Founded in 1996 by the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Centre d'Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI) aims to facilitate the settlement and integration of international newcomers. This structure, which plays a key role in promoting the spirit of multicultural Geneva, was the ideal place to welcome the author of "L'Occident ambigu", a book on the dialogue of cultures and civilizations between Africa and the West.
The meeting began with speeches by Ambassadors Pierre de Cocatrix, CAGI Director, and Henri Monceau, OIF Permanent Representative to the European Office of the United Nations, a partner organization of the event along with the Georges Arthur Forrest Foundation.
In order to get to the heart of the matter, the talk was preceded by two filmed elements. Firstly, the audience was shown an extract from the Senegalese television news at the time of the book's release, reminding us that it resonates with that of the author's uncle, Cheick Hamidou Kane. In addition, a documentary by French director Stéphane de Trébons enabled those present to discover the passion that drives Hamidou Sall, his loyalty to friendship and his ongoing battle for dialogue between cultures.
For almost 30 minutes, Hamidou Sall's words enthralled the hundred or so privileged guests gathered in the Club Suisse de la Presse hall. Ambassadors to the UN, representatives of the city and canton of Romandie, professors from the University of Geneva and private academic institutions, and traders had the chance to benefit from the Senegalese author's wide-ranging culture, and to reflect on how to build Vivre ensemble.
To relive the evening, click on http://pressclub.ch/rencontre-litteraire-avec-amidou-sall/