Thursday, February 28, 2013

Brothers in Exile – A Play by Jake Lamar


When I published the Black Paris Profile on Jake Lamar in November 2011, he had already begun work on a play about the friendship/rivalry between Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Chester Himes in Paris in the 1950s. He was writing it in both English and French and planned to begin “workshopping” it (having actors and a director playing out scenes before a play goes into formal rehearsals) within a year.

Fast forward to 2013…

On February 25th, Jake’s dream was realized when Beaumarchais-SACD – a French association that supports writers and producers of the performing arts – sponsored a reading of Brothers in Exile. Because I love the theater and because it is rare to be able to associate French theater with the African-American presence in Paris, I was determined to attend. I was proud to be present at this historic event!

The evening unfolded in the Salle Jean Tardieu at the Théâtre du Rond Point, near the roundabout where avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt meets the Champs Elysées. The salle (room), which holds 176 persons, was filled to capacity.

Théâtre du Rond Point
© Discover Paris!


A screening of an outstanding French short film (Avant que de Tout Perdre – 30 minutes) was followed by the main attraction, where a cast of three principle actors, a reader, and five additional characters breathed life into Brothers in Exile on stage for the first time.

The Cast
© Discover Paris!


The fictional story revolves around Wright’s death and an official inquiry by the French authorities into Himes’ and Baldwin’s potential involvement. It moves back and forth in time. For this one-time staging, William Nadylam played Richard Wright, Cyrl Guei portrayed James Baldwin, and Alex Descas represented Chester Himes.

William Nadylam as Richard Wright
© Discover Paris!

Cyril Guei as James Baldwin
© Discover Paris!

Alex Descas as Chester Himes
© Discover Paris!

The reading was performed in French. To see French actors interpreting these quintessentially American personas was fascinating! One of my favorite moments during the reading occurred during an exchange between Wright and Himes. Nadylam (Wright) emphasized the syllable “po” in the French word “policier,” which means “crime story.” He was evoking the way in which many African Americans emphasize the syllable “po” when they talk about the police. It was comical cultural reference that was lost on most of the French audience.

Jake had wanted to write a novel about the relationship between Wright and Baldwin since his days in New York. He learned of the confrontation that occurred between the two authors at the Deux Magots café on boulevard Saint Germain des Prés when he was a student at Harvard during the early 80s. In researching his 2001 Washington Post review of the Hazel Rowley biography of Wright, he learned that Chester Himes had been present during this altercation. Later, upon reading the first volume of Chester Himes’ autobiography – The Quality of Hurt – he read Himes’ version of what had transpired. Now Himes would play a role in the novel that he had been envisioning.

Then, on April 30, 2011, it suddenly occurred to him that the novel he wanted to write should be a play. Through his work at the community theater in Bobigny (MC 93), he had learned that the stage provides much more creative freedom than he realized and saw the potential in having the voices of his three protagonists be heard as opposed to simply being read. He created a one-page sketch as the outline for the play and remained faithful to it throughout most of the writing process.

Jake began researching the play in earnest in early summer 2011 and also began the search for financial backing, writing proposals in English and French. This is when he learned of the grants that Beaumarchais-SACD offers to support creators of theater, dance, film, and other performing arts. He submitted his proposal in October 2011 and in February 2012 he learned that his was one of three out of 250 submissions to be accepted for funding!

Having written numerous articles and books, Jake was surprised to find that he never enjoyed writing anything as much as he enjoyed writing Brothers in Exile. He loved writing for Wright, Himes, and Baldwin, inventing circumstances for them but building those circumstances around the information that he learned from reading books by and about these authors. He finished the English version in August 2012 and then began work on the French translation with his wife Dorli. One full year after submitting his proposal to Beaumarchais, he finished the play.

Jake was responsible for finding the director and the actors for the reading. Through personal and professional connections, he engaged the three principal actors and director Pierre Laville. Laville was responsible for casting the remaining actors.

What lies ahead for Brothers in Exile? Jake’s agent has submitted the play to numerous theaters in London, New York, and a couple of additional theaters on the East Coast in the U.S. Jake has personally submitted proposals to theaters in France.

A suivre… To be continued…

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Art and Food Pairing™: NEGUS in Paris and Le Dogon


After a considerable hiatus, I am pleased to present a new Art and Food Pairing™ for the Entrée to Black Paris blog. Today's article presents a description of a marvelous exhibit at a beautiful space and a wonderful meal at an African restaurant near Place de la République.

The exposition is called NEGUS in Paris. It is being shown at the Backslash Gallery in the 3rd arrondissement and features the work of African-American artist Fahamu Pecou. It opened on January 10, 2013.

Backslash Gallery Façade
© Discover Paris!

NEGUS in Paris is the second show that Blackslash Gallery has mounted for Pecou. This solo exposition is inspired by Jay-Z and Kanye West’s song “Niggas in Paris” and some of the lyrics of the song are displayed on the walls of the gallery. Pecou replaces the “n-word” with the word “Negus” – an Amharic word used to describe Ethiopian royalty in general and the late Haile Selassie in particular - in the titles of his works. The œuvres in this exposition feature numerous representations of the artist depicted as cover art for various publications that have been launched to promote black pride and solidarity in the U.S. and in France. Additional works present the likenesses of African-American personas such as Nina Simone and Melvin van Peebles on the t-shirts worn by the artist:

View of the Exposition
© Discover Paris!

Real NEGUS Don't Die - Young, Gifted, and Black
© Discover Paris!

This exposition will close on February 23, 2013, so if you are in Paris you should hurry to see it! To learn about Pecou’s first exposition at Backslash Gallery – Hard 2 Death – click here.

Only a few minutes walk away from the gallery is the Malian restaurant Le Dogon. There are a few tables downstairs across from the bar, but the majority of customers dine upstairs in a colorfully decorated dining room that is both open and intimate. A large fish tank effectively divides the room into two areas while allowing visual contact that preserves the feeling of openness.

Le Dogon - Façade
© Discover Paris!

Le Dogon - Upstairs Dining Room
© Discover Paris!

We were heartily welcomed when my husband and business partner Tom and I lunched there prior to visiting the art expo at Backslash Gallery. Our server was courteous and generous with his responses to our questions about items on the menu that were unfamiliar to us. I ordered a punch gingembre and Tom ordered a cocktail à la base de vin de palme (palm wine) as apéritifs. I loved the fresh, spiked ginger juice while Tom was less satisfied with the flavor of his drink.

As appetizers, I ordered boulettes de mouton (mutton meatballs) and Tom ordered maïs grillé au beurre (grilled corn on the cob with butter). My “meatballs” were oblong instead of round and contained a thin core of fresh, chopped parsley. Served with a sauce prepared from ground sesame seeds, they were tender, not at all greasy, and wonderfully flavorful. Tom’s ear of corn was blackened – it had been cooked directly on a grill without the husk. One can often see vendors cooking corn this way in the Château Rouge district of Paris. Tender and flavorful, it was served with a generous slice of butter.

Boulettes de Mouton
© Discover Paris!

For the main course, I ordered poulet piment specialité Dogon (spicy chicken – the house special), which turned out to be a chicken leg cooked in a lightly spiced tomato-based sauce containing bell pepper and onion. Tom ordered a dish called Mohamba – chicken served with pulverized manioc leaves in a peanut-based sauce. This is a Malian/Congolese specialty. Both dishes were served with fluffy, perfectly cooked short-grain rice.

Poulet Piment - Specialité Dogon
© Discover Paris!

I ordered jus de bissap (homemade hibiscus juice) and Tom ordered Mongozo beer (a banana-flavored beer with African roots that is brewed in Belgium) to accompany our main dishes.

Jus de Bissap
© Discover Paris!

Both of us were utterly delighted with our selections and vowed to return to this restaurant for dinner!

Backslash Gallery
29, rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth
75003 Paris
Telephone: 09.81.39.60.01
Metro: République (Lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Internet: www.backslashgallery.com
Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 AM – 7 PM

Le Dogon
30, rue René Boulanger
75010 Paris
Telephone: 01.42.41.95.85
Metro: République (Lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Internet: www.ledogon.com
Open Monday through Friday 12 noon – 3 PM and 7 PM – midnight; Saturday 7 PM – midnight

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Southern Passion Lounge in Paris

I am pleased to report that, as of February 21st, I will co-host a dynamic new on-line radio show called Southern Passion Lounge in Paris with Chef Amadeus of Jacksonville, Florida.

Chef Amadeus
Photo courtesy of ChefAmadeus.com

Several weeks ago, Chef Amadeus contacted me through a referral by Chef Dwight Evans* of Chicago. I learned that Amadeus was the winner of the Food Network's first Extreme Chef competition "Mexican Showdown" in 2012...

Chef Amadeus at the Food Network's "Mexican Showdown"
Photo courtesy of ChefAmadeus.com

and that he has created a line of salt-free spices called Southern Passion Spices.

Southern Passion Spices "Lil Bump"
Photo courtesy of ChefAmadeus.com

I also learned that he has hosted the Internet radio show Southern Passion Lounge for over two years and that his broadcasts attract hundreds to thousands of listeners per show.

Chef expressed his interest in sharing with his fans his love for food, wine, and travel in a show with a new twist. He remembers fondly the time that he spent in Europe when he was in the U.S. Navy and was inspired to explore launching a radio show featuring Paris by Chef Evans' experience attending culinary school here. He is passionate about encouraging his listeners to think and move "outside the box" by trying new foods, experimenting with wines, and leaving the comfort zone of their communities to venture out into the world. This was music to my ears because I am passionate about motivating Americans to travel abroad and have incorporated the culinary arts into Discover Paris! tours and activities since the early 2000s.

Appreciating the aroma of fresh roasted coffee
© Discover Paris!

Making bechamel sauce
© Discover Paris!

Together, Chef and I have created the concept of Southern Passion Lounge in Paris, where we will explore some of the best places to eat and drink in Paris, listen to the music being produced by American expatriate artists, and take a look at the fascinating culture and contemporary life of the African Diaspora here. We'll also look at French cuisine in the U.S. through the many connections that Chef Amadeus has with French restaurants and chefs around the country.

Be sure to join us on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 1-2 PM EST / 7-8 PM Paris time to see what we've cooked up for you!

To call into the Lounge, dial 760-283-0856.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChefAmadeus and @moniqueinparis.

*Read about Chef Dwight Evans here:
  Chef Dwight Evans in Paris - Part 1
  Chef Dwight Evans in Paris - Part 2

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Château Rouge

I'm pleased to present this guest blog post by Yetunde Oshodi, one of the twenty-four persons featured in Black Paris Profiles.

Yetunde Oshodi
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Nigerian-born and a former New Yorker, Yetunde Oshodi-Fraudeau is the owner and founder of Feels Like Home in Paris, a vacation apartment rental company in Paris.  With apartments primarily in Montmartre, she's always ready to share her suggestions and impressions of Paris and France in general with her guests.  She has even created a blog called Like Home in Paris to help Paris visitors get more out of their Paris holiday.

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I once heard that the market at Château Rouge, which is primarily sub-Saharan influenced, was said to be moving to the outskirts of Paris. Since it is still standing at this location, I assume that the project has either been postponed or abandoned for now. Thank goodness for that!

As a student in Paris, I was told by a Ghanian classmate of mine that Château Rouge was the place to go if you were looking for ingredients for making various African dishes. When I visited there the first time, I was both overwhelmed and taken back to the street markets in Nigeria, which I only remember vaguely. In the 20 years that I lived in New York state, I had never come across something like this!

I recalled my father taking us from our suburban home into Queens or Brooklyn to buy plantains before they became a popular item at the local green grocer on Tarrytown Road (thanks mainly to the Latin population). I recalled that he came up with interesting and convincing substitutes for many things he couldn't find - for example regular spinach for the water leaf used to make efo. I remember visits from relatives with suitcase full of gari (ground cassava) and even plantains (how in the world they carted all that stuff through customs I will never know). And here I was in Paris' 18th district with all these things and more at my fingertips. I can't begin to express how much delight this brought me! Now I don't eat Nigerian food everyday - it can sometimes be a laborious endeavor for which I find I have either little time or little patience - but I love to eat it whenever offered.

Plantains and Other Produce
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Walking through the streets of the African market, you are transported to another world - a noisy world of "mamas" and the kids shopping, chatting and perhaps even bargaining. Many of the items sold at the market look so familiar to me but I don't recall their names partly because my family is represented by two African nations, Nigeria and Cameroon. Since Nigeria was a British colony and not a French one, the names of the produce which can be found all over West Africa are not the same as those in Nigeria. Even when I took my aunt to the market so she could cook up some yummy stews, she was hesitant about some of the leafy vegetables we came across which looked familiar but did not have a name she knew of.

Shopping for Greens and Other Produce
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

But Château Rouge is not only African products.  It is also the place to get Halal meats and fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese and fish from exactly the same producers that you would find at any other Paris market -  sometimes for considerably less.

Halal Butcher
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Fruit Stand
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Now Château Rouge is not for the faint of heart. It can be overwhelming to the average tourist with the phenomenal number of people pouring in and out of the Château Rouge metro station and the huge crowd you can find in the middle of the day.

Château Rouge Metro Station
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Strolling at the African Market
Image courtesy of Yetunde Oshodi

Seeing as you are in Paris and the people you encounter are predominantly black (you know you are thinking it even if you don't wish to say it out loud), some may be wary, but it is a fascinating place to visit and shop if you wish to venture into African cuisine. That is mainly why I go there. I think it is wonderful that you can find such produce in Paris and it really gives me the feeling of the diversity of this city.

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We are proud to have been selected as one of 10 BEST Paris blogs!

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