Music Day, also known in other countries as World Music Day, is held every year in France. This year, for its 29th anniversary, the event will put the spotlight on women… So let’s meet on Monday 21st June !

Be they music composers , opera singers, conductors, street singers, songwriters or DJs, the focus will be put on their creativity, their struggles and the deep and true nature of their music.

Since ancient times, women have always been an endless source of inspiration that has inspired the greatest melodies. Muses, singers or musicians, they take a leading part in the practice of this art. In order to pay a tribute to them, the 29th edition of Music Day in France will be focused on “music and women”.

This unifying theme will provide an opportunity for all artists, whether they are amateurs or professionals, to celebrate Music Day and women by interpreting compositions made by or for women … A large selection in prospect !

For one day and one night, French cities and towns will be swept away by all kinds of music, with concerts, free events and also the possibility of discovering amateur music players or singers in pubs and cafés.

More information: 2010 Music Day – www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

Source: presse release “Fête de la Musique 2010″

To celebrate the 2010 edition of the « Month of Africa », the Roots association (Association Racines) presents from February 4 to 27 in Guadeloupe a whole month dedicated to the discovery of this wonderful continent, with a special focus on Ethiopia, guest country this year.

The Month of Africa is a biennial which links together more than a dozen associations. It aims at fighting against cultural ignorance that surrounds everything that relates to African cultures and civilisations to which we must be grateful in many areas.

The Month of Africa is an event for everybody (families, teenagers, children …), which takes place throughout Guadeloupe: in towns, libraries, public squares, theaters … The programme includes conferences, films, fashion shows as well as hairstyle on natural hair demos, storytellers, dance, concerts, exhibitions, learning and training workshops, cultural debates between artists and visitors… lots of activities are proposed by the Month of Africa regularly throughout the Guadeloupe.

The guests of the 2010 Month of Africa:

The Embassy of Ethiopia in France: this year, the Month of Africa is dedicated to Ethiopia, the cradle of Humanity. On this occasion, the Embassy of Ethiopia exceptionally lends a replica of 3.5 million years hominid « Lucy ». It will be presented at a major exhibition entitled « Once upon a time, Ethiopia … », from February 6 to 27 at the town of Pointe à Pitre’s Pavillon.

Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged: This Ethiopian palaeontologist and archaeologist, who discovered Selam, a 3.3 million year-old girl, will give several conferences on « Ethiopia, mother of mankind, why? »

Dr. Juliette Smeralda: with a PhD in sociology, she pays close attention to identity and sociological issues related to Afro-descendants.

Les Tambours de Brazza: sound, rhythm, drums and dance! The famous band has already made worldwide cities go wild.

Dominique Mwankumi: Painter, illustrator, author and press cartoonist, this Congolese man has already drawn several cartoons inspired by his village daily life.

Ethnisavat’ka: A wonderful musical tale performed with dances. The local dance company offers to (re)discover Afro-Caribbean martial arts (Bennaden, Mayolé, Ladja, Dammyé, Capoeira …) through choreographed a martial dance, gyms and aerobics, all this combined with basic movements of both traditional and modern Gwo Ka.

More information:

The Month of Africa: www.lemoisdelafrique.com

In partnership with Tam Tam Magazine: www.tamtam97.com

Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe) Tourist Office: www.ot-mariegalante.com

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (March 8th) and the World Poetry Day (March 21st), this 12^th edition of the Poetry Festival « Le Printemps des Poètes » in France will focus on the theme of women.

The inauguration evening will take place on Monday, March 8 at the Opéra Comique, with Dominique Blanc, Brigitte Fontaine and Carolyn Carlson.

Celebrated throughout France, the event will especially highlight the work of Andrée Chedid with the 2^nd Andree Chedid’s sung poem contest with Matthieu Chedid as the  president of the jury. The actress Dominique Blanc will be the sponsor of the event.

An original exhibition, entitled “au fil des mots”, will present a selection of poems having a focus on the theme of hope, body and love. These poems have been reinterpreted by designers and artists who bring their own graphic layout of a short text. The set will be embroidered by women of Swaziland, sick of HIV. This work will give them an income. About thirty works will be exhibited throughout the year 2010.

More information:

2010 Poetry Festival: www.printempsdespoetes.com

To celebrate the Month of Documentary Film 10th edition, november is a must-attend event in France, French West Indies and abroad for documentary films.

The aim of this event is to show to an audience, that is getting larger, and make them appreciate the diversity and strength of creative documentary films by uniting many events organised by enthusiastic programmers in different locations.

Venues: libraries and media centres, cinemas, cultural and educational institutions, French cultural centres abroad…

Programme: viewings of heritage, rare or unreleased films, film previews, tributes, topics, debates and meetings with directors…

In France, 16 regions will also host this event (participating regions: Alsace, Aquitaine, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne and Franche-Comté, Brittany, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Guadeloupe, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Midi-Pyrenées, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Rhône-Alpes)

More information:

www.moisdudoc.com

www.culture.fr

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/november-a-month-dedicated-to-documentary-films-2/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/french-polynesia-heiva-i-tahiti-festivities/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/french-polynesia-heiva-i-tahiti-festivities/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:58:44 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=242

Major traditional celebration, Heiva i Tahiti is certainly the most famous cultural event of Tahiti and its islands with everything that Polynesia has to offer.

Festivities take place every year throughout the month of July, during which dancers and singers perform. Local “vahine” and “tane” rehearse all year round to get ready for these shows and competitions. Many dance companies will be judged on the quality of the choreography presented, such as the famous “Tamure” where each body movement and every look are part of a seduction code between the dancer and her partner. It will be also possible to see the traditional local outfits. “Moré”, a skirt made of long vegetable fibers, and sarong, long piece of fabric, are still the usual elements, to which can be added pearl   ornaments, beads, polished coconut shells and various sea shells, all with crowns of leaves, tiare or frangipani flower. There are also the “walking on fire”, where brave ones walk a several meters path on glowing embers, while others compete in athletism  competitions: canoe races, javelin throwing, stone lifting (weighing over one hundred kilos), bunches of bananas holders races, all in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

More information:

Tahiti and its islands Tourist Office: www.tahiti-tourisme.fr

In Guadeloupe cooks celebrate Saint Laurent’s day. This is a very special day in the island !

Like every year, on the Saturday closest to August 10, these beautiful ladies wear their finest traditional clothes and headdresses as well as Creole jewelry for a very festive day. This is a celebration full of colours and happiness to which the island is inviting you. For more than 90 years, Cooks Day (Fête des Cuisinières in French) has become one of the main events of the French West Indies’ cultural heritage.

This year’s festivities will take place on Saturday 8 August 2009, birthday of Saint Laurent. They begin with the celebration of the patron saint in the Church of Saint Pierre and Saint Paul, where the cooks go to and make them bless their baskets filled with flowers, kitchen utensils and local specialties. Then, the procession parades in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, where everyone can admire the cooks’ traditional clothes and headdresses. The celebration carries on at lunchtime where the cooks and the population eat all together and enjoy a relaxing afternoon to the sound of traditional music. On the menu are the best creole food made by the cooks of the island: local black pudding, acras, chicken, pork stew, sliced vegetables browned on top, … Finally, the day ends in the evening with the cooks’ ball, still within a festive and friendly atmosphere.

More information:

Guadeloupe Tourist Office: www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com