Togo's Jeannine Dissirama Bessoga Debuts 'Les Dieux Tambourinent' at Avignon Reading

On July 16, 2026, the Avignon Festival hosted a staged reading of 'Les Dieux tambourinent,' a work by Togolese playwright Jeannine Dissirama Bessoga, under the direction of Armel Roussel. The cast included Serge Yéroné Koto, Estelle Marion, and students from École du Nord. This performance was part of the 'Ça va, ça va le monde !' series, organized by Pascal Paradou, with sound design by Pierre-Alexandre Lampert and support from Lucas de Oliveira and Sarah Murcia. The event received backing from the Institut français du Togo and was co-produced by RFI and Compagnie [e]utopia. The narrative centers on Bamima's return to her village. Bessoga, who began writing plays in 2022, developed this work during residencies in 2024 and 2025. The reading was also recorded for radio.