Every year, Place de la Republique in Limoges, is the African forum. An exhibition of instruments of traditional and sacred music from various countries, objects of all kinds, statues, masks, craft sales, a restaurant and its African specialties nights "atmosphere",dance workshops and much more makes the 9th African forum organized by the association "Afrique chez vous" from may 26th to june 7th  2009.

It is May 31st and it was an opportunity to get out my black and gold sarong that I wore with a black top and bare feet shoes of the same color. I park the car in a  public car park at about 300 meters from the event. Caroline, our daughters and me go towards the Place de la Republique where we discover the craft market and a large tent. There is music and songs as well.

We go walking around the market, discover objects, clothes, beautiful fabrics. Then we go in the tent where an exhibition of objects is held, including the two small statues of men wearing a skirt on the  picture below. It was beautiful.

While Caroline took a picture of me near  the statue of a naked African woman , a black woman in a traditional dress passed between the lens and me and said with an air approver "in loincloth ..." .

We leave the tent to go and see the latest outdoor stalls including one where there are a white woman and two men of African origin. One says "beautiful fabric, speaking about my sarong, and adds that I should make pants with it. I reply that it is more comfortable than pants. His colleague asked me if I wear this garment for tradition reasons. I tell them that I wear both sarong,  kilts and skirts. The word "skirt" interpellates the first who thinks that the skirt is feminine. So I have a discussion with the woman and the first one, the second man is gone. I explain that skirts for men exist, that we can be male with a skirt, ... While the man is still sceptic, the woman  confirms what I say and adds that in  Montpellier on a regular basis a man in a skirt can be saw. I give them the address of Jupe-Skirt in order they inform themselves precisely on the subject.

We finish this forum with a parade of women dressed in African style,  then we had the benefit of African dances.

Caroline, our daughters and I continued our walk in Limoges, we arrived in front of the Regional Council where the presentation of the riders of the Rallye du Limousin. We watched a bit and get to the car to go to the restaurant "La Pataterie"  north area of Limoges.

Finally, we came back home.

It was the first time I wore this garment. The afternoon went very well and we didn't hear  unpleasant comment. The conversation with the man who was against it remained friendly . I find it normal, by the diversity of tastes and habits are difficult to penetrate, that people dislike or are against it, the main one being that even against one does not reject the person wearing a skirt,  rejection that I  have not felt during the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINKS :

 

 

- Association Afrique chez Vous