From today until September 27, the Nissa Pantai cultural center is organizing the “Vocàlia dals Palhons” (Occitan Festival of the Voice of the Paillons), which will take place across four municipalities (Coarasa, Luceram, Cantaron, and Nice). This event, sponsored by singer Christian Bezet, is going ahead despite the health crisis, celebrating the Niçois language and its culture.
Good news for all Niçois/French bilinguals. Despite the numerous cancellations of cultural events (festivals, gatherings, shows…) due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Vocàlia dals Palhons festival (Occitan of the Voice of the Paillons) is going ahead.
Bringing together 11 groups in music, singing, dance, cooking, theater, and traditional games, Nissa Pantaï will also organize radio sessions in Occitan.
A festival spanning four corners
Beginning in Coaraze (North), the festival will start this Thursday with a live radio broadcast available on the official Nissa Pantaï website from 7 PM. On this first day, the show will focus on the local game PILO, which is played two against two. A well-known activity in Nice and neighboring villages.
“We are doing this open project in a restaurant in the village of Coaraze where everyone is free to come and listen. Due to the measures related to the Coronavirus, the first two days will be available online,” states the president Cristoù Daurore.
YouTube broadcast, card games, singing…
The festival will continue in Luceram with a live YouTube broadcast in collaboration with [Cultura Viva](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_0jRVaCqrD2EYNHsDu4pQ), a channel known for its videos in Niçois. An aubade will take place in the village streets with Gisèle Maurin from the Cuisine de Lucéram and Bernart Fruchier, a specialist in the Luceram dialect.
“Originally, we wanted to do a TV cooking workshop, but the mayor of Luceram indicated that it was not possible. So, we had to cancel this project, modify our program, and replace it with a YouTube broadcast.”
For the weekend concluding the event, following the cancellation of the dance workshop, Nissa Pantaï is organizing two concerts.
One will feature guitarist Zine and the other the musical group from the Paillons valley, Lu Barbalùcou, composed of four musicians passionate about traditional music and dances, especially Niçoise and Piedmontese, thus Occitan.
The organizers will also take the opportunity to hold a book signing session with authors Zine, Sylvie T., and Pascal Colletta, whose latest works, written during the lockdown, were presented at the Book Festival. Colletta will introduce the “game of la Mourra.”
Sunday, it’s theater time!
This Sunday, the Occitan Festival of the Voice ends with an Occitan music session featuring fifes and drums from Lo Cepon de Vence, followed by PALHASSO by artist Ben Vautier, and finally theater in Nissart: *”Mas que chaple!”* This piece by Nicole Ducousso and Pèire Fantin is performed by La Chorma Nissa Pantai.
The festival is supported by artist BEN, who created the official poster. The proceeds from this program will be donated towards a project to create a bilingual school (Niçois/French) Calandreta in the Nice area.
