La Clairière d'Eza Boto - Opus IV: In the footsteps of Mongo Beti - an educational programme

Like a colorful society, the pedagogical program of «Eza Boto's clearing» develops projects that can be deployed on the two points of attachment of Mongo Beti: Yaoundé, Rouen and their peripheries. The main objective is to question the construction of the individual in a context of changes and tingling. By physically or virtually browsing the spaces related to the work «Cruel City», the learner will have a new experience questioning the identities and possible expressions. This educational project aims to develop with the Fustel de Coulanges high school in Yaoundé, and Lycée Corneille high school in Rouen. Its didactic construction is based on a shared interdisciplinarity between the visual arts, French and history.

Participant :  Sarah Dauphine-Tchouatcha (Cameroun)

To learn more, visit the YCOS-Project website.

About Yves Chatap (Cameroun) Curator and art critic :

« La clairière d’Eza Boto » (Eza Boto's clearing) is considered a reflective work around the well-known book "Cruel City" by Mongo Beti aka Eza Boto, publishe in 1954.

Born in 1932 in Akométam near Yaoundé under the name of Biyidi-Awala Alexandre, Mongo Beti published the new "Sans haine et sans amour" in 1953, then "Cruel City" in 1954 under the same pseudonym of Eza Boto. He, who will use various nicknames during his career, will no longer use this pseudonym of Eza Boto.

Mongo Beti’s work is linked to his exile of more than 30 years in the city of Rouen, where he worked as a French teacher. This essential author of African intellectual literature has unfortunately not found recognition in France.

The story of Mongo Beti, between chosen and imposed exile, invites everyone to consider artistic development as revolted or suffered times. Mobile and plural, this programmation includes exhibitions on several sites in Normandy and a river residency for international artists on the Seine river. Four Opus nourish this artistic reflection.

This program of meetings and exchanges between artists from different and intersecting cultures, originating from two continents will re-contextualize the journey of one of the precursors of African thought.

About YCOS-Project :

YCOS-Project aims to support artists by working alongside them in curatorial development, production and enhancement of their artistic projects. YCOS-Project intends to develop a South-South approach, and attaches major importance to ensuring that the selected projects contribute to the visibility of artistic and social changes.