Caribbean music sensation, Dominik Coco to rock Francophonie Festival in Accra

The Francophone embassies in Ghana and Alliance Française cordially invite you to the opening ceremony of the 2018 Francophonie Festival that will be held at Alliance Française on Saturday 10^th of March in the presence of H.E Prof. Matthew Prempeh, Minister of Education and the Francophone Ambassadors in Ghana.

This year, Caribbean music sensation, Dominik Coco, accompanied by his Kako band from Guadeloupe will launch the festivities with an opening concert.

As every year, the Francophone Embassies in Ghana together with Alliance Française Accra are organizing various events to celebrate the Francophonie. Its cultural and linguistic diversity will be honoured in a laid back and joyful atmosphere: concerts, a job application skills workshop, sporting events, film screening, debates, French competitions and a stand-up comedy.

The Francophonie International Day is celebrated on the 20^th of March every year all over the world.

Since 2006, Ghana has had the status of the associated member within the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF in French). The Francophone community in Ghana commends the tremendous efforts the Ghanaian government is making to improve regional integration through the development of the French language across the country. On the 1st of February, the Council of Francophone ambassadors in Ghana called on H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo at the Presidency. During the meeting, a number of proposals geared towards the development of French and La Francophonie in Ghana were tabled for discussion, among which were:

• The building of international media partnerships with the Ministry of Communication
• Continuous support for government’s initiatives in education and cooperation in pivotal sectors including culture, sports, security, economic relations and the public service.
• The reinforcement of relations between Ghana and the International Organisation of La Francophonie through the establishment of a linguistic pact, Ghana’s accession to other OIF bodies such as the Francophonie Universities’ Agency (AUF) and the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), as well as the hosting of a major OIF event in the country.
• Strengthening of Francophonie at the institutional level in Ghana

The Francophonie Festival in Ghana, therefore, represents a unique opportunity to meet francophone or ‘francophile’ persons and develop partnerships with the francophone communities.

The term “Francophonie” refers to all of the states and governments worldwide who share the French language. The International Organisation of La Francophonie, created in 1970, represents one of the biggest linguistic zones in the world. Its mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 84 member states and governments (58 members and 26 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 890 million people, including 274 million French speakers.

IOF organizes political activities alongside the four main objectives which it has been assigned:

• To promote the French language, cultural and linguistic diversity,
• To promote peace, democracy and Human Rights
• To support education, training, higher education institutions and research
• To foster cooperation in favour of sustainable development.

Its head office is in Paris, France, with regional offices all over the world, including one in Togo.

21 member countries of the OIF have a diplomatic representation in Ghana: Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Canada, Czech Republic, Congo, RD Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Switzerland, and Togo.

La Francophonie Benchmarks

• 274 million French speakers worldwide
  There are an estimated 274 million French speakers worldwide, among them 212 million with a daily use, 54.7% living in Africa.
• 60% of French speakers are under 30 years old
  In most of the IOF member countries, 60% of the population is under 30 years old.
• French is the 2^nd foreign language studied and the 3rd most widely used language on the Web

French is the 2^nd most studied foreign language in the world, after English

French is the 3rd most widely used language on the Web with 5% of Internet pages, after English (45%) and German (7%) and ahead of Spanish (4.5%).

• French is an official language in 32 member states and governments
  French is either the official language or one of the official languages in 32 of the IOF’s member states, governments or observers.
• 19 countries have French as a language of instruction, 13 in Africa at the pre-tertiary level while other countries have French or bilingual studies at the tertiary level of Education
• French is the 2nd most widely spoken mother tongue and the 2nd most widely spoken the foreign language in the European Union
  French is the second most widely spoken mother tongue (16%) after German (23%) and ahead of English (15.9%) in the European Union
• French is the 2nd most widely spoken the foreign language (19%) after English (41%) and ahead of German (10%) and Spanish (7%) in the European Union.
• 900,000 French teachers worldwide
  There are an estimated 900,000 French teachers worldwide.
• March 20, 1970: the birth of an intergovernmental organization of French-speaking nations
  March 20, 1970, saw the birth of an intergovernmental organisation of French-speaking nations, with the creation in Niamey (Niger), of the Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation. This organisation adopted a new Charter of Francophonie in 2005 and was renamed the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) as it is still known today.
• The IOF: 84 States and governments
  The IOF has 84States and governments (including 26observers) across the five continents.
• IOF’s community: 890 million people
  In 2008, the IOF’s 80 States and governments represented a total of 890 million people or 13% of the world’s population.
• The IOF: over one-third of the UNO’s member states
  The International Organisation of La Francophonie’s 75 member states and governments represent over one-third of the United Nation’s member states.
• The French-speaking zone accounts for 19% of world trade in goods
  With 18.9% of world exports and 19% of world imports, French-speaking countries account for 19% of world trade in goods
• French is the 3^rd language in business
• TV5 is broadcast in 202 countries
  TV5MONDE, the multilateral French-language television channel, has the 3rd largest international television network and is broadcast in 202 countries.
• 215 million homes: TV5’s audience
  TV5MONDE broadcasts French productions 24 hours a day to an audience estimated at over 220 million homes.
• IOF has partnerships with 31 international and regional organisations
  The IOF has signed cooperation agreements with 31 international and regional organisations including the UNO, the European Union and the African Union.
• 78 French-speaking parliaments or interparliamentary organisations
  The Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie comprises 78 parliaments or inter-parliamentary organisations.
• 880 French-speaking establishments for further education and research
  The Academic Agency of La Francophonie federates 880 establishments for
• further education and research in 94 countries.

Events Line Up For Francophonie Festival 2018

10- 24 MARCH 2018

Opening Night – Dominik Coco Concert and the Kako band (France-Guadeloupe).SATURDAY 10TH

Alliance Française, 7:30 pm. Dominic Coco is going to uplift you with his unique style to launch the fortnight of the Francophonie. The opening concert of this dynamic festival features the indefatigable Dominik Coco all the way from Guadeloupe. His unique style of zouk infused with acoustic music creates an interesting mix of new urban and Caribbean currents. You are guaranteed to dance all night long. See you!

WEDNESDAY 14TH

Budding Ambassadors – Finals for West and Central Africa

Alliance Française, 2:00 pm. Aged from 9 to 16, students from Francophone high schools from 12 different countries are going to engage in a debate on the theme “arts”.

Spoken Word Concert 6:00 pm. Coached by the champion Mara, join the high school students from Jacques Prévet and Ghana International School as they treat you to an interesting night of spoken word

SATURDAY 17TH

6:00 pm: Concert « French Touch »

Alliance Française. 6: 00 pm. Fafa Ruffino is back again, this time with a different touch. Join 12 wonderful children trained by Fafa Ruffino as they sing songs both in French and in English.

Long live sports and the French language!MONDAY 20TH – International Francophonie Day

Ghanaian and Francophone schools have come together to organize a day of professional displays, sports and language games. What a way to build your muscles from head to toe!

WEDNESDAY 21ST

Job Application Skills Workshop

Alliance Française, 9am-4pm. Come and learn how to write CVs, motivational letters, prepare for interviews in French with experts in the working world.

THURSDAY 22nd

Film Screening « Le temps d’Anna » (Suisse)

Alliance Française, 6:00 pm. Jean, a young watchmaker, and Anna, a mysterious woman love each other madly and go through all life’s experiences together. But Anna suddenly suffers from a strange sickness. Will Jean’s love for her be enough to save her?

FRIDAY 23TH

Final high school competition.

Accra High School, 2:00 pm. All sketches in French are created by Ghanaian teachers and high school students.

Alliance Française.SATURDAY 24^TH

11:00am-6: 00 pm: The Francophonie Fair: Discover and entertain yourselves with food, arts and crafts, music and dance from numerous Francophone countries

6:30 pm: Closing ceremony with Phil Darwin (Congo) Inspired by his numerous trips, his show offers us an unprecedented variety of the themes of love, women, integration, and current events. Be assured of an amusing night!