Poetic justice
Stefan Christoff
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Koffy: Tongues untied
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Poet Fabrice Koffy found his voice with Kalmunity Vibe Collective, and talks to Hour about the release of his first spoken word album
Poetry in Montreal is increasingly reflecting Montreal's identity as a global city. Kalmunity Vibe Collective poet and spoken word artist Fabrice Koffy's debut album, Poésic, delivers ringing verses shaped by his experience of living on three continents - Africa, Europe and Canada. An engaging spoken word album, Koffy's poetry appears like a stream throughout, but is rounded out by the musical stylings of his long-time collaborator Guillaume Soucy, who mixes in diverse instrumentation, from violin to guitar and percussion. "The words from my mouth like the sounds of his fingers," Koffy has said of the artistic partnership.
Having grown up speaking French in Côte d'Ivoire, Koffy's album reflects the unique identity of Africans whose first language is French, and is an echo of France's recent colonial past. Hour's Stefan Christoff spoke with Montreal poet Fabrice Koffy for the Cultural Crossroads interview series.
Hour What are the main themes you work with on your first spoken-word album?
Fabrice Koffy Actually my poetry connects with people on points we all have in common. It is an attempt to locate our commonality, and find unity. On faith, family or the society around us, my work always tries to find our common humanity.
Hour Your life has spanned different continents, from Côte d'Ivoire to France to Canada - it was very much a global experience. How has this experience as a global citizen informed your poetry?
Koffy Growing up, my life travelled
between different places. I was born in Canada, but spent time in Europe as a child, in both England and France. Most of my school years were [spent] in Côte d'Ivoire. This experience shaped me profoundly. As a poet, I revisit all these very different places around the world within my work. Hour How?
Koffy Fruit de la colonisation, a poem on my album, is about the hybrid identity between being African but also French. I actually don't speak any local languages from Côte d'Ivoire and there are over 60 dialects. I speak French.
I am an African from Côte d'Ivoire, yes, but I actually grew up speaking French and I know French history. I even learned African history through their books - through the French education system in my country. In reality I am a product of colonization. For example, my parents spoke to me in French, not Abouré, the language my family spoke for generations. Today my parents speak Abouré, but not me. Nothing is stopping me today from going to learn Abouré now and actually I am trying to and it's difficult. I even have some books here in Montreal.
Hour How does Montreal speak to you as an artist?
Koffy I think it is really hard to be lost in Montreal as an artist because there are so many places you can feel at home. Kalmunity Vibe Collective was where I found my artistic home. I started attending Kalmunity's weekly concerts at Sablo Kafé and it became a ritual. Slowly I started reading my work - I had been writing privately for years - and people in Kalmunity started calling me a poet.
In Montreal there are so many different and vibrant communities. It is finding these bridges between the different communities that is so exciting for an artist. Kalmunity [was that] bridge [for me].
So yes, I am African from Côte d'Ivoire, but also influenced heavily by France. There is an entire generation of us like this because many of our families stopped speaking our own languages.
Hour What is the situation today in Côte d'Ivoire?
Koffy In Côte d'Ivoire, being in government isn't a civic duty - it is often a way to make money. For most politicians being in government, it is about the privileges and prestige it brings: the money, the cars, etc.
People are suffering very much today in Côte d'Ivoire - not as much as during the civil war, but still, the majority of people suffer poverty. Although the war has officially stopped, it is still difficult to travel within the country, and especially difficult to travel to the northern areas, as they are still controlled by the rebels. Although [a northern] rebel leader [Guillaume Soro] is now prime minister in the government, including many of the politicians he once fought against, crossing between north and south is still difficult for some people. After the civil war, government officials from both sides are now focusing on developing the natural gas and oil, but they are taking huge profits while the majority remains in poverty. The government isn't distributing the wealth.
For more information on Fabrice Koffy, visit www.myspace.com/fabricepoeteurbain.
