Crates filled with books are being sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the hope that the French language can survive among numerous other local languages.

Some 50 members of the French-speaking world are gathered in Quebec city (Canada) to discuss the future of French. But in the war-torn DRC, defenders of the French-speaking alliance have failed one of their missions: conflict prevention.

Cinemas and theatres are in ruins and the international organisation of French-speaking countries has committed to renovating up to ten cultural centres in the next few years. Meanwhile, in the world’s largest French-speaking country, artists draw inspiration from wreckage.

Faustin Lynekula, world famous dancer and choreographer, belongs to them. But there’s no fatality, he says. His country may not rival with other French-speaking heavyweights economically but as far as culture goes, Lynekula can talk as an equal with other countries’ artists.