Camille Millerand recounts the nights of Abidjan

By Roger Levry

French freelance photographer Camille Millerand, who works in particular for the prestigious French newspaper Le Monde, has scoured the nightclubs and maquis of Ivory Coast’s economic capital in search of the rarest images, rubbing shoulders with those involved in the nightlife scene. He tells the story of Abidjan’s nightlife through his exhibition entitled « Abidjan, ça dort pas la nuit » (Abidjan, doesn’t sleep).

At the opening of this 12-piece photographic exhibition yesterday, Sunday, April 15th, at the Museum of Contemporary Culture Adama Toungara (MuCAT) in Abobo, the photographer thanked all those who had participated in the project. Noting that he has been coming to Ivory Coast for over 15 years. « I invite the general public to come and appreciate what the Abidjan nightlife has to offer, » he said.

As for Fodé Sylla, Artistic Director of MuCAT, in his welcome address, he noted that « we wanted to do this exhibition to maintain the interaction with the public, who must always feel immersed. Our aim here is to bridge the gap between what’s happening in the street and the MuCAT ».

For Vladimir Cagnolari, editor-in-chief of Pan African Music (PAM), the aim is for the exhibition to be held outdoors, to attract as many people as possible and open doors and eyes to the Abidjan nightlife. « This exhibition is the brainchild of Pan African Music magazine, following a report on Abidjan. The motto of our exhibition is: the world also belongs to those who stay up late, » he says.

Photos from the month-long exhibition were mounted on the MuCAT’s railings. A performance by visual artist Zoro Zipa on the « gbaka » (public transport vehicle) parked inside the MuCAT brought the opening to a close.

« Abidjan, ça dort pas la nuit », commissioned by the Marché des arts du spectacle africain d’Abidjan (MASA) and directed by PAM (Pan African Music), is a collaboration between MASA, PAM and MuCAT. The exhibition, which opened at the Palais de la Culture on Saturday, will run for the duration of the Market, or one week. It can be seen in two locations in Abidjan.