Once again this year, Francophonie Month was a great success!

Once again this year, the celebration of the French language captured hearts, with a rich program of events featuring no fewer than 20 events throughout the month of March, traditionally dedicated to the French-speaking world.

Seminars, competitions, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, concerts and theatrical performances all showcased the French language in all its forms.

This year’s flagship event was the Festival de la Francophonie, held at the Belgian residence on Saturday March 16. Organized by the French Consulate and the Belgian Consulate, in partnership with the Romanian Consulate General, the Swiss Consulate General, AWEX Wallonie-Bruxelles International, the Franco-South African Chamber of Commerce (FSACCI), and the Belgian Chamber of Commerce, the festival, in its third year in Cape Town, attracted more than 3,200 visitors and welcomed no fewer than 80 merchants - almost 1,000 more visitors than last year and 20 additional exhibitors.
In addition, Mrs Leah Tutu, widow of the famous Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1984) and anti-apartheid fighter, was delighted to join us for this convivial day.

The African Francophonie, which has a strong presence in Africa, was particularly well represented, with the French language providing a strong, unifying link within the French-speaking African communities that are very present in Cape Town, and who had also organized a special event on the subject of the African Francophonie.

As France prepares to host the XIXth Francophonie Summit at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, there’s no doubt that the vitality of the French language in Africa, which represents 60% of world french speakers and a tremendous reservoir of growth, will be in the spotlight at the new Cité internationale de la langue française.

The Consulate General would like to thank the many French-speaking organizations and institutions that took an active part in the development and organization of this rich program: the Consulates General of Belgium, Romania and Switzerland, the Chambers of Commerce, the Alliances Françaises, the Lycée Français du Cap, the Cape Town Accueil association, the Franschhoek Theatre, as well as all the representatives of associations and individuals from French-speaking African countries such as Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Cameroon, and many others.

Discover below a slideshow of the highlights of this month of the Francophonie 2024 and see you next year!