Africa Day at the «French Corner»: Students from Guinea and DR Congo Shared Francophone Culture with St. Petersburg Residents

On May 25, International Africa Day, a unique cultural meeting dedicated to the French-speaking countries of the continent took place at the Le Coin français (French Corner) space in the "Bronnitskaya" library. This space offers a wide selection of books in French and Russian, as well as educational and recreational activities for those learning French.

The event was held in French for St. Petersburg residents interested in Africa, the French language, and intercultural dialogue. The main initiators and organizers of the event were the leaders of the African communities at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU):

• Moustapha Barry – head of the Guinean community at SPbPU, President of the Guinean Students' Association in St. Petersburg.
• Alexis Banamvigi Ntambwe – head of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) community at SPbPU, active member of the DRC students' association in St. Petersburg;

They created a warm and intellectual atmosphere in which guests were able to truly immerse themselves in the culture of African Francophonie. This time, students from the Republic of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo presented their countries in detail, but the organizers hope that such meetings will become regular.

Alexandra Le Gall, a specialist at the Project Office of the Russian-African University (RAFU), addressed the participants with a welcome speech. She supported the students' initiative and noted the importance of such informal meetings for strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between Russia and Africa.

Guests of the meeting celebrated Africa Day in a warm, intellectual atmosphere, heard spoken French firsthand, learned how the history of Russia, France, and Belgium intertwined with the history of Francophone Africa and what that means today. The meeting ended with a fascinating discussion; students answered questions about their culture, traditions, and daily life. Participants discussed cultural differences, shared history, the significance of the Francophone heritage, and the challenges of adapting to life in Russia.

Guests expressed their sincere gratitude to the students of SPbPU and Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, as well as to the RAFU Project Office for supporting the event. The students plan to invite students from other French-speaking African countries to the next meeting to continue introducing St. Petersburg residents to the richness and diversity of the African continent.