Felfel Festival

The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain and the Institut du monde arabe have come together with Naïma Huber-Yahi to present the Felfel Festival. Over the course of three days, this festival celebrates the dynamism and energy of Franco-North African cultures through a program offering concerts, debates, and screenings, culminating in a large ball on the forecourt of the Institut du monde arabe on July 14.

In 1983, just forty years ago, the March for Equality and Against Racism provided a lively and efficient platform for the voice of France’s North African youth for the very first time. The creative energy that emerged in the wake of this civil movement has become a lasting part of the French cultural landscape, becoming an essential component of our contemporary heritage, from music to the visual arts, as well as literature, cinema, and dance.

The Fondation Cartier, which has set itself the task of supporting contemporary creation, and the Institut du monde arabe, which showcases Arab cultures and their links to France, have naturally joined forces to celebrate this fortuitous cross-fertilization, whose reciprocal influences and imaginaries have been reinvented by diversity.

The two institutions have chosen to collaborate with Naïma Huber-Yahi, historian and specialist in contemporary North African cultures in France, to present the Festival Felfel (“chili” in Arabic), of which she is the artistic director. This first edition focuses particularly on the cultural and artistic contributions of the Tunisian, Algerian, and Moroccan diasporas in France. Over the course of three days, audiences can enjoy concerts, literary talks, screenings, and sung conferences. These performances are carried by artists who are the heirs of immigration and at the forefront of this intercultural dialogue. The highlight of the event, the ball on July 14, will close this spicy, joyous, festive, and intentional festival, which invites everyone to (re)share the history and diversity of cultural expressions born from the North African diaspora.

Programming (in progress):

• Wednesday, July 12:

6.30pm: Festival opening: Felfel aperitif and picnic (tasting of tikourbabines, keftas, etc.), music by Fanfaraï, flashmob by Kif Kif Bledi / Forecourt of the Institut du monde arabe

8.30pm: Sofiane Saidi, Night of Destiny (unique concert, sentimental raï music) / Garden of the Fondation Cartier

• Thursday, July 13:

4pm: Screening / debate: Les Marcheurs, chronique des années beurs by Samia Chala, Thierry Leclère, and Naïma Yahi (Public Sénat / Jem Prod / 52’). In the presence of Salah Amokrane, Samia Messaoudi, Djamel Attalah (tbc), and Naïma Huber-Yahi / Auditorium of the Institut du monde arabe

6pm: Screening / debate: Bons baisers du bled by Linda Bendali (France 5 / Zed Prod / 52’). In the presence of the director, and Mohamed el Khatib (tbc), as well as Linda and Fatima Amirat / Auditorium of the Institut du monde arabe
Debate moderator: Yassine Khiri, journalist

8pm: Naïma Huber-Yahi, Homage to the Great Female Singers of Exile + karaoke. With Kif Kif Blédi (sung conference) + Naïma Huber-Yahi, Hometown Karaoke (karaoke) / Garden of the Fondation Cartier

• Friday, July 14:

4pm-7pm: Story of Self, 3 literary conversations in pairs with Nawel Ben Kraïem, Adila Bennedjaï-Zou, Samira El Ayachi, Kaoutar Harchi, Souad Massi et Lina Soualem / Garden of the Fondation Cartier

From 8pm: July 14 Ball: Rock n’Raï hits by Mehdi Askeur and Samira Brahmia and their musicians, Mouss and Hakim/Les Darons de la Garonne

9 pm: July 14 Ball : Rock n’Raï par Mehdi Askeur hits (member of Orchestre National de Barbès) and Samira Brahmia and their musicians, Mehdi Ryan, Mouss & Hakim – from Zebda to Darons de la Garonne / Forecourt of the Institut du monde arabe

Biography

Naïma Huber-Yahi is a historian, author, artistic director, and exhibition curator, specializing in the cultural aspect of North African immigration to France. After a history thesis entitled “Exile wounds my heart: A cultural history of Algerian artists in France 1962-2008”, she went on to write the musical comedy Barbès Café, the documentary film Les marcheurs, chronique des années beurs, and co-curated the exhibition Douce France: des chansons de l’exil aux cultures urbaines at the Centre national des Arts et métiers in 2022. Her work and achievements focus on the cultural history and heritage of North African immigration to France.