A few words about your artistic journey

Director, actor and storyteller, I am a versatile artist who brings together several disciplines in his artistic practice. Among my creations, we can cite, among others, Story for cohesion and Peace, Parole de la muette, Parachutage, Les Archives Parlent, Macbeth, ... I direct today the Burkina Theater Research Institute (IRTB).

How long have you been an artist ?

I took my first steps in art in 1999-2000.

Why did you apply for this grant ? How will the grant support you ?

This grant allows me to realize a precious artistic project for me in this period when everything is suspended. It is an opportunity to continue, to resist, to dream and to contribute to building a better world.

What are your concrete artistic objectives after this residency ?

Produce an audio show capsule of proverbs of 25 to 30 minutes ; promote a return to the sources, to traditions to feed the modern world and enhance the intangible heritage of Burkina Faso.

What did you achieve throughout this creative residency ? What is the result (created work) ? Who was involved in the creation process ?

1. The research phase : gathering proverbs up from July 6 to 19, 2020.
   They were collected in 3 localities in Burkina Faso : Ougadougou, Yako and Ouahigouya. Several elders, keepers of the traditional heritage, were approached during these two weeks. Among them were His Excellency the Bendnaaba of the old sage Lassane Sawadogo, Hilaire Nana, Souley Kientega, Ernest Larba Ouédraogo etc.
   ’# The dramaturgy phase : translating and creating a dramaturgy from July, 21 to 31 2020. This phase resulted in linking the proverbs into meaningful segments.
   ’# A musical creation phase : conception of capsules from August 3 to 11, 2020. A great moment of artistic creation and meeting between the actor/storyteller Paul P. Zoungrana and the musician David P. Zoungrana.
   ’# An audio phase : recording, editing and broadcasting the capsule. The broadcast phase officially started on September 1st on radio stations and social networks.

How do you think these activities allow people to reflect on today’s world : regarding the COVID-19 crisis, and/or the shaping of the tomorrow ?

This capsule helps to create an inclusive social debate in Burkina. It also promotes a culture of peace and cohesion between the different communities. Yengré/Racine pulls his stories from old narratives that speak to all social strata. It was written in two languages to address both rural and urban populations. It conveys messages such as : return to one’s roots, forgiveness, love, unity, tolerance, and protection of the other.

How did you feel during the residency ? And at the end of it ?

I leave this residence with a feeling of satisfaction. Moreover, I do want to keep working on it to turn it into a full proverbs stage show.
Looking for those proverbs has been very enriching, and it has broadened my horizons and my perception : I happened to realize that the urgency lied in the preservation of this memory. Indeed, with the death of the elderly, sole keepers of this inheritance, it will tend to disappear.
We were able to carry out this project as we wished. We have also collected other stories that could one day be used as a repertoire for other artistic creations.
The main difficulty was to find the people and to be able to combine with their availabilities. During the winter season, they do rather work in the fields than talk. So, we had to adapt : accompanying people in their fields during the day and collecting proverbs at night or during the afternoon.

Sokre la bangré

Ensemençons la parole

Rallumer les étoiles de la paix

Proverbes

Vivre pour les autres