88th EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL OF HUMA

Each year, the Huma Festival takes very different directions and international dimensions, turning to themes as different as the Second World War, the Vietnam War, tributes to deceased personalities such as Che Guevara, or Nelson Mandela but also the Palestinian cause, the PMA, …

The 88th edition of the Fête de l’Humanité, more commonly known as the “Fête de l’Huma”, was held from September 15 to 17, 2023 on Base 217 in Plessis-Pâté and Brétigny-sur-Orge, in the department of Essonne (91). The first edition, created by Marcel Cachin, then director of Humanité, took place on September 7, 1930 in Bezons. It then took place in Courneuve (93) and for 2 years at air base 217 in Plessis-Pâté and Brétigny, following the decision to set up the 2024 Olympic Media Village on the ground.

Like every year, the event is held on the second weekend of September, attracting nearly 400,000 visitors each edition. The crowd was able to stroll along Avenue Elsa Triolet, rue Nelson Mandela, place Salvador Allende, and they were also able to eat and refresh yourself in the chip stalls and refreshment bars.

This year, the event presented a very eclectic political and musical program on the 4 different stages (Angela Davis or Grande Scène; Joséphine Baker or Moyenne Scène; Zébrok and Nina Simone.

We were thus able to attend very surprising debates like the one organized between the former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and the communist leader Fabien Roussel. At the Social Forum, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT and Philippe Martin, president of Medef, faced off in a verbal joust. A background of tension hovered during the debate between Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Fabien Roussel.

On the musical side, big headliners like the pop star Bilal Hassani, the singer Angèle or the rapper Médine. The different scenes made the audience vibrate and dance. Activists and sympathizers of all left and far left parties since the first edition on September 7, 1930 were gathered around comedians, singing stars like Léo Ferré, Eddy Mitchell, Johnny Hallyday, Juliette Gréco and even Line Renaud, etc…in previous years.

The Fête de l’Huma was the first popular French event to welcome international stars during its concerts. Among them are Pink Floyd (1970, Joan Baez (1971), The ho (1972), Chuck Berry 1973)… Alongside the fifty concerts, visitors were able to enjoy the Book Village, arts shows live events, film screenings, artistic exhibitions, not to mention debates, round tables and conferences.

The 2023 edition

This year, the edition, organized for the second time on base 217, was a real success with 430,000 festival-goers, or 30,000 more than last year. It was also a success for the campers. Nearly 18,000 people were able to pitch their tent on the field near the main entrance to the Festival. In a few hours, campers filled the field. We noticed that in 8 minutes, nearly 3,000 places had been snapped up.

During 3 years, the Left staged its divisions. On the LFI side, Clémentine Autain and François Ruffin showed points of view opposed to those of Jean-Luc Mélenchon who did not hesitate to make the communist leader Fabien Roussel boo during a debate on the working classes.

Faced with former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who arrived to boos, the PCF boss returned to the fundamentals, left-right divides, while debating on subjects such as growth, nuclear energy or the value of work. With an idea of a working class misunderstood by the government. He highlighted his convergences with a certain left, opposed like him to the new popular, ecological and social union, the NUPES of J-Luc Mélenchon.

Another notable guest, the Magistracy Union which held its round table on “police violence” without contradiction. The FSU marked the day of September 16 with its 2 debates: on social diversity to fight against territorial and educational inequalities; Unionism and ecology: how to reconcile social justice and environmental emergency?

In the musical program of the year, we found Angèle, Bigflo et Öli, Disiz, Soolking, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine, La Femme, Dub inc, Martin Solveig and Imany.

The 2023 opus of the Huma Festival kept its promises thanks to its lively debates, shows and concerts without forgetting solidarity. Next meeting from September 13 to 15, 2024 for an 89th edition with surprises and a political and musical program as eclectic as ever.

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VERONIQUE YANG

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