Sickle Cell Disease: An Artistic Performance to Break the Silence

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Extract from the article: On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day, celebrated every June 19, the theatrical troupe Le Phare, in collaboration with the association La Maison des Bien-Aimés (LMBA), organized an original awareness-raising event on Saturday, June 21, 2025....

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On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day, celebrated every June 19, the theatrical troupe Le Phare, in collaboration with the association La Maison des Bien-Aimés (LMBA), organized an original awareness-raising event on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Kégué market in Lomé. Entitled “Artistic performance to raise awareness about sickle cell disease”, the initiative combined theater and cultural expression to inform the public about this still little-known or misunderstood genetic condition.

It was a campaign carried out through theater and artistic performance. “We chose the Kégué market because we know how difficult it is nowadays to gather people around these kinds of topics. The market is a strategic place to reach a broad and diverse audience. The aim is to encourage the population to shed light on sickle cell disease, to get hemoglobin electrophoresis tests done, and to make informed decisions when choosing a partner. It’s essential to know your status before entering a relationship,” emphasized Konutsè Semanou, president of Le Phare.

The bet on public engagement was a success. “We had a great turnout, with more than 300 participants. That encourages us to continue in other markets, with the support of local authorities and in collaboration with other associations across the country,” the president added with satisfaction.

Strong Support for Committed Artistic Creation

As a partner in the event, La Maison des Bien-Aimés (LMBA) expressed admiration for the quality of the troupe’s work. “Our association supports serious and committed initiatives, and that’s clearly the case with Le Phare. Their artistic approach is both powerful and impactful. That’s why we support them. Their commitment deserves to be recognized,” said Chantal Essivi Gnofame, president of LMBA.

She also shared her personal experience as someone living with sickle cell disease: “It’s a genetic illness that occurs when both parents carry the defective gene. My parents were both AS type, so I inherited the SS form, which is the most severe. Sickle cell disease is expensive to manage; it requires constant care. That’s why raising awareness is so crucial—to prevent new generations of children from being born with the disease.”

Love, Prevention, and Solidarity

Ms. Gnofame issued a call to young people: “Before becoming parents, it is important to know your genetic status. But if, through ignorance, a child is born with the disease, that child must be surrounded with love—that’s essential. You also need to have the resources to provide proper care. At LMBA, we do our part by mobilizing funds to purchase medicines and train specialized healthcare providers.”

A Message Carried Through Art

The awareness message also came to life on stage, through a powerful performance by members of the troupe. Kodjo Joseph Adando, one of the performers, explained: “Together with my colleague, we chose art as our medium to reach the public. Through our performance, we wanted to deliver a message of responsibility: knowing your genetic status means preventing avoidable suffering.”

This artistic initiative once again demonstrates that culture can be a powerful tool for education and community mobilization.

Raymond DZAKPATA