Ballets Africains
Artistic direction: Bangoura Hamidou
Creation: 1948
Created in 1948 in Paris (France) under the name of the Ensemble Fodéba-Facelli-Mouangué by the Guinean poet, writer, politician, playwright, composer and choreographer Keïta Fodéba (1921-1969), the Cameroonian singer Albert Mouangué and the Guinean guitarist, vocalist and arranger Kanté Facelli, the troupe was known as the Théâtre Africain de Keïta Fodéba in 1949, then went on to become Les Ballets Africains de Keïta Fodéba in 1950, and renamed as Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée, when Guinea became independent in 1958.
Established at the same time as the struggle of African peoples striving to assert their cultural identity on the eve of independence, Les Ballets Africains de Keïta Fodéba stood out from the beginning as an advocate for African culture and art throughout the world by presenting their first performance at the Théâtre de l’Étoile des Champs-Elysées in Paris, France, in November 1952. Between 1948 and 1958, Les Ballets Africains de Keïta Fodéba were greatly involved in disseminating African culture by performing in Africa and in Western and Eastern Europe (USSR). When the Republic of Guinea gained its independence on 2 October 1958, Keïta Fodéba returned to his homeland where his troupe was invited to become the young Republic’s national ensemble, under the name of Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée.
Keen to show the whole world the continent’s true values, Les Ballets Africains exploited and revived the immense, rich heritage of the cultural and artistic legacy attached to the history of African civilizations, and proved to be one of the best international troupes of the time. Since the creation of Les Ballets Africains by Keïta Fodéba, the troupe has worked with ten artistic directors, from Kanté Facelli (1959-1960) to Bangoura Hamidou (from 2005 to today). Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée’s artistic creations focus on themes ranging from subjects relating to African traditions to globalization: preserving traditional African educational values, protecting the environment, story-telling, narratives, epics focusing on history.
Source : Afrisson.com