From 19 to 28 March 2021, the Printemps des Poètes des Afriques et d’Ailleurs will take place in Paris and Thiais and the theme will be “Desires, Africas”. This 18th edition will pay tribute to Guyanese writer René Maran, winner of the 1921 Goncourt Prize, and will be placed under the patronage of the poet Martial Sinda.
In 1921, “Batouala”, the novel by Guyanese writer René Maran, won the prestigious Prix Goncourt. How many French people in France, French Caribbean people (Guyanese, Guadeloupeans, Martinicans…) know this? How many Africans remember this forerunner of Negritude, long before Léon Gontran Damas, Aimé Césaire or Léopold Sédar Senghor, who denounced, among other things, in this book the abuses of the colonial administration against the peoples of Africa or white/black racism? Although “Batouala” made the headlines of the Parisian newspapers when it was published, causing a huge scandal, it was banned in the French colonies on the black continent.
The 18th edition of the Printemps des Poètes des Afriques et d’Ailleurs (Spring of Poets from the Africas and elsewhere), which will be held from 19 to 28 March 2021 in Paris and Thiais, has decided to get René Maran out of oblivion by paying him a well-deserved tribute.
Several poets and artists from Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere have been invited to take part in this cultural event : Raoul-Philippe Danaho, Hanitr’Ony, Pascale Labylle, Henri Moucle, Marie-France Danaho, Habib Osmani, Jean-Baptiste Tiémélé, Romuald Chéry, Francine Ranaivo, Fredy Jaoffera, Denise Chevalier, Alain-Alfred Moutapam, Iverleen Diallo, Batista, Giselle Déloumeaux, Christophe Morlino, Évelyne Pèlerin Ngo Maa, Pat Bèlè, Nicolas-Daniel Biséricaru, Ferdy Ajax, Gilles M’Arche, Moa Abaïd and Thierry Sinda.
PROGRAMME
Friday 19 March : from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm / Opening – GUIANESE POETICAL BALLAD : Félix Eboué – Gaston Monnerville- René Maran
PLACES : Panthéon (Félix Eboué crypt) & Gaston Monnerville statue (before 66 Boulevard Saint-Michel, take Auguste Comte street, between the entrances to the Luxembourg Gardens and the square) & Luxembourg Gardens Paris 5th.
Without reservation (allow 10 € for the entrance fee to the Pantheon)
Saturday 20 March : from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm / RENÉ MARAN, AUTHOR OF THE “BATOUALA” MANIFESTO – Reading on Tombs: René Maran (division 11), Joël Sinda (division 18), Jean-Paul Sartre (division 20) and Moune de Rivel (division)
PLACE : Montparnasse Cemetery, Meeting point 9.45 am at 3, Édouard Quinet Boulevard, Paris 14th – No reservation
Afternoon : “Lunch, open stage” in the flat – Reservation required on 06 10 01 95 25
Sunday 21 March : from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm / COMINGS AND GOINGS OF RENÉ MARAN, THE POET – Society of French Poets / Hotel Stella
PLACE: Société des Poètes français – Reservation required on 06 10 01 95 25
Friday 26 March : from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm / IN MEMORIAM Sophie CERCEAU, DEDICATION READINGS
PLACE : Société des Poètes français – Reservation required on 06 10 01 95 25
Tuesday 23 March and Wednesday 24 March : from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm / 1 POET, 1 POEM IN MINI READING-DEDICATION
PLACE : Bookstore Calypso, 17 bis Parmentier Avenue Paris 11th – Three spectators at a time, please circulate, to allow others to attend
Saturday 27 March : from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm / TRIBUTE TO RENÉ MARAN, THE MAN – Book signing and Conference-debate : “René Maran, a man between the banks” by Thierry Sinda.
PLACE: “Relais 59” at 8, Henri Frenay place Paris 1 – Reservation required on 06 10 01 95 25
Sunday 28 March : from 10:00 am to 12 noon / IN MEMORIAM PRINCESS-POETESS HOURIA MATIN
PLACE : Parisian Cemetery of Thiais
CLOSING : from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
PLACE : Société des Poètes français – Reservation required on 06 10 01 95 25
It should be noted that this program is subject to change based on government guidance related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
