INTERVIEW - LEANDRE SAHIRI A VISIONARY INTELLECTUAL AT THE HEART OF GAGNOA'S SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
[Léandre SAHIRI, professor, prolific writer and fervent defender of culture, and his wife Yvonne Djilet Badi SAHIRI, are the initiators of an ambitious, futuristic project to equip the town of Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire, with a great "temple of all knowledge and all cultures": a media library. With this project, Mr. Sahiri is offering a space that promises to boost local development, by promoting access to culture, education and technology. The project is not limited to the construction of a building, but is part of a process of social and educational transformation. His recently published book, entitled "La future médiathèque de Gagnoa: Un espace d'épanouissement et un outil de développement au cœur de la région du Gôh pour tous les ages", recounts this exciting adventure. In an exclusive interview, he talks about his career, his literary and political commitment, the challenges of this project, and his website www.asmgagnoa.com, which he has just officially launched].
Jombelek: Can you tell us about your literary background and the influences that have shaped your writing?
Pr SAHIRI: I'm originally from Côte d'Ivoire. I hold a Doctorat ès Lettres from the Université de la Sorbonne (Paris), and am a teacher-researcher, writer, editor and literary critic specializing in psychocriticism. I have taught French and Francophone literature, as well as oral and written expression techniques, in several establishments and institutions in France and Côte d'Ivoire. I was a researcher at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in Canada. As a writer, I have authored several articles and books. I am currently Director of the Mary Bro Foundation, an NGO based in England. Together with my wife, Yvonne Badi Sahiri, I also initiated the project to build a media library in Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire. My literary career is, above all, a human adventure. I grew up surrounded by oral narratives and tales, treasures of Ivorian tradition that awakened in me a deep love for stories. Later, the discovery of the great works of French and international literature enriched my world. Writers such as Ahmadou Kourouma, Chinua Achebe, Aimé Césaire, André Breton, Bernard Dadié, Voltaire, Emile Zola, Albert Camus, Frantz Fanon, Fernando Arrabal and others, who combine commitment and universality, inspired me with great ideas and had a major influence on my writing and my vision. As far as my writing is concerned, I would say that it is above all driven by a need to bear witness, to denounce, to fight injustice and its corollaries with all my energy. My obsessive dream is to live in a world where people don't behave like wolves or ogres with a human face.
Jombelek: What motivated you to initiate such an ambitious project as a media library in Gagnoa?
Pr SAHIRI: It's a long-held dream, born of my observation of the crying need for education and access to culture in my home region of Gagnoa. Indeed, like many other towns in Côte d'Ivoire, Gagnoa lacks spaces where young people can learn, be inspired, create and grow intellectually. I firmly believe that culture and knowledge are the pillars of development. And this media library is my way of contributing to this ideal and providing a concrete and immediate response to the needs and expectations of the people of Gagnoa.
Jombelek: Your recently published book details the history of this project. What was the greatest challenge you faced in this adventure?
Pr SAHIRI: In the beginning, the biggest challenge was undoubtedly convincing people that this dream was achievable. People were often hesitant about the scale of such a project, particularly in a context where priorities seem to lie elsewhere. Not only did I have to develop a clear vision, I also had to mobilize human and financial resources, while remaining true to my principles. And today, many people support and recognize this project as a noble initiative and a laudable goal.
Jombelek: The media library is presented as a "development tool". What concrete impact do you hope to have on the local community?
Pr SAHIRI: I hope the media library will help create a generation of young people who are curious, open-minded, creative and equipped to build a better future. In concrete terms, this media library will offer access to educational resources, training workshops and spaces for research, meetings and collaboration. This will enable Gagnoa to become a key hub of knowledge and innovation.
Jombelek: How do you plan to integrate new technologies into this cultural space?
Pr SAHIRI: New technologies will be at the heart of the media library. We plan to offer a large multimedia space, commonly known as the "digital pavilion", with self-service computers, Internet access and other digital tools for research, documentation, training and career guidance, to learn skills such as programming, graphic design and others. We also want to digitize some of our resources to enable online access.
Jombelek: Does your recently launched website (asmgagnoa.com) play a key role in raising awareness and funding for the project?
Pr SAHIRI: Absolutely. The site is an essential platform for sharing the project's story, mobilizing support, and raising funds, so that we can reach people and organizations in geographical areas we haven't been able to reach or can't reach. It also allows us to interact with our partners and maintain full transparency on the management of funds and progress of work.
Jombelek: What kind of partnerships have you developed to make this dream a reality?
Pr SAHIRI: We have forged partnerships with local and international organizations, academic institutions and companies. These collaborations are essential, as they bring diverse expertise, new ideas and the resources we need to bring this project to fruition.
Jombelek: As a writer, how does your passion for literature influence your vision of education and culture?
Pr SAHIRI: Literature has taught me that every book is a window on the world and a tool for personal development. This vision led me to believe that education and culture should be accessible to all. I see the media library firstly as an extension of my personal commitment, of my mission as a human being, and secondly as a contribution to the evolution of humanity. In this sense, the media library should be seen as a "temple of all knowledge and all cultures", where every individual can learn, be informed, be trained and develop thanks to the wealth of words, ideas and images.
Jombelek: Why did you choose Gagnoa as the starting point for this project? Are you planning similar initiatives in other regions?
Pr SAHIRI: Gagnoa is my hometown and holds a special place in my heart. So it was natural to start here, at home, where the need and expectation seemed more pressing than elsewhere. What's more, the Gagnoa region offers ideal, favorable conditions for feasibility. But beware! I dream of seeing this model replicated elsewhere in Côte d'Ivoire, and even in Africa, because the need in this field is the same.
Jombelek: What advice would you give to young writers and cultural entrepreneurs wishing to launch similar projects?
Pr SAHIRI: I'd tell them to dream big and believe in their vision, even if it seems too audacious or impossible. Perseverance, hard work and the ability to mobilize people around you are essential. And that's what I've done. It's important to surround yourself with mentors and never lose sight of the fact that the impact you want to make can make all the difference. I talk about all this, at length, in my recent book entitled "HOW TO ENTERPRISE AND SUCCESS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP" (Ed. Mary Bro Foundation Publishing, London, 2024).
Jombelek: How do you see the role of cultural infrastructures in combating social inequalities?
Pr SAHIRI: Cultural infrastructures are tools for training and emancipation, both individually and collectively. They are also a means of combating social inequalities. They democratize knowledge, making it accessible to everyone, breaking down the walls of ignorance and illiteracy. And, as a result, they help to raise educational and socio-professional levels. They enable individuals to develop their talents and access opportunities they might not otherwise have had. They reduce inequalities and give everyone an equal chance to succeed. They help to reduce school drop-out and unemployment rates in the region, and raise awareness of the importance of reading, education and culture. They contribute to raising awareness of certain realities and changing mindsets, such as placing oneself at the antipodes of the culture of death, daring to be enterprising, and so on.
Jombelek: You've published a number of books. How does this one on the mediatheque differ from your previous ones, both in content and form?
Pr SAHIRI: This book on the media library is both a narrative and a plea for culture as a lever for development. It is rooted in a concrete reality, that of the media library, while exploring universal themes such as dreams, resilience and collective action. On the one hand, it's not a personal book, as it was written in collaboration with my friend Patrice Houahu, a computer engineer and one of the original members of the project's steering committee. On the other hand, it's neither a literary work, nor a didactic one, but a reference document. That's the difference with my previous works, which can be found on Amazon, www.asmgagnoa.com and on my personal website www.sahiri.net.
Jombelek: Do you think that participatory and solidarity financing, via your website, could be a solution to speed up construction?
Pr SAHIRI: Yes, participatory and solidarity financing has enabled us to collect donations and mobilize funds to start construction work on the building. It also enabled us to create a committed community around the project. Each contributor has become an integral part of this adventure. But participatory and solidarity financing has its limits and requires a great deal of communication. Hence, the launch of our website to reach a wider audience in our awareness-raising and fund-raising efforts, and thus gain more contributors and speed up the construction work. Through this site, we hope to reach out to people, companies and organizations in geographical areas we haven't been able to reach, who would be interested in supporting us. We also know that, today, most purchases are made after an information phase on the Internet, so we've decided to offer an online store. Our website will enable us to prospect for more customers, as well as sell much more, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without any intervention on our part.
Jombelek: How would you rate the support of local and national authorities for this initiative?
Prof. SAHIRI: The support from the authorities has been encouraging, although further efforts are still needed and expected. We need a stronger commitment, in terms of subsidies or contributions, particularly in terms of funding and technical support.
Jombelek: What architectural or artistic aspects will make the media library unique?
Pr SAHIRI: We want the media library to be a blend of innovation and tradition. Its architecture will be inspired by local forms and values, while incorporating modern and functional aspects. We're also planning to include works by local intellectuals and artists to anchor this "temple" in the region's cultural identity, without forgetting to open it up to universality. From an architectural point of view, we want the Gagnoa media library to be a jewel, a prestigious heritage, which will be a factor of attractiveness, tourism, dynamism and improvement of the image of the Gagnoa region.
Jombelek: What will a typical day be like for users of this media library once it's up and running?
Pr SAHIRI: A typical day could start with workshops for young people, followed by reading sessions or Internet access for research. Conferences, film screenings and exhibitions will then punctuate the day. It's going to be a lively, dynamic space with a wide range of activities and events.
Jombelek: How can your readers and supporters contribute, apart from funding, to the success of this project?
Pr SAHIRI: All people of good will can contribute by sharing the project with those around them, by contributing ideas, or even by offering material donations such as books or equipment. Every gesture counts and helps to build something lasting. In any case, we currently need building materials (cement, sand, gravel, iron, planks, rafters...), as well as funds to pay the workers on site.
Jombelek: Finally, what are your future ambitions for the promotion of culture and reading in Côte d'Ivoire?
Pr SAHIRI: My ambition is to continue to create spaces and opportunities for culture and reading to become ingrained habits in our communities. I dream of a country where every child, whatever his or her background, can have access to knowledge and creativity through books and the essential tools made available to them, for their personal development and to transform our societies.
Jombelek : Your final words?
Pr SAHIRI: First of all, I'd like to pay a well-deserved tribute to my wife, Yvonne Djilet Badi SAHIRI. She is the driving force behind the project for the future media library in Gagnoa, but also and above all, she supports the project effectively, unfailingly, by all means, sparing no effort or expense. For this, she deserves our esteem and consideration. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have already made donations and to appeal to all those of good will. I would also like to thank you for your collaboration, through this interview which, I hope, will enable the general public to know a little more about this project. It's much appreciated. Thank you very much.
This interview reveals a passionate man, determined to leave a cultural legacy for future generations. Through his actions, Léandre SAHIRI proves that literature and community involvement can go hand in hand to build bridges towards a better future. To follow his work and contribute to this transformative project, visit his website: www.asmgagnoa.com.
Interview by Johanne Elie Ernest Ngo Mbelek aka Jombelek.
Paris, December 2, 2024.
