On February 10, IFB celebrated la Fête de la Francophonie, an event gathering the diversity of French language and cultures. With more than 274 million people sharing French language across the five continents, the organisation internationale de la Francophonie gathered 70 countries and governments. The theme was “Raconte-moi une histoire” (“Tell me a story”) with daily activities for children and adults from 10 am to midnight. An exclusive concert of the French band KARPATT was held, in co-creation with the Ensemble NUAC (National University of Art and Culture). From 10 am to 2 pm, the audience was offered to stroll around a “Francophoniemarket” and enjoyed among others food tastings, handicraft shops. For families, l’Heure du Conte (Hour of Tale) shared fantasy and poetic stories in the library. In collaboration with Shwe Sa Bwe and the kind support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Myanmar, an exceptional cooking workshop was proposed to the students by Swiss Chef Jérôme Zbinden and French Chef Mickaël Lysakowski from the Hospitality School of Lausanne and Burmese Chef Eh Khae Law from Shwe Sa Bwe restaurant.
Among the highlights of the afternoon, “la Grande Dictée”, yearly occasion for French speakers and Francophiles to compete to the largest contest of the Great dictation in Myanmar and won numerous gifts. Family and fun activities were offered all day long by the International French School and others partners, such as Tango and Hip-hop masterclasses or escape games. In the evening the singing contest showcased the best 2018 singer’s talents of the Institut Français through a vibrant tribute to “Chansons française.”
At night, the French band DÉBADUO opened the stage with an energetic duo piano and vocal in a rare performance and powerful complicity. The duo had developed their skills after a few years of tours around the world. The duo proposed ahead of the event a songwriting workshop for students. KARPATT, the band from Paris introduced you to French “variété”, colored with gypsy jazz, rock or South African rhythms. A unique opportunity to share the emotional and borderless universe of a French band. They collaborated with the Ensemble from the National University or Art and Culture on a few musical pieces on the stage of IFB. KARPATT were also on tour in Myanmar on February 4 at the YMCA, Mandalay.