MansA inaugurates its PERIFEERIA cycle at Dock B with a unique encounter between Geovani Martins and Balla Fofana, hosted by Maïram Guissé. An evening based on the city, words and the margins.
As part of the Saison France-Brésil 2025, the opening evening of PERIFEERIA #1 focuses on literature, seen here as a political act, a tool for emancipation and a means of expressing urban memories. On May 21, MansA proposes a public conversation between two authors from the "peripheries" - the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and the working-class neighborhoods of Île-de-France - united around the power of storytelling.
Geovani Martins, a Brazilian writer born in 1991 in Rio de Janeiro, is the author of Le Soleil sur ma tête(O sol na cabeça), published in French by Gallimard in the Du monde entier collection. This collection of short stories immerses us in life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, tackling themes such as violence and poverty, but also camaraderie and hope.
Balla Fofana, a French journalist, is the author of the novel Dali's Prophecypublished in 2023 by Grasset. In this autobiographical account, he explores his life's journey between France and Mali, tackling issues of identity, language and social determinism. He is also co-author of La Rage de vivre (2019) with dancer Bolewa Sabourin.
The discussion will be moderated by Maïram Guissé, a French journalist specializing in urban and social issues. She has worked with several French media, including Le Parisien, where for 15 years she covered topics related to the suburbs, immigration and social issues. She is also known for her commitment to the representation of working-class neighborhoods in the media.
The discussion will be followed by cross-readings and a book signing.
