La Part du
Colibri

March 2021 
Lycée Mamie Houphouet Fêtai, Bingerville &
Collège BAD de Koumassi, Abidjan, CIV.
 

This collaborative research project between Goldsmiths University (UK), Marbayassa Theatre Company(Ouagadougou), and BaarAfrica (Abidjan) explored the underlying reasons for low school attendance in West Africa. It was the first project of its kind to merge the arts and education as a methodology for research, using theatre and creative practices to amplify the voices of students and understand their lived experiences.

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In Côte d’Ivoire, BaarAfrica, led by Founder M.C. Camara, facilitated four participatory workshops—two at Marie Houphouët Fétai (an all-girls school in Bingerville) and two at Collège BAD in Koumassi. Through creative exercises, students reflected on their daily realities, motivations, and barriers to consistent attendance.

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The comparative study revealed that many girls felt a lack of female role models in leadership positions, limited encouragement from parents and teachers, and unequal opportunities compared to their brothers—particularly in sports and extracurricular activities.

This pioneering project demonstrated how participatory arts can be a powerful research tool to inform inclusive education policies and empower young voices across West Africa.