Legends and LegaciesPerspectives on French-Speaking Africa

For the benefit of our guests

This slideshow is in English The exhibit itself is in French Exhibit narratives were written by

students and are largely unedited Student guides are available to help

you interpret the exhibits There are some refreshments on the

terrace. Merci !

What we did

We examined the history of former French and Belgian colonies in Africa

What we did

We sought information on ramifications and ongoing effects of arbitrary “countrification” and abrupt independence on former African colonies.

What we did

We looked for evidence of ongoing consequences of colonization and independence in francophone Africa literature.

Aventure Ambiguë

Dites-moi que vous n’avez pas besoin d’amourPour chanter les gloires éternelles,Pour égrener les perles du sourire et de la joie.Dites-moi, dites-moi donc tout cela . . .Et je vous dirai le poids de votre misère.

What we did

We sought additional insight into the perspectives of native populations through négritude poetry.

LES VAGUES

CELUI QUI A TOUT PERDU

LA TETE VIDE

What we did

We studied contemporary paintings from artists from Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Democratic Republic of Congo

What we did

While we worked on the exhibit, we listened to traditional music reflecting indigenous cultures

What we did

We opened our study with contemporary music addressing ongoing issues associated with historical relationships between Africa France.

What we did

We organized our information to prepare for creating the exhibit.

How we paid for it

The teacher, Mme Naditz, wrote a grant through the American Association of Teachers of French to pay for the costs associated with this exhibit, including the field trip students took to learn about the space at the Alliance Française de Sacramento and to study museum design at the Crocker.

Thank you for coming

Enjoy the exhibit!

Photos by Katie Boudreau