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"I created the African Languages Universe for a proud, playful, and accessible reclaiming of our languages in homes and imaginations, from ages 7 to 77" (Diaddou Cissé, founder of Univers des Langues Africaines)

A bridge between generations, continents, and languages

Since its beginnings, Univers des Langues Africaines, an independent publishing house, has had a simple yet powerful dream: to bring African languages to life in homes, schools, games, and everyday conversations. This dream grows with every word passed on, every language rediscovered, every child who speaks their first words in Soninke, Lingala, Bambara, Wolof, Pulaar...

Today, Univers des Langues Africaines has become:

an educational, accessible, and multilingual publishing house,

a brand committed to intergenerational transmission,

a lively, playful, and reality-connected learning space.

Children of the African diaspora, regardless of their level in Soninke, Wolof, Bambara, Lingala..., all face the same issue: the lack of books in their heritage languages tailored to them. Univers des Langues Africaines was born to fill this gap by offering simple and fun books and supporting them in learning African languages. Whether you're a minor, an adult beginner, a parent wanting to pass on their language to their child, or an African language enthusiast, Univers des Langues Africaines has a program suited to your needs!

At Univers des Langues Africaines, we offer:

conversation manuals or guides (Bambara, Lingala, Soninke, Wolof, Pulaar...); the books consist of lessons accessible to everyone, with exercises, reviews, and audio to easily speak the language.

games for children; tools adapted for kids to gently discover African languages.

online language courses, tailored for adults and children, interactive and immersive; they allow you to master an African language while discovering its cultural richness.

In short: manuals, games, and online courses—everything you need to learn (or relearn) an African language, at any age and at your own pace.

LAfrican languages deserve more than just a memory: they deserve to be lived, spoken, and loved.

Hi, I’d like to know how to say in Fang: “Mom, I want to give you this souvenir from my trip to Annecy.”

« Ali is not dead; he continues to inspire many talented musicians. There’s a new generation of artists who have their own style, but they’ve all listened to Ali Farka Touré. » (Ms. Kuypers-Touré, widow of Ali Farka Touré)

Ali Farka Touré (1939-2006)

Recognized worldwide as one of the most important musicians from Africa, his guitar playing earned him the nickname “the African John Lee Hooker.” But Ali Farka Touré preferred to flip the script and highlight the roots of Southern U.S. music in the Sahel region: « I have the roots and the trunk; they only have the leaves and branches. » In other words, what John Lee Hooker played was an echo of a distant African past. Ali Farka Touré was the guardian of traditions, and even though his sound resembled the blues, it remained deeply tied to the land of his ancestors—in Africa, in Mali. A farmer at heart, the famous Malian singer and guitarist continued to cultivate the land until his hospitalization for cancer, from which he passed away on March 7, 2006, in Bamako at the age of 66.

The son of a soldier who fell in combat while serving in the French army, he was born in 1939 in Kanau, near Timbuktu, then part of French Sudan (a subdivision of French West Africa, now Mali). He was raised by an uncle with harsh teaching methods and a grandmother who was “strong in voodoo,” communicating with spirits. At ten years old, he had a revelation for the single-string lute djurkel, “the instrument of the spirits,” and for the fiddle njarka. Seven years later, while training as a driver at a clinic, he fell in love with a colleague’s guitar. It wasn’t until 1968, when he was to represent Mali in Bulgaria, that he finally had the chance to acquire his first six-string guitar. International acclaim came later, following numerous concerts in the UK in the mid-1980s, at the invitation of World Circuit, the independent English label to which he remained loyal his entire life.

Several times, Ali Farka Touré announced his plan to stop making music. « It’s time for me to focus on my own. I don’t want Europe to tear me away from Africa. [...] Me, I love cultivating the land. In my life, if I’m not in the fields, I’m fishing or in the garden! »

Yet, Ali Farka Touré regularly returned to perform in Europe and the U.S. In 1995, he won his first Grammy Award for the album Talking Timbuktu, recorded in 1993 with bassist John Patitucci, percussionist Jim Keltner, the great Californian guitarist Ry Cooder, and the venerable guitarist Clarence Gatemouth Brown. His last three years were extraordinarily productive. Back to back, he recorded his best albums: In the Heart of the Moon (2004), Ali & Toumani (released in 2010), both duets with kora player Toumani Diabaté, and Savane (2005), dedicated to the traditional Peul and Songhai repertoires. At the same time, he tirelessly devoted himself to his agricultural work and his duties as mayor, a role he had held since 2004.

A multi-instrumentalist, he was a self-taught musician with an impressive musical culture. His discography includes around fifteen albums and several timeless hits used in films or as TV program themes. A universal symbol of West African sound heritage, his presence and his role in spreading a centuries-old legacy are undeniable. His son, also a musician, Vieux Farka Touré, now bears the heavy responsibility of carrying on his illustrious father’s message and legacy. His album Les Racines, released in 2002, is his contribution to preserving an instantly recognizable sound.

Meanwhile, his country, Mali, has paid tribute to him: for several years now, a square and a street in Bamako, the capital of Mali, have borne his name (both located in the Lafiabougou district).

In 2023, World Circuit released a new posthumous album, Voyageur, the first to feature previously unreleased tracks since 2010. It includes pieces composed and recorded spontaneously over the last 15 years, whether during his many tours or in the studio. These tracks once again showcase Touré’s passion for the musical traditions of his homeland and for the creativity and cultural diversity of West Africa. Below, an excerpt from this album: the beautiful song Chérie (with a very young Oumou Sangaré)—magnificent!!!

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Ali Farka Touré feat. Oumou Sangaré: Chérie

Hi there, we’re heading to Cagliari for one night in April, staying at a hotel without a restaurant. Would you happen to know of a restaurant near Via Giuseppe Garibaldi for a typical dinner that’s not too pricey? Thanks.

To chat about waterways, this is the place.

The first theme of 2026 is: "Waterways Around the World".

Water is present almost everywhere on our blue planet, so I’ve narrowed the theme down to waterways—rivers, streams, brooks, and the like.



Seas, oceans, lakes, or other stagnant waters won’t be considered for this month’s theme 😅. However, waterfalls and cascades are very welcome 😊!



Practical details:

**Participation** Each VF member can submit up to 3 photos, until Sunday, January 25th at 11:59 PM Paris time. Each photo must be posted in a separate message, with its number (1, 2, or 3). Don’t forget to add a little explanation (commentary, location, etc.).

**Voting** Each VF member can vote for the 3 photos they consider the best, based on their own criteria and the theme.

Voting will take place from Monday, January 26th to Saturday, January 31st at 11:59 PM Paris time.

Photos should be ranked in order of preference: - 1st photo: 3 points - 2nd photo: 2 points - 3rd photo: 1 point

The winner is the photographer whose photo receives the most points.

Results will be published on February 1st. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. The winner will have the honor of organizing February 2026’s contest.

Photos that have already been nominated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in another contest are not eligible to participate in this one.

This thread is exclusively for contest photo submissions. All discussions, comments, and chit-chat should take place in the thread: here

I'd love some tips for traveling on a tight budget

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to set off on a "round-the-world" trip/long journey at the start of next year, lasting between 4.5 and 6 months. For now, the itinerary looks like this: South Korea (2 weeks) -> Japan (1 month) -> New Zealand (1 month) -> Argentina (1 month) -> United States (1 month).

I’m on medication (paroxetine 20 mg/day) and was hoping to bring enough for the entire trip so I wouldn’t have to find a doctor on the spot, deal with a molecule that might be slightly different from what’s available in France, or wonder if that’s even a possibility. Basically, it seemed simpler on paper...

But after looking into the regulations for each country, it’s suddenly way less simple . Many seem to only allow the amount corresponding to the length of your "stay" in the country... Which is a problem if I arrive in Korea with 4.5 months’ worth of medication, for example.

After all that, and even though I’ll obviously contact the relevant authorities in each country (fingers crossed for a response 😛), here’s my question: Has anyone here had any experience with this? (Even if it’s a different medication or different countries, any input would be helpful!)

Thanks in advance! 😉 Ananasas

Hi, I’m a 58-year-old French woman looking for pen pals—women only—to chat about travel and our respective customs. Thanks!

Hello I’m looking for a travel companion for a world cruise—I’ve dreamed about it my whole working life. Now that retirement has arrived, I plan to make it happen in 2026, preferably between September and December. See you soon

Hi everyone, I’m planning a round-the-world cycling trip and I’m looking for a travel companion. I’m aiming to set off in 2028 (so we’ve got time to get to know each other). The philosophy behind this long-term journey—spanning several years (at least 3)—is camping and as much self-sufficiency as possible. For me, this’ll be the last trip I take (I’ll be 67 and finally retired). As a result, I plan to visit a ton of places. If you’re interested, more info by email.

Hi everyone, and thanks in advance for your help! I know this forum is really great, and I feel a bit awkward posting this request... I speak a little Polish, but not that well, especially when it comes to slang or colloquial speech... Someone said to me the other day: "kurwa ty kurwa". Of course, I know what the word "kurwa" means, but when someone is really angry, I’m not sure how to interpret this phrase. Could you please help me by giving the French equivalent? I’m really sorry for this somewhat unusual request, but it’s very important to me. Thanks!

I'm looking for the title and singer (Pupo-style, like "Su di noi") of a song from the 1970s and 1980s that often repeated "solo lei" and "su di noi" in Italian, including a phrase that goes "il vento che sopra di noi" "il sole che brilla su noi". Can't find it via Google, Shazam, or ChatGPT—I'd be really grateful for any leads! 😅🎶 PS: I have the audio file since I recorded it on cassette back then, but I can't attach it here.

Between composition and improvisation: Anthony Braxton

For over half a century, the American Anthony Braxton—a composer, multi-instrumentalist, music theorist, university professor, mentor, and visionary—has been one of the key figures in avant-garde contemporary music. Braxton himself describes his music as "creative music," drawing inspiration from jazz, European New Music (Schönberg, Stockhausen, and Xenakis are among the composers who influenced him), and music from various world cultures. In other words, his work uniquely oscillates between composition and improvisation. His body of work includes around 700 compositions, over 200 albums, and a dozen theoretical books.

Anthony Braxton is one of the most striking and brilliant figures in contemporary jazz. As a member of the Creative Construction Company (with violinist Leroy Jenkins and trumpeter Leo Smith) and the quartet Circle (with Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Barry Altschul—whose double album Circle. Paris Concert is a landmark of contemporary jazz), with his groundbreaking solo alto saxophone album For Alto (1968), his duo with drummer Max Roach, Birth and Rebirth (1978), and especially his own ensembles and large formations, he set out to "redefine the space of music" (Braxton). In doing so, he gave decisive impetus to the development of jazz, making him a star of the avant-garde in the 1970s, with a recording contract from a major label.

Born in 1945 in the South Side, an African-American neighborhood of Chicago, Braxton was always a bit of an outsider, not doing what everyone else did. While the boys in his neighborhood hung out and goofed around, he stayed home pondering chess games or practicing the saxophone. Later, he became a leading figure in the Chicago musicians' organization AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), a mutual aid network for many African-American musicians in Chicago's new jazz scene. He then led his own formations for years, including musicians like George Lewis, John Lindberg, Marilyn Crispell, Gerry Hemingway, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Barry Altschul, Mark Dresser, Ray Anderson, and Mark Helias. In the mid-1980s, Braxton settled down a bit by accepting a teaching position at Mills College at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a tenured professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, for many years. From his "school" emerged musicians of the younger generation, such as Taylor Ho Bynum (trumpet), Aaron Siegel (percussion), Jay Rozen (tuba), Jessica Pavone (violin, viola, flute), and Mary Halvorson (guitar).

I’ve seen Anthony Braxton in concert many times: the first time at the Moers Jazz Festival (1976) in a duo with George Lewis (trombone)—I still remember it vividly—the last time in November 2021 in Ulm with his Diamond Curtain Wall Trio (with the incredible Portuguese trumpeter Susanna Santos Silva; see the photos).

Just a few days ago, on June 4, this exceptional figure celebrated his 80th birthday. Congratulations!

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I'd like to know if anyone has already done the "Charmes de Thaïlande" tour by Climats du Monde. My trip is planned for January 18, 2025, and based on some reviews, I'm worried about getting scammed. Can you give me some info?

This is where we chat, not on the contest thread

Hey everyone!

Nothing in this section since 2020? Well, I’ll jump in. With Italy—completely random, of course .

Have you heard of Alessandro Mannarino? He’s something else compared to Toto Cotugno or Eros Ramazzotti...

A young-ish guy (45 years old), handsome like a bad boy , who started his musical journey on the streets of Rome, sleeping in squats with people from all walks of life, before being discovered by a journalist and recording 5 albums.

His music is super *orrechiabile* (how do you say that in French?... easy to listen to...?) with diverse influences. And his lyrics—simple but powerful.

A few examples from his different albums:

Svegliatevi italiani

Translation, not bad.

Maddalena

Translation, very rough, but it gives you an idea. PS for Masterpo if you’re reading this: an answer to *Noli me tangere*! Mado had other things to do. Something human, wonderfully human.

Arca di Noè

No translation available for this song, which sings of a lost Noah’s Ark world adrift. So, uh, the chorus? Let’s go, let’s go. But where are we going? Who knows? Who knows? I’m not afraid. This life is all I have, and the shorter it is, the louder I’ll sing: Eu quero viver como um beija-flor

Agua

No translation for this one either. Just two lines: At night, you can search in an embrace for something that doesn’t taste like rage.

Hope this inspires some of you to listen more, in the winter light.

Bonjour Nous avons reserver la croisiere tour du monde 2021 costa. Malheureusement mon mari est tombe malade. Il est fort possible qu il ne puisse pas partir. Croisiere. fr nous reclame 50% du montant de la croisiere en cas de demande d annulation. C est une somme enorme. Cette croisiere etait la croisiere de notre vie. Le destin en a decidé autrement. Nous etions tellement surs de la faire que nous n avons pas pris d assurance. Que pouvez vous me conseiller. ? Merci d avance

Bonjour !

J'écris sur ce forum afin de sollisiter l'aide de quelqu'un qui parle l'hindi en effet, j'aimerai me faire tatouer en hindi. J'ai essayer de traduire ma phrase seule mais c'est assez compliqué 😛, il y a beaucoup de traduction différente ! voila la phrase : --> " Le jour où quelqu'un vous aime, il fait très beau " J'ai trouvé cette traduction là : जिस दिन कोई आपसे प्यार करता है वह बहुत धूप है Est-ce exact ?

Je vous remercie de m'aider ! A bientôt !

Hi everyone,

I recently read a graphic novel called Hippie Trail about travel, which came with a playlist (available on a site via QR code, but that’s not the main point). The music is from the 60s/70s, and we all know the classics from that era on the theme of the road (or at least I imagine so). That’s why I thought I’d ask you for your ideal playlist—with some more recent and lesser-known tracks. I was thinking of a list of ten songs, as varied as possible, to broaden our horizons (that’s the point of travel, right?). So: old and new songs, hits and hidden gems, tracks in French or other languages, sounds from the West, the East, Africa, the Americas, or elsewhere—jazz, classical, rock… Personally, I’ll admit I’m not super musically cultured, which is why I’m turning to you to help fill in the gaps

Here’s my On the Road playlist (no particular order):

- Hit the Road Jack, by Ray Charles - In the Steppes of Central Asia, by Borodin - Barcarolle, by Offenbach - Al Otro Lado Del Río, by Jorge Drexler - Nationale 7, by Charles Trenet - On ira, by Zaz - On the Road Again, by Bernard Lavilliers - Emmenez-moi, by Charles Aznavour - Sur la route, by Raphaël - Clandestino, by Manu Chao

What’s yours?

Bonjour demande des renseignements urgent pour réserver une croisière tour du monde MSC 2022 au sujet de AZUR CROISIERE et CRUISE LINE différence de prix importante faut-il avoir des doutes

Avez vous de nouvelles du remboursement des 35 % du tour du monde costa de 2020.ou y a t’il des passagers qui ont été remboursé

Conseils agence de voyages pour une croisière TDM 2022 MSC

Bonjour, Pour mon prochain tatouage je souhaiterai me faire ça mais je ne connais pas la traduction. Quelqu'un peut-il m aider svp ?😊

Bonjour, quelqu'un pourrait-il me fournir la traduction de ces signes ? merci

Après l'âpre débat "Paella, avec ou sans chorizo ?", je vous propose de disserter sur le thème de "Gazpacho ou Salmorejo ?". Suggestion de Hannnnah qui voulait torpiller le post Paella... 🤪

N.B.: On évitera de de divaguer vers des choses baptisées "gaspacho", genre "revisité", du type "gaspacho de courgette"...

Le gazpacho connaît une grande notoriété, assez récente d'ailleurs, au point de se retrouver en "briques" dans les supermarchés (alors "Gaspacho", avec S).

Le salmorejo est beaucoup moins connu, sans doute parce que ce mot est imprononçable par un non-hispanophone, au même titre que, par exemple, relojería...

Le gazpacho, comme la paella, peut être fait de multiples façons. Lorsqu'on circule en Espagne, on ne déguste jamais deux fois le même, d'un restaurant à l'autre. Les composants varient, la texture varie, du plus fluide au plus épais, avec ou sans "garniture". Toujours délicieux.

Pour le salmorejo, en revanche, il n'y a qu'une seule recette, et la voici, en copié/collé sur le post suivant.

Bonjour à tous, Mon rêve serait de faire un tour du monde à vélo, et est fais plusieurs estimations, en notant les endroits où je voulais absolument aller, le parcours le moment propice de ma vie... Bref, j'ai compté à peu près 3 ans. Il faudrait que je n'ai pas encore d'enfant donc, on va dire avant 35 ans et si j'ai un travail il est impossible de partir 3 ans comme ça. Donc la seule fenêtre serait après mes études que je pense terminer à 23 ans. Le hic est le suivant : quelles seront les conséquences de partir 3 ans et d'avoir un aussi gros gouffre dans le CV pour trouver un travail ? Si je réalise ce rêve j'en assumerai toutes les conséquences, mais je voulais savoir à quelle point c'est compliquée de retrouver une vie normale et donc un boulot après 3 ans d'absence. Je peux, au pire, coupé ce voyage et le transformer en 2 ans, puis en prenant une Année sabbatique par la suite mais je préférerais vraiment tout réaliser d'un coup, navoir à penser qu'à soi pendant 3 ans, ne plus avoir les tâches quotidienne... Bref je veux une vrai coupure avec le quotidien et la vie "normale" donc pus c'est long mieux c'est. Merci beaucoup de vos réponses.

Ps: je pense faire des études dans un domaine très demander d'où la difficulté de trouver du travail dans ce domaine après 3 ans de vide. Mais au pire je peux faire totalement autre chose et patienter avant de trouver un poste. Encore merci !!

Bonjour, Je cherche à savoir quel est le sens d'une expression employée par feue ma grand-mère vietnamienne quand elle était énervée :"Baanotia ! ".Merci pour votre aide.

Bonjour, un petit sondage pour savoir quels pays avez-vous préférés dans le monde ? Et pourquoi par faire un petit top 3 🙂