“The Ultimate Conviction…” by Richard Bohringer

On Saturday, June 10th, among the literature stalls near the bandstand in Albert 1st Garden, a crowd began to form. Why? Who is hiding behind this crowd? Nice-Première makes itself small to try to discover the mysterious writer who is attracting so much attention. It’s “The Angry Man,” or at least his interpreter. Pleasant, smiling, available, Richard Bohringer, a Senegalese national since 2002, doesn’t hesitate to chat with his audience: It was impossible that day to interrupt him in such a frenzy of words.

The next day, luck smiled upon us. Nice-Première and “the most charming white griot in the world” arrive at the writer’s stand at the same time: An opportunity for us to offer you a few moments with Bohringer, before his loyal admirers return.

Nice-Première: For the first time, the book festival has a night event and the city of Nice chose you to close it. Why did you accept this invitation?

Richard Bohringer: For the pleasure of being with people.

N-P: At this 11th Nice book fair, you are presenting the paperback release of your book “The Ultimate Conviction of Desire,” can you describe it for us in a few words?

R.B.: It’s a travel journal of the soul through the countries I love.

N-P: “It’s Beautiful a City at Night” was presented to the public in various forms: novel – radio show – record – film. Why such a desire to diversify your work?

R.B.: Because I think you can combine certain things. You can make a film, a song, a book out of it…. Why not?

N-P: For you, what is the most beautiful city at night?

R.B.: All cities.

N-P: Are you afraid of a blank page?

R.B.: (Laughs) I don’t care. I’m really not afraid.

N-P: I read in an article that you broke into your acting career. Can you explain?

R.B.: I didn’t break in, I got in because I was asked to, otherwise I would never have become an actor. That’s for sure.

N-P: What relationship do you have with your audience?

R.B.: Close, close, close, close…. That’s why I go to these fairs. It’s to see people.

N-P: If you were a novel character, who would you be?

R.B.: Fabio Montale.

N-P: A keen rugby player, I believe?

R.B.: I was president of the Toulon-Hyères club. I stayed at the head of this club for 5 years.

N-P: Will you follow the World Cup football tournament?

R.B.: I’ll be forced to. There are things that will please me, that’s for sure. There are others that will annoy me.

N-P: Richard Bohringer, actor, writer but also singer, when will we see you on stage in our city? And why not for the Jazz Festival?

R.B.: That’s not up to me. All that is very elitist. Bohringer isn’t jazz, it’s not that, it’s not this. The city of Nice probably doesn’t like Bohringer.

N-P: And to finish, if I say “Premier or Première” to you, who or what do you think of?

R.B.: I give up.

Website: www.richardbohringer.com/