Youri Volokhine presents a lecture tracing the history of magic as a Western category of thought. The talk examines an apparently confused ensemble of rites, strange practices and mysterious powers, and offers an anthropological reflection based on fieldwork in the East about claims of power over bodies and minds. It investigates how magicians assert authority and what these practices reveal about belief, ritual and social influence.
In French.
Through mystery, belief and wonder, magic has threaded through societies since ancient times. For its 11th edition, this festival explores shifting boundaries between science and the supernatural, reason and the marvelous. Lectures, screenings, guided visits and hands-on workshops invite everyone to discover the history of magical practices from past to present and to reflect on our ongoing fascination with the unknown and the afterlife.
Fernand Salzmann leads a lecture exploring whether the Bible contains erotic magic formulas — spells used to bring a desired partner to one’s bed. Starting from the Song of Songs, a provocative short book of the Old Testament, the talk delves into ancient love magic and its social and religious contexts. Salzmann examines rituals, textual traces and the role of supernatural powers in desires and disappointments, offering historical and interpretive perspectives.
In French.
This roundtable examines the impact of generative AI on creative practice and industry economics, questioning whether affordable AI tools risk enabling dumping that undermines creators’ livelihoods and reduces opportunities for newcomers. The discussion explores practical, ready-to-use strategies for creatives, clients and cultural stakeholders to navigate ethical, economic and quality concerns. Participants will investigate regulatory, contractual and professional responses, and highlight how different audiences can adapt workflows and commissioning practices to protect creativity and fair remuneration.
In French.
Week of events in Geneva bringing people together to confront racism through talks, roundtables, screenings, theatre, workshops, marches and guided visits. Activities are designed for all community members and include performances, film screenings, literary encounters, a human library, youth workshops and participatory theatre. The programme encourages listening, dialogue and collective reflection, offering multiple ways for neighbours and organisations to connect, learn and act together for a more inclusive city.
Alain Mabanckou, novelist and professor of literature at UCLA, is known for his vibrant, lyrical French and award-winning fiction, including the Renaudot-winning Mémoires de porc-épic and internationally translated titles. In conversation with journalist Pascal Schouwey, Mabanckou discusses themes of exile, identity and language, and reads from his latest novel Ramsès de Paris, exploring its humour, irony and storytelling strategies that reinvent diasporic narratives.
In French.
La Cour des Contes is a storytelling festival held each spring in Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva), celebrating oral narration as a vital force for social connection and cultural dialogue. Since 1995, the festival has brought together storytellers from across the world, and the 2026 edition invites audiences to journey through epics and great narratives spanning continents and centuries — from Ireland, Mali, Algeria and Australia to closer shores. Blending classic tales with contemporary voices, performances, family shows and workshops, the festival affirms storytelling as a shared, intimate and deeply human art form.
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