The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier has disclosed that he is drawn to Nigeria’s mix of cultures, the art, attire and the tradition of hospitality, describing the blend as the “richness of the Nigerian heritage.”
This was as he highlighted that Nigeria’s renewed relationship with France under President Bola Tinubu is not a recent foreign policy decision. The diplomat stated this in response to claims that France was shifting its focus to Nigeria to shore up its declining popularity among Francophone African countries in West Africa.
He pointed out that the improved relations between Nigeria and his country date back to the early years of the Fourth Republic, admitting that the ties started to improve as France expanded its attention from its former colonies to other countries in West Africa.
“We have been shifting towards English-speaking countries for a long time. It was in the 90s, when we thought we were not sufficiently present in former British or Dutch colonies and that we needed to be more present,” Fonbaustier said in an exclusive interview with Premium Times.
Fonbaustier, who is in his second year as ambassador to Nigeria, referred to Nigeria as a complex country, disclosing that his diplomatic experience in the country has been both “demanding and rewarding.”
On what he loves about Nigeria, he said, “I visited the Kaduna Museum. I love the pieces of art that I saw. Some of them, for me, are really one of the best things you can see in Africa.”
The envoy also expressed his curiosity about the cultural significance of hats across different tribes and ethic groups.
According to him, “Nigerian men wear hats, and I would need a kind of description of what the hat means exactly in terms of geographical origin and social position. The hat speaks.
“It is very rich. It’s very massive. For a newcomer, it takes time to get used to certain traditions and rules. And number two, it’s rewarding because there is one thing which strikes me, and I’m very sensitive to it as a diplomat and by personality. It’s the warmth of the people.
“I have been welcomed by all the people in your country. People are so nice, warm, and charming. This is part of your tradition of hospitality. You don’t see the foreigner as a threat but as an opportunity to meet and do something together, and I love that about your country. I think this is what is at the core, the deep soul of Nigeria,” he said.
The ambassador also spoke about Afrobeat, which, he said, is impossible to escape. His words, “There was this Fela Kuti exhibition in Lagos that we have just opened. I’m so proud that France can celebrate such an iconic figure of music worldwide, not only in Nigeria. So I just listened to a song I like again. It’s Unknown Soldiers.
“I think it’s a very good one. I’ve heard one song by Tony Allen. Tony Allen is really great. Ejo, I don’t know if you know it. Very good,” he said, adding that “so Afrobeat, yes, I like it.”
