Kids of Rogbanet

I discovered Rogbanet in February 2022, thanks to Ariane and Gassim, who created a Cultural Center of Dance and Music in the village. Rogbanet is a small island near Conakry, only accessible by pirogue. There are 200 children in this little paradise, where the atmosphere is filled with happiness, love, and joy. They live very simply, without artifice.

During my visit, I took portraits of nearly all the children at their school, without thinking about creating an Inside Out Action. Ariane initiated a communication channel by letters between the children of Rogbanet and a class in Perche, France. She encouraged the kids to draw and share aspects of their lives on paper. Students talk about life in Rogbanet, and what they learn at school. To further illustrate life in Rogbanet, my mother and I created a video for the French children. The video tells the story of the children's lives. One of the students, Suma, shares the work they do to help their families (fetching water, chopping wood in the bush, working in the fields, cooking meals...), their daily lives, what school is like... etc.

Participants pasting their portraits at the Cultural Center of Rogbanet.

The people and the way of life in Rogbanet serve as an inspiring model of happiness and love. It motivated me to return the following year with a surprise. This idea to create an Inside Out Action struck me in December 2022 with my friend Lou who joined the project. Since the children had never really seen pictures of themselves before, I was thrilled to bring these significant portraits to them.

I received all the portraits in Paris—160 in total—and purchased the necessary materials. On February 23, we boarded a plane with all the supplies for pasting. The journey was lengthy due to the island's challenging accessibility, but the posters arrived intact.

Children observing a printed portrait.

The children's reactions upon discovering the posters were priceless. I had worried that those without a portrait would feel left out, but I was totally wrong. The children were overjoyed to be part of this project and to see the faces of their friends. It was important to me that they actively participated in the project by pasting the posters themselves. The collage process took several days, with different kids' teams joining in each day. We organized various workshops related to the Inside Out project including dance and percussion lessons for all the children. 

We first had a meeting with Amadou and Mr. Lapin, the school principal, to explain what the Inside Out Action was all about. We then explained to all the children, with the help of their teachers, what the values were and why the pasting was going to take place. The children were very excited to take part in the collage, but also to be able to share their lifestyle with the rest of the world thanks to the Inside Out page. By participating in the Inside Out Project, the children also joined a global community and had their voices heard.

Participants posing in front of a paster poster.

The bond between the children of Perche and those of Rogbanet continued to grow as we encouraged them to write letters and exchange correspondence.

Through discussions with the children and the school principal, we decided to first paste the posters at the cultural center. It served as a gathering place for families and was dedicated to creation, dance, and education for children. We improvised by using branches to extend the reach of brushes and squeegees. After affixing the posters to all the exterior walls of the center, we focused on the two schools in Rogbanet. Amadou, one of the teachers was deeply moved by the project, as he took pride in presenting his students. It became a genuine moment of sharing beyond the confines of the classroom. The children were thrilled to showcase their faces and stories to the Inside Out world, eager to connect with people worldwide.

Young participants pasting their portraits.

Throughout the day, children and families strolled past the posters, laughing and counting the number of photos. Once we finished pasting them on the school walls, we took each photo and pasted it to the front of every inhabitant's house. The families were filled with joy and gratitude.

The pasting took place in February, and now it's May. We remain in touch with Amadou, the teacher, who informs me that the posters are still proudly displayed. They adorn the walls, paying homage to the lives and happiness of the children. Some posters gradually tear, creating new visual artworks.

Participants pasting their portraits.

We are eagerly looking forward to returning next year and offering more workshops. Our next plan is to create a small book, collaboratively crafted by the children, with translations in both French and Soussou, their native language. As their classes are conducted in French, this project will create a unique bridge between the Soussou and the French.

Young students standing in front of their newly pasted school.

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