Allons seulement

  • Dates
    2019 - 2019
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, Street Photography
  • Location Ivory Coast, Côte d'Ivoire

In Africa, it is characteristic of the black man to carry loads on the head. Extremely rare are the other peoples who do it if it does not reveal an adoption of the practice.

Zoom in Ivory Coast where since 2011, there is a new government that promised a better living environment with other beautiful promises that drool. While some have been held, but the purpose of my work here concerns what concerns the most Ivorian. My work deals with the harshness and high cost of life that is currently rife in Ivory Coast. The complaints replaced the salamalecs : « Ehh Dieu », « Tout est devenu chère oh », « Y’a pas l’argent dèh », «Yako, cava aller » « C'est mou dèh », « C'est Dieu qui est fort », «Eh lagô faut sciencer », « Allons seulement »…

...These daily expressions of Ivorian Ivory Coast language give a somewhat sour taste to the social sauce of "the sweetest country in the world. The infamous paradox experienced by Ivorians would make more than one crazy; the country is experiencing economic growth acclaimed by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) while the bellies are brewing careers of singers, the country's security index progresses to 1.3 in 2018 while some Ivorian children have been awarded the epithet of microbes. In fact, the latter killing and terrifying the streets of certain neighborhoods were simply assimilated to these microscopic beings that often cause damage to the human body. Here and there, many universities are built in record time to be the scene of rains of stones, surge of police, prelude to rabid clashes, instead of universities as one would expect: students, professor, classes, conferences, researches, discoveries. Why do we suffer in a country where the exemplarity of the authorities is remarkable? Why are we suffering in a country with notable and respectable growth in the opinion of financial institutions, a country whose leaders have never been seriously investigated? Why do we suffer in a country where it is the Ivorians themselves who dispose of, work and manage their land? Why do we suffer in a country where we support those who have ideas of entrepreneurship and development by granting them credits? Why do we suffer in a country where student attendance is over 95% and there are no strikes? An Ivorian adage says: "Discouragement is not Ivorian". Although we claim this quality, it is noticeable among the Ivorian in particular and the African, in general, to always take on him, to always bear to himself as when he carries loads on the head. His superpower is SUPPORTING and GIVING ALL TO GOD; He still has hope and supports problems. In the slang of "the sweetest country in the world", “Allons seulement” means: let's go ahead at any cost, let's continue, let's walk, even if it's hard, let's keep going because discouragement is not Ivorian. It is on this note of hope that I dedicate to all Ivorians in particular and Africans in general, this photographic series. Hope gives life.

© JR - A mother carrying her stuff and walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A mother carrying her stuff and walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - Street vendors walking through the market of Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
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Street vendors walking through the market of Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

© JR - A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - Street vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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Street vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - Streets vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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Streets vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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A street vendor walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

© JR - Street vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast
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Street vendors walking through the streets of Bonoua, Ivory Coast

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