51 Listen, Listen

Écoute, écoute

Yamoussoukro |

Ivory Coast

French

Behind the scenes

From an early age, I was exposed to and fascinated by statues and masks from West Africa – Sénoufo, Baoulé, Bambara, Dogon… Each object seems to carry a story, almost a presence, as if it could speak about what it has witnessed during dances, rituals, and community celebrations.
It was after leaving a particularly joyful Christmas celebration in Côte d’Ivoire, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, carried by the youth, the singing, and the collective energy, that the idea for this text came to me.

I then imagined a song in which these objects come to life – they dance, sing, and respond to one another.

As I wrote it, I had in mind a slow, haunting rhythm of African reggae, inspired by songs from Alpha Blondy, where the music becomes a simple call to listen, slow down, and remember what truly matters.

Echoes of the world

In Ivory Coast, French coexists with many local languages such as Baoulé, Dioula, and Sénoufo. In urban areas, a popular form of speech known as Nouchi often blends these languages with French.

In this context, words like “brother” or “sister” do not only refer to family members – they are also used to address others with warmth, familiarity, or respect.

Spoken expression holds an essential place in many West African cultures: stories, proverbs, songs, and oral traditions pass on collective memory and wisdom.

In this text, the invitation to listen therefore takes on a deeper resonance.