The Lycée Français de New York Celebrates Half a Century of Francophonie With a concert launching the festivities in New York City

New York, NY - February 12, 2020 - The Cultural Center of the Lycée Français de New York, in partnership with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, is throwing the spotlight on musicians of the French-speaking community, with a concert titled Celebrating Voices from the Francophone World. This concert will be held on March 20, 2020, inaugurating the 50th anniversary of La Francophonie. Worldwide festivities are presided by Her Excellency Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of La Francophonie.

On March 20, 2020, New York City and other cities across the world will take part in celebrating 50 years of Francophonie. The concert organized by the Cultural Center marks the launch of the festivities in New York City. The evening will be led by the Tunisian singer, Emel Mathlouthi. She will be singing in Arabic and English with songs from her new album "Everywhere We Look Was Burning" released in September 2019. Three-time Grammy-winning jazz bassist and Director of the new club Nubia on the Seine Musicale in Paris, Richard Bona will be joining her onstage, along with Mino Cinelu on drums. Francis Cabrel, a staple of the francophone musical scene, with 25 million albums sold throughout his 40-year career, will also be making a special appearance.

"At the Lycée Français de New York Cultural Center, we offer French and Francophone events for our community and beyond to Francophiles from the New York area as we deeply believe that learning a language is also discovering a culture. We are proud to spearhead this unique musical moment," says Pascale Richard, Director of the Lycée Français de New York's Cultural Center. 

The event is held under the high patronage of His Excellency Mr. Léon Kacoum Adom, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations, President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors, and His Excellency Mr. Nicolas de Rivière, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. The concert is part of an international program of events, with more than 100 accredited organizations in New York participating to bring to life Francophone culture until the end of December 2020. 

Tickets are $30 per person and are available on the Cultural Center's website at culturalcenter.lfny.org

About the Cultural Center

The Cultural Center of the Lycée Français de New York offers an exciting program of events and activities focused primarily on French and Francophone cultures. Thanks to a diverse repertoire of public lectures, films, concerts and plays, the Cultural Center plays a vital role in celebrating French and francophone contributions to the international cultural tapestry. The Cultural Center is part of the Lycée Français de New York, an independent, bilingual French school committed to bilingual French and American education of the highest standard.

About the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)

The OIF was officially created on March 20, 1970 following the initiative of the Senegalese poet and Head of State Léopold Sédar Senghor and his Tunisian counterparts, Habib Bourguiba and Nigerien, Hamani Diori, as well as Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, to put French at the service of solidarity and development between people. Twenty-one states signed the agreement for what was initially called the Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), and which institutionalized the French language. Today, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie comprises 88 Member States and governments who have been key in defending multilateralism and cultural diversity through diplomacy.

Contact Information

Pascale Richard, Director of Cultural Events