In Lille, in the north of France, a new humor festival has just made its appearance under the name of “Lillarious” Until February 5, it makes room for new talents of laughter from the world of Francophonie and in particular African artists, including Clentélex.
At the origin of “Lillarious”, there is Grégoire Furrer, creator of the famous Montreux Comedy Festival. His dream is to launch comedy festivals everywhere where French is spoken… and in particular on the African continent. Moreover, in Lille, this year two evenings, baptized the ” Gems of Francophone humor », will welcome African artists, such as the Burkinabè Moussa Petit Sergent or the Ivorian Clentélex.
” In Africa, there is no desire to be fashionable, observes Grégoire Furrer. There is this kind of freshness, a very natural side, to say : here, I have something to say and I want to say it. And if I find an audience and the audience likes what I say : so much the better ! Overall, they are people who like to tell stories. In this new generation, there is a desire to take part in this great global discourse that we have today on social networks. There is this desire to participate in the global debate. I find it really interesting. And digital makes it possible to go very, very quickly. »
Abobo, the commune of Clentélex, north of Abidjan
the LillariousFestival, it is therefore the little brother of the great Montreux Comedy Festival. The latter has served as a launching pad for more than 30 years for comedians such as Blanche Gardin, Laurent Gerra and Anne Roumanoff. In Lille, the public can discover this Friday evening, February 4, André Wandan Niamké, this young Ivorian humorist who calls himself Clentélex. This 25-year-old boy is beginning to break into the world of stand-up comedy, the genre in which a stand-up comedian, without decor or accessories, addresses the public.
Clentélex largely uses his humor to change the image of his commune, Abobo, north of Abidjan: ” Me, I do that, because I realize that there is really a problem in me with violence. So, I said to myself, I am humorous. Maybe I can go through my area of work to try to get the message across. Perhaps this can attract the attention of the people and especially the government. It is the government that has the keys to everything that happens. The government can fix this and that. Generally, after each show, there are people who want to come with me to discover my town and I invite them. The most important thing is to make people laugh. Afterwards, you get your message across, making people laugh. »