The Cie Tell’Arts of Souleymane Sow continues its adventure following its participation in the 14th edition of the African Performing Arts Market in Abidjan, with the company being one of the great successes of the MASA LAB incubation program.
A Show Born from Incubation
La Poupée Barbue is one of the fruits of MASA LAB, the creative support program of the first cohort financed by the French Embassy in Ivory Coast. This production will be presented at the Les Zébrures – Les Francophonies – From Writings to Performance festival.
The Show: A Rare Force of Expression
Based on the text by Cameroonian playwright Édouard Elvis Bvouma, La Poupée Barbue tells the story of the insolent lucidity of a young girl marked by refugee camps and the violence of armed conflict. It is a raw voice, infused with dark humor and tenderness, where imagination still resists the abyss. Souleymane Sow chooses restraint and the shock of presences, sculpting shifting spaces where light, music and body extend this nervous language that seems to surge from the depths of the character.
Les Zébrures: A Fine Recognition
Les Zébrures – Les Francophonies – From Writings to Performance is a major gathering for the performing arts. Held in Limoges, France from September 23 to October 3, 2026, this festival highlights the most inventive contemporary theater writings and creations. It is a wonderful recognition for Cie Tell’Arts and for the projects supported by MASA LAB.
Moving Forward and Growing
For Cie Tell’Arts, this participation confirms the relevance of our partnership. It demonstrates how artists supported by MASA transform accompaniment into living creation. Souleymane Sow and his company are embarking on a month-long European tour that will take them to France and Germany, offering audiences an opportunity to discover a singular theatrical universe, enriched by the MASA LAB experience.
To be discovered in Limoges, from September 23 to October 3, at Les Zébrures 2026.
