The Federation of Associations of the County of Nice, the Escola de Bellanda Association, the Delegation for Historical Heritage, Archaeology, Niçoise Language and Culture organized the awards ceremony for the Laureates of Nissart in collaboration with the Rectorate of the Nice Academy.
This ceremony took place at the Tour Bellanda in the presence of: Claire Lovisi, Rector of the Nice Academy, Jean-Marc Giaume, Municipal Councilor delegated to Historical Heritage, Archaeology, Niçoise Language and Culture, Serge Chiaramonti, President of the Federation of Associations of the County of Nice, Adolphe Viani, Vice President of the Federation and President of the Escola de Bellanda.
Mr. Viani briefly recounted the history of the Escola de Bellanda, founded in 1880 by Antoine Léandre Sardou and Jean Baptiste Calvino. This association was able to regain momentum in 1976 thanks to the combined efforts of the majoraux of the Félibrige, André Compan, Francis Gag, and members of the Academie Nissarda. This association publishes texts in Nissart, poetry, dictionaries—precious educational tools for our students…
Mr. Chiaramonti warmly thanked all his colleagues, Niçois teachers, schoolchildren, middle and high school students, the high school principals and middle school heads present, and expressed the real pleasure he feels each year during the questioning of the laureates at the baccalaureate; this year, 6 out of the 26 candidates in the Nissart exam obtained a score of 20! A record!
Mr. Giaume emphasized the very close collaboration established with the Rectorate and the CRDP of the Nice Academy. It allows for the creation of new educational materials each year (CDs “E viva Lou Nissart”, “E Viva Carnevale”…).
He also reiterated the request to create a Franco-Nissart bilingual school and mentioned authors representative of this Niçoise culture, Menica Rondelly, Rancher, Pellos, Betti… Tasso…
Ms. Lovisi reminded that this Tour Bellanda, a symbolically very important place, watches over this Niçoise land to which she is very attached. She also evoked the constitutional amendment of 2008 that allowed the inclusion of regional languages, often considered dialects, in the French constitution.
The award ceremony (comic books, CDs, various books, pen sets, silver eagle…) concluded with an excellent Niçoise buffet, prepared by the City of Nice.
The organizers also thank the students, middle schoolers, high schoolers, the teachers Messrs. Arnaudo, Gioan, Pallanca, the principals Messrs. Campesato, Gasiglia, Steve Betti, technical advisor to the Rector, Mrs. Ottombre-Orsoni, director of the CRDP, Jacqueline Cuvier, President of the Appels d’Orphée, Olivier Vernier, general secretary of the ASPEAM, Pierre Cassini, treasurer of Nissart per Tougiou, Mr. Paba, Protocol City of Nice, municipal councilors Mrs. Matringe and Mr. Mari, Mr. Camous, President of the Saint Roch neighborhood committee… the journalists who covered this event. A thousand apologies for those omitted from this very long list…
They all ensured the smooth running of this event in a simple and festive atmosphere, punctuated by the applause of the students and parents, happy to gather to pay tribute to a language experiencing growing success: 322 candidates in the regional language exams in 2011…
by Francine Poupeney
