The Passerelle de Bessengue is an artwork in Douala (Cameroon). It is a wooden bridge with an iron handrail, painted in different colors, each one representing people of different ethnic groups holding hands. It was inaugurated during the Salon Urbain de Douala en 2007.
The Passerelle de Bessengue is a wooden bridge with an iron handrail, painted in different colors, each one representing people of different ethnic groups holding hands. La Passerelle was designed by the Cameroonian artist Alioum Moussa. It was initially conceived as a cooperation development project funded by the Institut Régional de Coopération-Développement d’Alsace (Ircod-Alsace), the Municipality of Douala I, and doual’art. As project coordinator, doual’art ran a community-based approach involving the local Development Community of Bessengue-Akwa (CDBA) from the conceptualization phase to the project production.
During the process, an artistic contest was organized in order to provide La Passerelle with aesthetical features. On five projects submitted, the selection fell on Alioum Moussa. His proposal aroused among the community a critical discussion and self-reflection about historical conflicts among autochthonous and non-native populations. The success of the project by Moussa was to create a link between art and community experiences, documenting shared intentions to promote and pursue a peaceful collaboration for future generations. La Passerelle was officially inaugurated during the SUD 2007 and restored two times. In 2009, Malika Ouedraogo and Cecile Demessine repainted the handrail. In the occasion of the SUD 2013, the Municipality of Douala funded the replacement of a handrail side and some broken wood planches.
La Passerelle has disclosed the block 1 of Bessengue to one of the busiest roads of Douala, facilitating the circulation of people, vehicles, and the provision of public services. Its position at the entrance of the neighborhood has contributed to create a square between La Passerelle and the first houses. This area, commonly known as Vallée Bessengue, has become an important landmark for children, young people and women who meet there to play, to date and to shop, surrounded by other art installations.
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doual'art is a non profit cultural organisation and art centre founded in 1991 in Douala, Cameroon and focussed on new urban practices of African cities.
Marilyn Douala Bell is a socio-economist and current president of the cultural organisation doual'art based in Douala, Cameroon.
Goddy Leye was a Cameroonian artist and intellectual.
The SUD Salon Urbain de Douala is a triennial festival of public art and contemporary art organised in Douala, Cameroon. The festival had its first edition in 2007 and it is promoted by the art centre and cultural organisation doual'art.
La Nouvelle Liberté is a public artwork in the Deido suburb, in Douala (Cameroun).
Borne Fontaine is a permanent fountain, from artist Danièle Diwouta-Kotto, inaugurated in 2003. It is located in Douala (Cameroon).
Sud Obelisk is a public artwork in Douala, Cameroon, created by Faouzi Laatiris. The work is an engraved obelisk.
Njé Mo Yé, Which means “what's that?” in Douala language, is a permanent sculpture located in Douala (Cameroon). It was created by Koko Komégné and inaugurated in 2007.
L'arbre à palabres is a permanent sculpture located in Douala (Cameroon). Created by the architecte Frédéric Keiff in 2007, it looks like a palaver tree, whose trunk and branches are made of painted iron rods, while attached fragments of colored glass represent leaves.
Face à l’eau is a public artwork made by the artist Salifou Lindou between 2008 and 2010. It is made of five panels, each 3.70 metres (12.1 ft) high, in wood, metal, and colored plastic sheets on the banks of the river Wouri in Bonamouti, Douala, Cameroon.
Les Mots écrits de New Bell is a set of six mural installations created by Hervé Yamguen and located in Douala (Cameroon).
Le Jardin sonore is a permanent public artwork located in Douala (Cameroon). It was created by Lucas Grandin in 2010 and is made of a wooden structure built on three floors that serves as a panoramic viewpoint on the Wouri River, as a botanical garden and as a dewdrop percussion organ.
The Colonne Pascale is a permanent artwork located in the city of Douala (Cameroon). It was created by Pascale Marthine Tayou and inaugurated in 2010.
Joseph-Francis Sumégné was born on 30 July 1951 in Bamenjou, Cameroon. Painter and sculptor since 1976, he is a self-taught artist. He lives and works in Yaoundé (Cameroon).
Danièle Diwouta-Kotto, is a Cameroonian designer and architect, member of the Cameroon architects association (ONAC) and founder of the V.A.A. Villes et Architectures d'Afrique organization.
Alioum Moussa, born in 1977 in Maroua (Cameroon), is a graphic designer and illustrator by training. He lives and works in Yaoundé (Cameroon).
Lucas Grandin is an artist, curator, teacher, and active initiator of various projects. Lucas Grandin has developed an approach combining sound, video, light, low-tech with a particular focus on the urban planning and architecture. Currently he lives and works in Sarthe, France.
Boris Nzebo,, is a visual artist who lives and works in Douala, Cameroon.
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