INSTITUT FRANÇAIS / HALLE DE L’ETOILE

The Institut français de Lubumbashi - Halle de l'Étoile is a cultural center located in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is strategically located in the country's second largest city and in the province of Katanga, which is a bastion of the French language in a predominantly English-speaking region. La Halle de l'Étoile was inaugurated in 2004 to replace the Centre Culturel Français de Lubumbashi, which had closed after looting in 1991. The institute offers a variety of cultural activities, including theatrical performances, concerts, dance and circus shows, debates and film screenings. It has an enclosed auditorium, an outdoor stage, an audio recording studio, a library/media library and an exhibition hall. The institute also supports local artists in their professional development and promotes their national and international reputation. The institute's library offers a collection of nearly 8,000 works, with a focus on literature, comics, social sciences and the arts.