Report on Francophone Culture: Current Events and Cultural Analysis

This report delves into various aspects of Francophone culture through the analysis of current events across different geographical regions, including North America, Europe, and Africa. The study examines cultural differences between France and Quebec, the impact of French laws on Muslim women wearing hijabs, and artistic expressions of empathy for refugees in Switzerland. It also addresses post-colonial tensions in Haiti and the challenges faced by African migrants seeking refuge in former colonial powers like France, using Togo as a case study. The report synthesizes news articles and provides personal reviews to offer a comprehensive view of the cultural, political, and social dynamics within the Francophone world. This report is available on Desklib, a platform providing a wealth of study tools for students.

Running head: FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Quebec
Article 1
Title: Culture Shock for French in Quebec: ‘We Smoke Cigarettes, They Smoke Pot’
Author: Dan Bilefsky
Publication: The New York Times
Date: February 19, 2019
Reference: Bilefsky, D. (2019). Culture Shock for French in Quebec: ‘We Smoke Cigarettes,
They Smoke Pot’. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/world/canada/montreal-
quebec-french-in-canada.html
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- Fred Schneider
What- difference between the cultural practices and habits between the Francophonic people of
Quebec and that of France
Where- Quebec
When- 2019
Why- French people find the distortion of French Culture as a culture shock
The article deals with the difference between the cultural practices and habits between the
Francophonic people of Quebec and that of France, and the rhetoric which finds a mention in the
songs of Fred Schneider. He mocks at the difference in cultural practices that has permeated into
the food habits, language, leisure habits and choice of expression of the two communities who

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speak the same language yet seem so alien to each other. Rhetorical statements like a Chinese
and a Mexican having more commonality between them as compared to a Quebecois and French
person from France. This difference has been epitomized by using the expression that the Canada
is like a culture shock to a French Culture. While the French smoke cigarettes, the Quebecois
smoke pot; French prefer their wine while the Quebecois the beer; the French people usually
prefer using the formal pronoun of “Vous” when dealing with strangers, while the Quebecois
quickly jumps to the informal “tu”.
Personal Review:
It is thus very much evident from the list of differences mentioned above, that France is
all about being cultured, having the finesse, being courteous and having the element of
sophistication in grained in them while the culture of Quebecois is an adulterated version of the
French culture in its purest form by virtue of the American influence in it having the influence of
other cultures. Naturally, that purity of being French like it is in France cannot be found in
Quebec, and that is how being French and being a Quebecois is distinct.

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France
Article 2
Title: Hijab: a very French obsession.
Author: Rokhaya Diallo
Publication: Al Jazeera
Date: April 4, 2018
Reference: Diallo, R. (2018). Hijab: a very French obsession. Retrieved from
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/hijab-french-obsession-180402135257398.html
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- Mennel Ibtessem
What- French Muslim Singer appearing in national television and presenting her songs wearing
the Islamic headscarf
Where- France
When- 2018
Why- wearing any ostentatious signs of religious as per the 2011 legislation in public is banned
in the country
The new article deals with the issue of a French Muslim Singer Mennel Ibtissem
appearing in national television and presenting her songs wearing the Islamic headscarf despite
the ban in the country on wearing any ostentatious signs of religious as per the 2011 legislation
making it a legally punishable offence. Such a move was considered as important by the French

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Government citing the necessity to safeguard the spirit of secularism in the country. The worst
hit by the legislation has been the muslim women who choose to wear the Islamic headscarf.
Ever since the legislation observant women have come under the radar of being tormented and
penalized in an unjustified manner as a result of the law. From discrimination to further
marginalization, the muslim women have faced it all in the country.
Personal Review:
This is a concern for many intellectuals and common people all around the world as the
muslim women feel that the law has been designed to categorically target them and their faith.
The muslim women and the community as a whole have opined that they feel threatened since
France is supposed to be the land of liberty and by mean dof infringing upon the rights of the
muslim women to wear the choice of garments they prefer, the French Government has actually
belied the very basis on which the country is based fundamentally. Hence it has been termed as a
form of obsession. To say that the French law is discriminatory to the muslim women is wrong
as any form of religious symbolism is banned in public and not just the hijab.

5FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
Switzerland
Article 3
Title: This Spectacular 'Message Of Hope' For Refugees Is Best Seen From The Sky.
Author: Lee Moran
Publication: The Huffington Post
Date: September 19, 2018
Reference: Moran, L. (2018). This Spectacular 'Message Of Hope' For Refugees Is Best Seen
From The Sky. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/saype-artist-refugees-
migrants-message-of-hope_us_5ba23ebce4b013b09780d467
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- Saype
What- Voicing of empathy for the refugees through art
Where- Switzerand
When- 2018
Why- Represents the coming of two Francophonic countries through cultural diplomacy
This particular news article shows the concern of the French artists voiced in Switzerland,
in the city of Geneva towards the refugees who have been flocking to Europe for the past few
years in hope of a better future and better stability in the countries of France, Germany, Sweden
especially. French artist Saype had said that it was a message of hope for the sake of the refugees
who are in need of help and must be provided with that. His painting depicts a girl child floating

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an origami boat in the Lake Geneva just outside the United Nations Headquarters. The Girl child
in his opinion has been to symbolize the future generations.
Personal Review:
There is a political reason behind a French artists choosing to paint his creations in
Switzerland. Firstly, the cultural similkarity between the countries has been utilized by Saype.
Switzerland being a country having a sizeable French speaking population and also has a strong
presence of French culture has made it easier for Saype to make his political statement in
Switzerland. Even before, Saype had showcased his work in Switzerland, at the Chaux-de-Mont
ski slope in Leysin, in the year 2016. He had by means of his painting that year in Switzerland
tried to pay a tribute to the Tour De France. It is indeed a very commendable thing that a French
artist is being able to showcase his artistic creativity in a different country. Through it, the
French and the Swiss have been able to come together, through cultural diplomacy. Secondly,
Switzerland being the country to have the headquarters of the United Nations Organizations, in
Geneva, is also a propituous place for the French artist to display his political views for the sake
of the good of mankind, and for persuading both France and Switzerland to help the refugees out
more.

7FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
Haiti
Article 4
Title: Haiti country profile
Author: News Correspondant
Publication: BBC News
Date: February 11, 2019
Reference: Haiti country profile. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-
america-19548810
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- French and Haitian Government
What- returning of the independence ransom by France to Haiti
Where- Haiti
When- 2019
Why- correction of a historical injustice and the solving of the issue of poverty in Haiti
This particular news article deals with the post colonial tensions that have taken place in
Haiti even after having gained independence from their colonial masters, France. Historically,
Haiti was the first country having a black majority population, to oust the French colonial
masters and also the institution of slavery at the same time in the early half of the 19th century.
However, the problems tended to have taken a different shape instead of getting solved when the
French Colonial Masters left the country. France had claimed for reparations from Haiti against

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the independence that they had granted to the nation. It was a sort of compensation which Haiti
owed to France, and was considered as the ‘Independence Debt’. Haiti had finally been able to
pay the debt off in the year 1947. Apart from that unjustified sum of money which had been
levied by France to Haiti, in the post colonial era there were other problems as well. Haiti had
been perpetually under the grip of dictatorship and natural calamities like the earthquakes and the
tsunamis had wreaked havoc taking a toll on the live and property of the people in the nation.
These could be attributed as the reasons why Haiti has been reduced to of the poorest nations of
the world.
Personal Review:
Given the situations prevailing in Haiti, France had been pressurized into paying back the
‘Independence Debt’ taken from the country. It is indeed a justified move as colonization had
been exploitative towards the host country, and on top of that France had made Haiti face double
jeopardy by levying the ‘Independence Debt’. Such mistakes should be rectified and the
international agencies must take proactive steps to ensure that Haiti faces justice.

9FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
Togo
Article 5
Title: Man trying to enter France from Italy dies of hypothermia
Author: Angela Giuffrida
Publication: The Guardian
Date: February 8, 2019
Reference: Giuffrida, A. (2019). Man trying to enter France from Italy dies of hypothermia.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/man-dies-hypothermia-france-
italy-derman-tamimou-togo
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- Derman Tamimou
What- death of a Togolese man entering France
Where- between France and Italy
When- 2019
Why- African nationals are increasingly seeking refuge in the countries of their former colonial
masters
This particular news article is about a Togolese man who had died of hypothermia while
crossing the border over to France from Italy. He had been successful in crossing the
Mediterranean, but the cold and snow had killed an immigrant man from Togo, named Derman
Tamimou, aged 29. His dead body was found between Braincon and Montgenevre in a village

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falling in the Alpine region of Piedmont, in North Italy. Tamimou had been warned by the
volunteers that the weather outside was extremely severe and the level of cold had reached fatal
levels. Yet Tamimou had dared to venture out in the cold and had attempted to reach France via
the Col de l’Échelle mountain pass, despite warnings from the volunteers helping the refugees
out and the Red Cross Organization. He was found unconsciously lying by the highway that
linked the Hautes Alpes by a truck driver and was immediately taken to a hospital in Piedmont,
where he was declared dead.
Personal Review:
In the refugee crisis that has recently been a major issue in Europe, it has been witnessed
that the refugees from Africa are actually risking their lives to reach to the countries which had
formerly colonized them. They are risking their lives to reach the countries which had formerly
colonized them, with the orientation that their former colonial masters owe them aid and
assistance after years of exploitation. Togo being a former colony of France, Tamimou had
sought to go to France, in search of a good job and French language not being a problem, he was
all the more encouraged to choose France.

11FRANCOPHONIC CULTURE
Togo
Article 6
Title: Togo Profile
Author: News Correspondant
Publication: BBC News
Date: May 10, 2018
Reference: Togo profile. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-
14106781
Answering the 5Ws:
Who- Togolese Government
What- current situation in Togo
Where- Togo
When- 2018
Why- poverty in post colonial Togo
Togo, is a small country between Ghana and Benin in the Western coastal part of the
continent of Africa. It was at some point of time a colony of France and had gained its
independence only in the year 1960. Not very much different from the other nations of the
continent of Africa, Togo is underdeveloped and has been under constant struggle to make ends
meet and build a stable economy. Apart from economic problems, the nation has also come
under severe political problems. It has been criticized for one of the lowest rates of human rights