Bocar Niang – Murdesmots, 2024

Bocar Niang comes from a family of griots — travelling poets and storytellers whose job it is to preserve and pass on the oral traditions of communities in certain parts of Africa, and to connect people with their own experiences. His artistic research is based on collecting stories and events, which he then transforms into oral performances, sound recordings, texts or sculptural installations. These multilingual stories help towards sharing new narratives and raising awareness of Griot culture and the territories where it flourishes, as well as strengthening ties between individuals.

Hanging in the halls of Les Grandes Locos, the textile installation Murdesmots creates a poetic narrative in space: seventy words, garnered by the artist during his travels, are interpreted and translated into four languages — French, Italian, Peul and Wolof. The work is a symbol of the convergence of languages and cultures, a kind of multicoloured visual dictionary. Activated by Bocar Niang for readings and performances, Murdesmots is an invitation to share, to speak out, to be polyphonic and to embrace all forms of orality — spoken, declaimed, sung and acted.

As part of the Lyon Biennale, Bocar Niang is organising griot dinners at the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon and in the Les Sources district in Ecully, prepared with the help of chef Zuri Camille de Souza and local residents and participants. During these meals, he will he will share stories about griot culture with guests from a wide range of background.