**A letter sent out by the General Directorates for Cultural Affairs to national drama and choreography centers calls for an immediate halt to all projects involving nationals from the three African countries.**
The performing arts industry in France was in a state of shock on Thursday, September 14, as the crisis between France and Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso took its toll on an artistic territory that could have done with more support instead. “On instructions from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs,” all subsidized cultural establishments were informed that they must “suspend, until further notice, all cooperation with the following countries: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.”
This message, dispatched by the General Directorates for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) to the cultural structures that depend on their services, such as national drama and choreography centers and national stages, was forwarded to the secretariat of the Ministry of Culture. The measures recommended were radical: “All cooperation projects carried out by your establishments or departments with institutions or nationals of these three countries must be suspended, without delay, and without exception. All financial support must also be suspended, including via French structures such as associations. Similarly, no invitations should be extended to any nationals of these countries. As of today, France will no longer issue visas for nationals of these three countries, without exception, and until further notice.”
Described as “threatening” by the all-powerful National Syndicate for Artistic and Cultural Enterprises union (SYNDEAC), the order from on high sent shockwaves through the ranks of the cultural community. “We’ve never had an injunction like this before,” said Bruno Lobé, vice president of the SYNDEAC and director of Le Manège, a national theater in Reims. “France’s philosophy towards artists living in countries with which it is in conflict has always been to continue to invite them, without ever breaking off the dialogue. These artists are already prevented from working by their own governments. If we add another layer of hardship, it will be a real catastrophe, not only for their survival but also for France’s image.”
**’What has become of the values of France?’**
Implementing the ban demanded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs would set a precedent. But it would also reveal an inconsistency that Lobé spelled out: “At the start of the war in Ukraine, the message was to continue to support Russian artists. That they do not represent Vladimir Putin. What’s the difference between a Burkinabe, Malian or Nigerian artist and a Russian artist?” The ministerial decision is a cause for concern for artists who come and go on both sides of the Mediterranean.
For Hassan Kassi Kouyaté, Franco-Burkinabé director of the Festival des Francophonies en Limousin, beyond being an absurd measure, it’s a counterproductive one. “As a citizen, I wonder, what has become of the values of France, this country of human rights which signed the Unesco charter? As an artist, I’m surprised: why punish creators who are often the first victims of conflicts? And what about the sudden interference of politics in cultural programming?”
Despite putting on such a good protest game, French imperialism is alive and well. This is some serious colonizer energy. Suppressing artists in destabilized nations you’ve been keeping under your thumb for decades is not a good look.
EDIT: Downvote away, but France controls the monetary sovereignty of over a dozen nations in Africa. They even made special currencies for these nations (known as CFA Franc). Tell me thats not some colonizer energy. You’d be wrong, but you can tell me if you like.
Yeah, hard disagree on this one.
Hope they roll that shit back because it’s stupid as fuck.
Nice move /s
One day of France being normal. That’s all I ask. Will never happen.
They can now go to Russia to enrich their cultural exchanges.
You reap what you sow
That’ll show those junta leaders
Good initiative
We are so very liberal for so many things yet the moment we start with passports oh boi how fast we jump into the concept of collective subjectivity and responsibility
In a way this action seems to imply that France thinks the Juntas represent the popular and cultural will of the people in those countries, which kind of undermines their demands for the restoration of previous administrations.
It’s consistent with policy toward Russian artists, but comes across as much more petty and weak considering the vastly different power dynamics at play here, as it’s not like those countries have strong cultural soft power to push onto others like Russia does in the first place.
“Nationals” and “without exception”. So if there happens to be artists from those countries which oppose their military juntas, the guideline applies to them too?
How is that fair? Or is it supposed to be in the “just overthrow your government lol” type of deal? It would’ve been funny asking that, given I’m Russian, if it weren’t so sad
13 comments
**A letter sent out by the General Directorates for Cultural Affairs to national drama and choreography centers calls for an immediate halt to all projects involving nationals from the three African countries.**
The performing arts industry in France was in a state of shock on Thursday, September 14, as the crisis between France and Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso took its toll on an artistic territory that could have done with more support instead. “On instructions from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs,” all subsidized cultural establishments were informed that they must “suspend, until further notice, all cooperation with the following countries: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.”
This message, dispatched by the General Directorates for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) to the cultural structures that depend on their services, such as national drama and choreography centers and national stages, was forwarded to the secretariat of the Ministry of Culture. The measures recommended were radical: “All cooperation projects carried out by your establishments or departments with institutions or nationals of these three countries must be suspended, without delay, and without exception. All financial support must also be suspended, including via French structures such as associations. Similarly, no invitations should be extended to any nationals of these countries. As of today, France will no longer issue visas for nationals of these three countries, without exception, and until further notice.”
Described as “threatening” by the all-powerful National Syndicate for Artistic and Cultural Enterprises union (SYNDEAC), the order from on high sent shockwaves through the ranks of the cultural community. “We’ve never had an injunction like this before,” said Bruno Lobé, vice president of the SYNDEAC and director of Le Manège, a national theater in Reims. “France’s philosophy towards artists living in countries with which it is in conflict has always been to continue to invite them, without ever breaking off the dialogue. These artists are already prevented from working by their own governments. If we add another layer of hardship, it will be a real catastrophe, not only for their survival but also for France’s image.”
**’What has become of the values of France?’**
Implementing the ban demanded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs would set a precedent. But it would also reveal an inconsistency that Lobé spelled out: “At the start of the war in Ukraine, the message was to continue to support Russian artists. That they do not represent Vladimir Putin. What’s the difference between a Burkinabe, Malian or Nigerian artist and a Russian artist?” The ministerial decision is a cause for concern for artists who come and go on both sides of the Mediterranean.
For Hassan Kassi Kouyaté, Franco-Burkinabé director of the Festival des Francophonies en Limousin, beyond being an absurd measure, it’s a counterproductive one. “As a citizen, I wonder, what has become of the values of France, this country of human rights which signed the Unesco charter? As an artist, I’m surprised: why punish creators who are often the first victims of conflicts? And what about the sudden interference of politics in cultural programming?”
**Read the article in full by clicking on this link:** [https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2023/09/14/france-bans-cultural-venues-from-collaborating-with-artists-from-mali-niger-and-burkina-faso_6135222_30.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2023/09/14/france-bans-cultural-venues-from-collaborating-with-artists-from-mali-niger-and-burkina-faso_6135222_30.html)
It sure as hell sounds like discrimination.
Despite putting on such a good protest game, French imperialism is alive and well. This is some serious colonizer energy. Suppressing artists in destabilized nations you’ve been keeping under your thumb for decades is not a good look.
EDIT: Downvote away, but France controls the monetary sovereignty of over a dozen nations in Africa. They even made special currencies for these nations (known as CFA Franc). Tell me thats not some colonizer energy. You’d be wrong, but you can tell me if you like.
Yeah, hard disagree on this one.
Hope they roll that shit back because it’s stupid as fuck.
Nice move /s
One day of France being normal. That’s all I ask. Will never happen.
They can now go to Russia to enrich their cultural exchanges.
You reap what you sow
That’ll show those junta leaders
Good initiative
We are so very liberal for so many things yet the moment we start with passports oh boi how fast we jump into the concept of collective subjectivity and responsibility
In a way this action seems to imply that France thinks the Juntas represent the popular and cultural will of the people in those countries, which kind of undermines their demands for the restoration of previous administrations.
It’s consistent with policy toward Russian artists, but comes across as much more petty and weak considering the vastly different power dynamics at play here, as it’s not like those countries have strong cultural soft power to push onto others like Russia does in the first place.
“Nationals” and “without exception”. So if there happens to be artists from those countries which oppose their military juntas, the guideline applies to them too?
How is that fair? Or is it supposed to be in the “just overthrow your government lol” type of deal? It would’ve been funny asking that, given I’m Russian, if it weren’t so sad