news France ban cultural venues from collaborating with artists from Mali, Niger and BFaso

[Kitty Kat]

 

[Power love]

[Delusional]

Why?

[KillingYourCareer]

10 minutes ago, Delusional said:

Why?

They refused being French puppets anymore and instead became Russian puppets

[Archetype]

You might want to include this in the OP

Quote

As of today, France will no longer issue visas for nationals of these three countries, without exception, and until further notice."

 

[Tropez]

11 minutes ago, Delusional said:

Why?

French neo-colonialism. France is having a dispute with these countries because they want less French influence and involvement in their countries. So France seeing this as an act of hostility did this. 

[airplane]

Imagine how tired we are of France 

[Breathe On Moi]

where’s that ATRL France defender to come and downvote all of our comments?

[Lil' Oz]

Not surprised.

 

France is literally one of the most disgusting countries in the world. I hate France.

[Terrielle]

Literally never stepping foot in that country ever. Imagine upholding colonialism in 2023?

[ZIVERT]

[Domination]

Good lord  Not even hiding it.

[Luckitty]

Reminder that France is still colonizing africa, and they don't see anything wrong with it, in fact most french people defend it because they know that their country would be nothing without the resources they steal from african countries 

[CBC]

Isn't this good? Those countries wanted less French influence and that's what they got

[Kitty Kat]

5 hours ago, Archetype said:

You might want to include this in the OP

 

For sure, it's a part of the article. The whole article for context for those who didn't want to read the whole thing before.

 

Quote

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?"

 

[BrokenMachine]

2 hours ago, CBC said:

Isn't this good? Those countries wanted less French influence and that's what they got

Well, this is far from France having less influence, it's just an act of 'power' from France and kind of a dirty move. Like, why would they ban artists from any country? It basically violates their freedom of expression right

[CBC]

10 minutes ago, BrokenMachine said:

Well, this is far from France having less influence, it's just an act of 'power' from France and kind of a dirty move. Like, why would they ban artists from any country? It basically violates their freedom of expression right

they're just not issuing visas and it only affects public funding programs, private ones may remain to operate normally

[Kitty Kat]

10 hours ago, CBC said:

they're just not issuing visas and it only affects public funding programs, private ones may remain to operate normally

Just because it only affects public funding programming doesn't make it better, especially when the French government has not applied such restrictions to other countries such as Russia, where it was "important to continue supporting Russian artists" (not saying this is your specific view, just bringing this as a general point). It goes to show how France views the relationships with the 'Great Powers', versus her former colonies. Artists from the 'Great Powers' whose state apparatus has begun a brutal invasion into a neighbouring state, a state that's eyeing up territory and committing acts of genocide, must be respected for their art and should not be tied in with their country. Whereas if you're from a colony which has had a coup d'etat that is unfavourable to France and her interests, any public collaboration with art and culture between the two parties must be shut down and not allowed. Sure, it's allowed within the private sector, but this act in and of itself sets a precedent for the French cultural scene. We can also recognise that these coups have brought to power people who espouse pro-Russian views, which makes this situation all the more wild and circular.

 

And yes, there are other anti-France countries in Africa which exist which haven't (yet) been affected by measures such as this, that doesn't justify or make this current move any more correct, at least in my view. If there is an error in communication, or if this isn't the full picture, I hope that the French government release information very soon, before this story can be weaponised further. Several cultural actors and entities within France have openly complained about this move, so there is definitely confusion and outrage from somewhere.

[Riverbank]

France is such a laughing stock

[Badger]

Those countries aren’t missing out

[Kitty Kat]

1 hour ago, Gwendolyn said:

What does this mean for Mali Quee Aya Nakamura? 

She's a citizen and resident of France so I don't believe it affects her.

[AMIT]

19 hours ago, Terrielle said:

Literally never stepping foot in that country ever. Imagine upholding colonialism in 2023?

Colonialism in 2023 is literally a major reason why poor countries (like most African ones) stay being poor. It's not just France doing it, most of Europe does and/or directly benefits from it. 

[siratakexxx]

They should try with football as well