Christmas spirit echoes in Tié Tié
On 29 December, just days after the city’s festive lights dimmed, the Saint Jean Bosco youth hall in Tié Tié burst back into song. The second “Chantons Noël” contest gathered dozens of children to compete in singing and drawing, rekindling the warmth of Christmas.
Created by the Children’s Cultural Circle, the event is nicknamed the Lionel-Sanz Prize for Talent because it honours the veteran patron known locally as “Ya Sanza”. Organiser Joël Nkounkou says the aim is simple: give vulnerable kids a stage and let their creativity shine.
Youth voices fill Saint Jean Bosco hall
Three structures answered the call this year: Foyer Père Anton, orphanage Le Cœur de Paola and the municipal Samu Social. Their young ambassadors rehearsed classic carols and drew nativity scenes for a jury of musicians, teachers and former contest winners.
Applause rose to the rafters when nine-year-old soprano Prisca took the microphone. Moments later, sketch artist Maurile Wangou traced angels on paper with practised ease. Both young talents eventually climbed the podium, to cheers from their peers waving recycled paper lanterns.
From orphanages to stage
Most competitors live in orphanages or temporary shelters. The contest therefore carries a social mission: offer holiday memories beyond the walls of their centres. “After months of classes and chores, they deserve a microphone, bright lights and the same applause other children enjoy,” Nkounkou notes.
In the singing category, Le Cœur de Paola clinched first place with a lively Lingala rendition of “Doungou Na Yesu”. Samu Social ranked second thanks to its a-cappella harmonies, while Foyer Père Anton’s percussion-driven chorus settled for bronze but stole many hearts in the audience.
Maurile Wangou secured the drawing title after merging pastel and charcoal to depict a Congolese family around a banana-fiber crib. Jurors praised the piece for rooting the nativity scene in local visual codes, something the competition encourages to strengthen cultural identity.
A tribute to cultural patron Lionel Sanz
The prize bears the name of Lionel Sanz, 68, a former record-shop owner whose fragile health keeps him away from crowds but not from the cause. For nearly twenty years he has donated guitars, notebooks and studio hours to countless Pointe-Noire beginners.
“Ya Sanza is proof that one person can transform a neighbourhood’s soundscape,” guitarist and juror Patrick Massamba comments. “Many bands that fill bars on Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle first learned their chords thanks to him.” The audience greeted the tribute with a spontaneous round of gospel humming.
Community support crosses borders
Logistical help came from Pointe-Noire shops and from partners as far away as Burkina Faso and France. Ouaga Spirit, run by producer Jules Mouanga, crafted the instrumental tracks played on stage, while the Yidika France collective shipped art material and festive decorations.
Baker Le Bonjour provided mini-croissants, while Mboka Studios ran a pop-up photo booth for free portraits. “Solidarity fuels our city,” parish volunteer Marie-Claire Ntsiemou said between two rounds of applause.
AJID, Toutariv and the online Friends of Papa Joël also chipped in. A quick crowdfunding drive rented extra speakers, proof that small mobile donations can rapidly upgrade a children’s choir.
More than a party, a pedagogy
Beyond the sparkle, educators see measurable benefits. Preparing songs boosts diction and memory, while collaborative drawing lessons teach conflict resolution. Social assistant Nadège Kanga reports a drop in December truancy among participants, because rehearsals give them a purposeful routine during the long school break.
Psycho-pedagogical counsellor Guy-Armel Banzouzi adds that public recognition can reinforce self-esteem and even accelerate literacy. “When a child sees their name on a certificate, they want to read it aloud,” he smiles, holding a stack of diplomas freshly printed by the parish office.
Bigger dreams for 2024 edition
Because the format works, the Children’s Cultural Circle plans to open next December’s edition to any school or neighbourhood club willing to register. Nkounkou hopes at least ten groups will compete, creating “a miniature festival of lights and voices unique to Pointe-Noire”.
Officials from the Departmental Directorate of Culture attended this year’s finale and hinted at logistical backing for 2024. Though budgets remain tight, they recognised that such grass-roots projects align with the national objective of fostering youth empowerment through arts and civic engagement.
For now, the children carry home their medals, drawings and new friendships, extending the Christmas spirit well into the new year. Their songs ring out along the sandy streets of Tié Tié, reminding neighbours that talent grows everywhere music and kindness meet.
How to join next round
Registration opens in June at the Saint Jean Bosco youth office. Parents must bring a birth-certificate copy and a permission slip. The process is free, and no child will be turned away for lack of costume or supplies.
Meanwhile, rehearsal workshops continue every Saturday morning. Former contestants such as Elnish Moukouanga volunteer to coach newcomers in breathing techniques and stage presence. Their dedication underlines a simple fact: when youth mentor youth, hope multiplies faster than the syncopated rhythm of a Christmas drum.
