French Guiana - Comité du Tourisme de la Guyane
French Guiana - Comité du Tourisme de la Guyane
French Guiana - Comité du Tourisme de la Guyane
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events,<br />
events & festivals . events & festivals . events & festivals . events & festivals . events<br />
& festivals<br />
Carnival<br />
Carnival starts with the arrival of King Vaval, after Epiphany,<br />
in the first week of January. He is always welcomed by a big<br />
crowd. Costumes are ready, dances and music have been<br />
perfected, and now <strong>French</strong> <strong>Guiana</strong> will enjoy two months<br />
of partying.<br />
The Touloulous<br />
These disguised women are the “queens” of the<br />
Guianese carnival. They get dressed up and wear<br />
masks and change their voice when they speak:<br />
they are unrecognisable. They will create mischief<br />
at dances (Nana, Matado, Polina, etc.) on Saturday<br />
night and will invite you to dance with them <strong>du</strong>ring<br />
the para<strong>de</strong> through town on Sunday afternoon.<br />
Everyone can take part in this strange, goodhumoured<br />
cortege, where malicious, mysterious<br />
and sometimes disturbing characters can be met:<br />
“Jé Farinn, <strong>la</strong> Caroline, Anglé Bannan’, Neg<br />
Marrons, etc.”<br />
Carnival ends on Ash Wednesday after five days<br />
of non-stop festivities.<br />
Dances<br />
Open the first Saturday after Epiphany until<br />
Ash Wednesday:<br />
Nana-Soleil levant:<br />
> Route <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Ma<strong>de</strong>leine<br />
97300 Cayenne<br />
Tel.: +33 (0)5 94 31 02 51<br />
La Polina :<br />
> PK 8.5 - RN 2 (next to Renault)<br />
97351 Matoury<br />
Tel.: +33 (0)5 94 29 62 87<br />
La Matado :<br />
> 5, Zone In<strong>du</strong>strielle<br />
97310 Kourou<br />
Tel.: +33 (0)5 94 32 62 10<br />
54<br />
Information<br />
> <strong>Comité</strong> Carnavalesque et Festival <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> ville<br />
<strong>de</strong> Kourou.<br />
Rue <strong>de</strong>s Palikas CD, 2 p<strong>la</strong>ce <strong>de</strong> l’Europe<br />
97310 Kourou<br />
Tel.: +33 (0)5 94 32 26 67<br />
The 10 commandments<br />
of a Touloulou<br />
1 - To avoid misinterpretation:<br />
keep an eye out for beginner Touloulous.<br />
2 - Dance and music shall protect the compulsory<br />
anonymity of the Touloulou.<br />
3 - A mask shall protect the compulsory anonymity<br />
of the Touloulou.<br />
4 - You shall respect the freedom of others in or<strong>de</strong>r<br />
to be free to be yourself.<br />
5 - The discretion and subtleness of your gestures<br />
shall pay you tribute.<br />
6 - Your attitu<strong>de</strong> shall not turn the masked ball into<br />
a brothel.<br />
7 - Do not confuse these mystical venues with<br />
nightclubs or hotel room.<br />
8 - Be charming without being clingy. A Touloulou is<br />
everywhere, sees everything, but must not <strong>la</strong>tch on.<br />
9 - Be <strong>de</strong>sired, not hated.<br />
10 - Good judgment will allow this unique custom<br />
to continue until the end of time.
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