5 continents

2014 – Roi de la Gastronomie

 

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New Programs for Children

Alliance Française of Northwestern CT Announces
New Programs for Children

Children young and old are invited to come watch the televised version of the famous Belgian comic strip series.

“Les Aventures de Tin-Tin”
Monday, December 29 at 3:00 pm.
In this episode, titled “Le Temple du Soleil”, Tintin, a Belgian boy reporter, and his white fox terrier, named Milou, travel to Peru to help rescue a missing professor of archaeology. Read more

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French Cooking Class

Sunday, November 16, – 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. in Watertown.

Participants will prepare and enjoy a French meal consisting of:

  • Melonball hors d’oeuvres,
  • Pate feuillete (puff pastry with ham, cheese, and mushrooms),
  • Boeuf Bourgignon (beef in Burgundy sauce) w/rice
  • Buche de Noel (a traditional holiday Yule log cake.)

Participants who wish to drink wine with their meal should bring their own. Fluency in French is not required however vocabulary related to French culinary art will be introduced; participants should bring a pen and paper for notes.

 

Cost is $30.00; Reservations are required by November 12 – space is limited to 10 participants and a minimum of 6 participants is required to hold this class.

Checks should be sent to: AFNWCT – 1 Pomperaug Office Park, Suite 301, Southbury, CT 06488. Directions to the instructor’s private home will be sent once reservations have been received.

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French Art in CT Museums

Brian Denyer will present a program about French Art exhibited in Connecticut museums Thursday, October 23 at 7pm at the Brookfield Public Library. Denyer, a Board member of AFNWCT, was a teacher of French for 33 years at the Taft School. At Taft, he also directed the school’s away programs and led students to France during the summer. In each of his French courses, he added a mini-program of French art.

beaujolaisLearn more about the artistic and historical details of the +20 paintings to enhance your enjoyment when visiting these local museums in the future. Registration for Brookfield’s 10/23 free presentation (in English) is via the Brookfield Public Library’s website.

Brian will again present this conference in French on November 21. Handouts will be in English and the slides themselves are visual so beginners and non-French speakers will still enjoy the presentation. The evening’s event will be held at our AF Center in Southbury.

As an added treat, cheese, fruit and desserts will be served and participants will be invited to taste the “Beaujolais Nouveau”, the fruity, young red wine released for sale every year on the third Thursday of November.

Admission is $10 for AFNWCT Members ($20 for non-members). Send RSVP & check to AFNWCT by 11/18.

bouguereau

Detail of “First Caresses” from Bouguereau exhibit at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

 

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