ABU DHABI // French speakers celebrated their language at a beach party on the corniche on Saturday, featuring slam poetry, dance and musical performances, and comedy acts. About 300,000 French-speaking people live in the UAE, said Marion Eynard, cultural officer at the Institut Francais, which organised this year’s second-annual Francophone Beach Party.
“There is something for everyone, from pop rock music to breakdance, African dance, Arab jazz fusion, French classic songs or humoristic shows,” said Ms Eynard.
About 6,000 French live in Abu Dhabi and about 11,000 in Dubai, she said. Many of the other francophonie come from Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and the Middle East, particularly Lebanon and North Africa.
More than 3,000 people attended last year, said Ms Eynard. She said this year offered more performances and was extended from five to nine hours.
Among the performers were Kamal Musallam, an Arab fusion musician, four artists from Montreux Comedy and the French spoken word ensemble 125e RUE.
The event is part of the worldwide celebrations of French language during March, said Jean-Yves Carnino, director of Alliance Francais Abu Dhabi, a cultural partner in the beach party.
“Our goal is to promote French language and French culture, mixed with local cultures around the world,” he said.
His organisation offers French classes and exams and cultural activities.
“French is the second language taught all around the world,” said Mr Carnino.
“French is an important language – and it’s a very nice language,” he said.
Alyazia Makki, 14, from Syria, and her classmate Sandy Bsili, also 14 and from Syria, attended with other students from Rosary School in Abu Dhabi. They came with their French teacher and prepared poems or stories to perform in French.
Sandy said she was learning French as a way to communicate with other people and prepare for future careers.
“It’s good to learn other languages,” Alyazia added.
lcarroll@thenational.ae
