KADDU YARAAX
Festival Sénégalais de Théâtre-Forum
Festival Sénégalais de Théâtre-Forum ou
Rencontres Sénégalaises de Théâtre-Forum
INTRODUCTON ET PRÉSENTATION GÉNÉRALE
La 20ᵉ édition du Festival Sénégalais de Théâtre-Forum, organisée par l’association Kàddu Yaraax, constitue une étape majeure pour les arts participatifs en Afrique de l’Ouest. La compagnie promeut depuis plus de 30 ans le Théâtre de l’Opprimé comme outil de dialogue, de médiation et de transformation sociale. Cette édition célèbre à la fois vingt ans d’existence du festival, lancé en 2005, et trois décennies d’engagement citoyen. Elle confirme le Sénégal comme une référence régionale du théâtre social et offre aux artistes africains un espace de formation, d’échanges et de création, accessible sans les contraintes financières et administratives des déplacements vers le Nord
Dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest, des dizaines de troupes théâtrales et d’organisations communautaires appliquent le Théâtre-Forum sur le terrain. Cependant, l’absence de filières académiques dédiées au théâtre d’intervention sociale contraint souvent ces praticiens à l’auto-formation.
Une exigence de formation et de reconnaissance
CONTEXTE ET JUSTIFICATION DU PROJET
Dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest, des dizaines de troupes théâtrales et d’organisations communautaires appliquent le Théâtre-Forum sur le terrain. Cependant, l’absence de filières académiques dédiées au théâtre d’intervention sociale contraint souvent ces praticiens à l’auto-formation.
Le festival répond à un besoin fondamental :
- Renforcement de capacités : Perfectionner le jeu d’acteur, la dramaturgie du forum, la technique du Joker (animateur) et l’élaboration de textes ancrés dans la réalité locale.
- Reconnaissance professionnelle : Défendre le statut du comédien engagé et valoriser les formations pratiques dispensées au sein des troupes locales aux côtés des parcours universitaires classiques.
- Réseautage et rupture de l’isolement : Permettre aux compagnies régionales (Ziguinchor, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Podor, Sébikotane…) et internationales (Gambie, Guinée-Bissau, Republique de Guinée, Mauritanie, RD Congo, Cameroun, USA, Belgique, Brésil, Suisse, France, Espagne…) de croiser leurs pratiques.
Souveraineté culturelle et ancrage populaire
En réunissant à Dakar des troupes internationales et africaines, le festival incarne un modèle de coopération Sud-Sud. Le jeu dans les langues nationales (wolof, pulaar, sérère, diola, mandingue…) garantit un accès direct aux populations et réaffirme le rôle central des savoirs populaires.
Le fonctionnement de la scène participative
LE THÉÂTRE-FORUM : MÉTHODOLOGIE ET ANCRAGE CULTUREL
Issu du Théâtre de l’Opprimé fondé par Augusto Boal, le Théâtre-Forum remplace le spectateur passif par le « spect-acteur » :
- La scène d’oppression : Les comédiens jouent une fiction courte exposant un problème social non résolu qui débouche sur une impasse.
- The Forum: The Joker (mediator/facilitator) interrupts the play and invites the audience to come on stage to replace the oppressed protagonist and test concrete alternatives.
- Collective experimentation: The actors improvise in response to the audience's suggestions, making it possible to assess the viability of solutions in a safe and supportive environment.
In Senegal, Theatre-Forum naturally connects with the "arbre à palabre" (discussion tree) and traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. The Joker acts like a community facilitator, ensuring a democratic dialogue where the voices of young people, women, and elders have equal value.
Details of the main areas of activity
PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES | 20th edition
For this 20th edition, the programme is structured around 30 to 35 activities spread over six days of immersion in the Yarakh district and in various cultural spaces in Dakar.
Forum Theatre and Street Theatre Performances
- The performances are presented outside of institutional venues, as close as possible to the people: Themes performed: Migration, gender-based violence, local governance, community hygiene, and environmental protection. Interactivity: Each session is followed by a 45 to 60-minute citizen forum led by an experienced Joker.
Technical capacity-building workshops
- Dramaturgy and impasse writing: How to construct a realistic scenario without falling into moralising or giving moral lessons.
- Joker facilitation technique: Managing speaking time, stimulating citizen debate, welcoming stage replacements, and maintaining benevolent neutrality. Creation in national languages: Work on orality, proverbs, and the adaptation of universal texts into Wolof.
Forum Theatre and Street Theatre Performances
- The performances will be as close as possible to the people: Themes performed: Migration, gender-based violence, local governance, community hygiene, and environmental protection. Interactivity: Each session is followed by a 45 to 60-minute citizen forum led by an experienced Joker.
Technical capacity-building workshops
- Dramaturgy and impasse writing: How to construct a realistic scenario without falling into moralising or giving moral lessons. Joker facilitation technique: Managing speaking time, stimulating citizen debate, welcoming stage replacements, and maintaining benevolent neutrality. Creation in national languages: Work on orality, proverbs, and the adaptation of universal texts into Wolof.
Discussions and debates, and conferences
- Spaces for prospective reflection bringing together artists, academics, art critics (hosting international figures in theatre criticism), and development actors: Status of the engaged artist: Debate on professional recognition for social intervention theatre. AI and disinformation: How theatre-forum can counter information manipulation in rural and urban areas.
Selection criteria
SELECTION OF COMPANIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
For this 20th edition, the programme is structured around 30 to 35 activities spread over six days of immersion in the Yarakh district and in various cultural spaces in Dakar.
Selection criteria
- Field Practices: Proven mastery of the Theatre-Forum technique (presence of a real situation of oppression and effective opening of the forum).
- Community Anchoring: Companies and individuals regularly working in the field with vulnerable populations.
- Thematic Relevance: Proposals addressing current economic, social, or environmental issues.
Recommendations for participating troupes
- Sobriety and Technical Autonomy: Favouring light, mobile, and symbolic sets, adapted to public spaces (streets, squares, courtyards).
- Play Format: Theatre forum, (Theatre of the Oppressed), followed by 45 to 60 minutes of interactive forum.
- Languages: Preferred use of the local languages of the target audience.
Selection criteria
LOGISTICS AND SOLIDARITY HOSTING IN YARAKH
The organisation is based on a model of solidarity homestays in the Yarakh Tefess neighbourhood:
Selection criteria
- Intercultural Immersion: Actors and regional/international guests are hosted by families in the neighbourhood, creating lasting human connections and strengthening community cohesion.
- Local Catering: Meals prepared from local produce by women's associations in the neighbourhood are provided.
- Mobility: Shuttles organised between accommodation sites, workshop venues (Blaise Senghor Cultural Centre, schools) and street stages.
Selection criteria
PARTNERS AND NETWORKS
The festival relies on a dynamic of multi-stakeholder partnerships
- Institutional & Local: Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture of Senegal, Municipality of Hann Bel-Air, City of Dakar.
- Cultural & Educational: Blaise Senghor Cultural Centre, Kër Thiossane, Hann Social and Cultural Centre, Bara Gaye School.
- Organisations & Networks: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, ANCS (National Alliance against AIDS), Alliance of Initiatives for Peace and Stability in West Africa, Senegalese Theatre-Forum Federation.
- International Partner Troupes: Collaborations with organisations from Africa, Europe and South America (e.g. La Xixa Teatre, GORARA from Casablanca, RAPAGADA from Drôme, GTO from Bissau, Quase-Cine from Brazil…