Like him, the “very small” local Rwandan community made the trip especially for the event. Her sister, Élise, 20, “born here”, is at work. But Liliane, the mother, is there. “It’s a pride, an honor”, reacts the interested party, happy to see her “two parents”, France and Rwanda, two brotherly countries which became angry, torn and then ignored in the aftermath of the most fatal of stories. Rwandans, again side by side for a reunifying cultural event. “France welcomed me when I needed it. Finally, these two families meet again. »
Taken down around 11:15 a.m. this Tuesday morning, the tricolor of Rwanda will reign over the town hall and the Angoulême Festival until Sunday.
Anne Lacaud / “SOUTH WEST”
Milk, sacred drink
In the weeks leading up to this 15e FFA, Liliane was the privileged interlocutor of the festival and its partners, the one who, for example, guided the children and social workers of the CAJ Grand Font during activities and animations dedicated to Rwanda (creation of decorations, company games, dishes, bar milk). This morning, local oils and diplomats are inaugurating an exhibition, dedicated to the sacred cow, as well as a “milk bar” between the Saint-Martial church and the Franquin space, the festival headquarters.
“In Rwanda, milk is like coffee: we offer it as soon as we receive someone at home. »
“Culture is an important economic issue in a country where 70% of Rwandans are farmers,” recalls Meriem Panazol, president of Balcon De La Francophonie. The association and the technical services of Angoulême made the milk bar. In Rwanda, they are legion; “white gold”, a drink that used to be a symbol of wealth (a sign that we had animals that produced it), today hailed for its nutritional virtues, is consumed there daily in stalls as if we were coming to taste a good wine or a beer. “In Rwanda, milk is like coffee: we offer it as soon as we receive someone at home,” confirms Christian Kalimba.
Survivor of the 1994 genocide, Charentaise for twenty-six years, Liliane Roy made the connection with the festival to allow the homage to her country of origin. Anne Lacaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
“Discreet and builder”
A few minutes before the arrival of the formal authorities, the children run to get their cup and a cookie. Almond, chocolate taste, there is something for everyone. We are far from milk from the udder of the cow, but it is the gesture that counts. It seems appreciated by connoisseurs: “It’s moving, it does something to me”, confirms a Christian Kalimba assailed by memories of childhood, of the country and of this milk which he savored barely out of the cow’s udder, seeing the little ones line up. “My grandparents were farmers. Milk was my breakfast. »
Like Rwandans, who are used to tasting milk in dedicated bars, these children enjoyed tasting this drink with a biscuit just before lunch… Anne Lacaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
Focus on habits and customs, traditions, know-how… From this tribute that the FFA pays to her country of origin, Liliane Roy (by her married name), the mother, wants to see the opportunity to ” take another look” at Rwanda, a country constantly brought back to its tragic history while it proves to be resilient and has been able to rebuild itself despite and with the trauma. Today, Rwanda, which has become an African, if not global, benchmark in various fields (new technologies, environmental protection, etc.), harbors talents, some of whom, such as the designer Moise Turahirwa or the photographer Jacques Nkinzingabo, are exposed throughout throughout this FFA 2022. “Rwanda is known for the genocide but it is not only that. We have other things to share”, proudly brandishes Liliane, evoking a “people, welcoming, discreet, builder”.
The jury of the 15th FFA, chaired by André Dussollier, on the stage. Anne Lacaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
In the front row of the friends of the FFA, already at the rendezvous of the premiere of the festival, in 2008, Line Renaud, accomplice here with Dany Boon, was in Angoulême for “A beautiful race”. Anne Lacaud/ “SOUTH WEST”