DC Francophonie and Comic Books

In partnership with Quebec BD, and the Alliance Française of Washington D.C., the Villa Albertine is honored to present a virtual roundtable on the theme of African Graphic Novels followed by a Q&A with Joëlle l’Epée alias Elyon’s, Cénack Winchester, and Jean-Luc Schneider, for the DC Francophonie Festival. 

The panel will be moderated by Guy Spielmann, Professor at Georgetown University, who specializes in Cultural studies and Politics, and Performing Arts.

All registrants will receive a link a few times before the event.

Joëlle l’Epée (alias Elyon’s): Elyon’s, a.k.a Joëlle Epée Mandengue, was born in 1982 in Bafoussam, Cameroon. With a Bachelor’s degree in Modern English and French Literature and a degree in Graphic, Visual and Space Arts, she began her professional career as a cultural mission officer at the French Cultural Center in Douala, Cameroon (now the French Institute). Under her name Joëlle Epée Mandengue, she co-curates various temporary comic exhibitions on the African continent, including the South African virtual exhibition Afropolitan Comics – https://www.afropolitancomics.com/en. She is also the co-curator of the largest exhibition of African comics planned as part of the season of African cultures and Year of Comics 2020 in Angoulême. She is also the creator and director of the International Comics Festival of Congo: Bilili BD Festival.

Cénack Winchester: Cénack Winchester is a comic book and manga artist, screenwriter, 2021 Webtoon Shonen Winner, and author of The Intern and Placman.

Jean-Luc Schneider: In 1998, Jean-Luc Schneider opened his bookshop Des Bulles Dans L’océan, passionate about comic books. Five years ago, he created a publishing house under the same name. Today, he is in charge of an editing house and three bookshops on the island of the Réunion that specialize in comic books. Editor and bookseller, he believes more than ever in the talents of the Indian Ocean.

Guy Spielmann: Born in Marseille, holding a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, Guy is a university professor and researcher at Georgetown University, and, from time to time, in France (Paris Nanterre University, Sciences Po Lille). His field of choice covers everything to do with the Performing Arts at the dawn of modern time, in particular scenography and non-literary genres. He has published more than 85 articles and chapters, as well as two scholarly books, on the history of entertainment. In 1995, he co-founded the international forum on comics (ICAF) which continues to organize an annual convention (http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/about-icaf.html).