Creative Hands, Lively Figures – Marionette-Making with Ousseni Zongo

At this year’s Kids Filmfestival KIFIFE at the Opera Village, puppeteer Ousseni Zongo transported the children into the magical world of marionette-making. Using clay, paper, paint, and a great deal of imagination, they created their own little stage heroes. The workshop began with modeling shapes out of clay, which served as the foundation for the marionettes. The figures were then wrapped in recycled paper, dried, and painted – each one a unique creation born from the children’s imagination.

Ousseni Zongo, president of the Boromo Puppet Association, is not only an experienced artist but also a passionate educator. He uses his art to preserve and pass on cultural values – placing special emphasis on sustainability, creativity, and the use of local materials. The children worked with focus and great joy on their puppets, developing small characters and beginning to tell their stories. The workshop concluded with a small presentation of the finished works, during which the proud children brought their creations to life.

As part of the KIFIFE we emphasize creative craftsmanship as a cultural practice that connects and inspires. The marionette workshop was a vivid example of how children can develop powerful means of expression with simple tools. Through collaborative creation, not only were manual skills strengthened, but also imagination, patience, and self-confidence.

A special thanks goes to our supporters this year, without whose generous contributions the KIFIFE would not have been possible in its current form: Tales Of Us, Stormig Donkey Productions, Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation, Jutta Vogel Stiftung, Norbert W. Grossklaus (Evangelical Pastor / City Councilor of Offenburg) & Planbar 3 Gbr

Photos © Madi Zongo