During the opening ceremony of the CAN 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, most spectators were captivated by the beauty of the dances, masks and choreography. It's important to point out that the entire show was put together by choreographer George Momboye, the show of
Born in 1968 in Kouibly, in the Dix-Huit Montagnes region, Georges Momboye developed his passion for dance as a child. At the age of 13, he began giving African dance lessons. His arrival in the United States gave him in-depth training in classical, jazz and modern jazz dance. His constant quest for perfection led him to enrich his knowledge by working alongside renowned choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Brigitte Matenzi, Rick Odums and Gisèle Houri.
Dance is an integral part of her family heritage. Indeed, her family has the privilege of being custodians of the Gla mask. Art, dance, and music are deeply rooted in his family.
Moving to France in September 1992, Georges Momboye teaches traditional African dance at the Peter Goss studio. In June 1998, he founded the Centre de Danses Pluri-Africaines in Paris, a place dedicated to teaching African dance. His first choreography, entitled "La Paix", was commissioned by UNESCO for a congress at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation in Yamoussoukro. The show, involving 50 dancers, was presented in front of Federico Mayor, UNESCO's director at the time, and was a resounding success.
At the head of the Yankady ballet company, Georges Momboye creates seven shows, including "Le Zaouli", for which he is awarded 1st prize for best show for young audiences by Jeunesses Musicales de France and the Association Tradition Afrique-Orient. "Kamanda... Qu'en penses-tu" also received standing ovations when it was presented at the Lyon Biennale in September 1994.
Today, his eponymous company boasts some fifty artists, including dancers, singers, and musicians, all of whom come from major African ballets or contemporary companies. Georges Momboye's clear, precise teaching style has earned him regular invitations to run workshops in France and around the world, from Europe to the USA, via Venezuela and Asia.
His first experience was in Tokyo as choreographer for L'Oréal models and hairdressers, involving some 450 dancers.
He was also commissioned to create a fresco on the theme of The Lion King. The show was very well received, and the contract with Disney was renewed for a further three years, a source of personal pride for him, as it meant that Africa was being promoted through his work.
His career also led him to meet Beckenbauer in Morocco, a meeting that paved the way for the creation of the opening fresco for the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010. He orchestrated the Arts Nègres fresco in Dakar, bringing together some 3,000 dancers, and also took part in the Jeux de la Francophonie, and the list of his achievements is long and varied.Il a également été chargé de créer une fresque sur le thème du Roi Lion. Ce spectacle a été très bien accueilli, et le contrat avec Disney a été renouvelé sur trois ans, une source de fierté personnelle, car cela signifiait une valorisation de l'Afrique à travers son travail.
Sa carrière l'a également conduit à rencontrer Beckenbauer au Maroc, une rencontre qui a ouvert la voie à la réalisation de la fresque d'ouverture de la Coupe du Monde en 2006 en Allemagne et en 2010 en Afrique du Sud. Il a orchestré la fresque des Arts Nègres à Dakar, rassemblant près de 3000 danseurs et également participé aux Jeux de la Francophonie, et la liste de ses réalisations est longue et diversifiée.