Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
FOR four years, Alliance Française de Bulawayo director Guillaume Ripaud has been at the forefront of a cultural revival in the City of Kings, helping to strengthen ties between Zimbabwean and French cultures while creating opportunities for local artistes, creatives and audiences to connect, collaborate and thrive.
Now, as he prepares to return to Paris following the completion of his posting with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ripaud leaves behind an institution that has become much more than a centre for French language and culture. Under his leadership, Alliance Française de Bulawayo has evolved into one of the city’s most vibrant cultural spaces, bringing together artistes, learners, cultural practitioners and community members from diverse backgrounds.
Ripaud will be honoured at a farewell gathering at Alliance Française de Bulawayo on Wednesday, drawing the curtain on a tenure that has left a lasting mark on the city’s creative landscape.
Throughout his time in Bulawayo, Ripaud championed the idea that culture should unite people rather than divide them. It is a philosophy that has shaped many of the Alliance’s flagship programmes, including Francophonie Week, Fête de la Musique and the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival, which has successfully hosted four editions since his arrival.
Rather than simply showcasing international performers to Zimbabwean audiences, the programmes actively encouraged meaningful collaboration between French and Francophone African artistes and local musicians, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and artistic growth.
Among the collaborations Ripaud is particularly proud of are those involving Burkinabe group BKB and Bulawayo-based artiste Asante Mo, as well as partnerships featuring Kananaye, Lewis Ndlovu of Drums of Peace and Adrian LeJazz. During his tenure, the Alliance also deepened its involvement in Bulawayo’s wider arts calendar through partnerships with established platforms such as the Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo.
For all the successful festivals, performances and partnerships, Ripaud believes his most significant achievement lies elsewhere.
“I hope my greatest contribution is to have been able to gather and to create a sense of community at Alliance Française, and that it’s really a place where people can meet, can be free, can express themselves,” he said.
That vision transformed the Alliance into an active cultural hub hosting close to 90 events each year. These ranged from exhibitions, concerts and film screenings to workshops, rehearsals, discussions and community gatherings, ensuring the venue remained a lively and welcoming space throughout the year.
Like many arts institutions, Alliance Française de Bulawayo has had to operate within financial constraints, with a significant portion of its funding coming from the French Embassy. Yet Ripaud believes innovation, partnerships and mutual trust enabled the organisation to achieve far more than its resources might suggest.
The outgoing director also leaves Zimbabwe with a profound admiration for the country’s creative community. He said one of the most remarkable lessons he learned in Bulawayo was the ability of local artistes to continue producing exceptional work despite financial and infrastructural challenges.
“We may not have the biggest premises, budget or financial resources, but goodwill has enabled us to achieve so much. Local artistes and Zimbabweans in general are incredibly resilient.”
According to Ripaud, that resilience is among the greatest lessons he will carry back to France. It is a lesson that has reinforced many of the values he acquired during a career spanning more than a decade in the arts, culture and creative industries.
Before arriving in Zimbabwe, Ripaud spent 13 years working in the cultural sector, holding positions at renowned institutions including the Paris City Office and the Palace of Versailles.
Born in Paris, he studied Political Sciences at Sciences Po Rennes before furthering his studies at the University of Turku in Finland. Throughout his professional career, he has worked across a wide range of creative disciplines, including visual arts, music, theatre and fashion, collaborating with hundreds of artistes from different parts of the world.
Despite his extensive international experience, Ripaud says Zimbabwe provided fresh perspectives on the power of cultural exchange and the value of embracing uncertainty and innovation.
“What I’ll really take back with me to France is the realisation that we can achieve so much more when we have the will, creativity and courage to take risks,” he said.
As he prepares to leave Bulawayo, Ripaud’s greatest wish is for Alliance Française to continue serving as a home for creativity and collaboration long after his departure.
He hopes artistes, audiences, learners and educators will continue to embrace the institution as a space where ideas can be explored, talents nurtured and meaningful relationships formed.
“I really hope the local cultural scene will continue to embrace Alliance, use this space and make it its own, while Alliance Française remains a true bridge between France and Zimbabwe,” he said.
His contribution has not gone unnoticed.
During recent Bastille Day celebrations, French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Paul-Bertrand Barets paid tribute to Ripaud’s work, thanking him for running Alliance Française de Bulawayo “so brilliantly” over the past few years.
As one chapter closes, another begins. Ripaud’s departure marks the end of a transformative period for the institution, but the foundations he helped build are expected to continue shaping Bulawayo’s cultural landscape for years to come.
Alliance Française de Bulawayo will now enter a new era under the leadership of Joanna Jacquet, who takes over an institution strengthened by four years of community building, artistic collaboration and cross-cultural engagement.
—@MbuleloMpofu
