On January 25, 2025, the Alliance Ethio-Française and Culture Club will present a unique event, “Night of Ideas”, commemorating the anniversary of the discovery of Lucy, one of the most significant fossil finds in human history. Unearthed in Ethiopia, Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis, has become a cornerstone of our understanding of human evolution. This multidisciplinary evening will combine science, art, and music to honor Lucy’s legacy and explore her profound cultural and scientific significance.
The event will kick off with a conference by Jean-Renaud Boisserie, a French archaeologist and expert on the Great Rift Valley, who will discuss the discovery of Lucy and its far-reaching impact on our understanding of human origins. Following the lecture, attendees will be treated to a screening of the PBS documentary In Search of Human Origins, focusing on Lucy’s discovery. Narrated by Dr. Donald Johanson, the paleoanthropologist who led the excavation, the documentary provides an in-depth look at this groundbreaking discovery.
The evening will conclude with a tribute concert to The Beatles, particularly “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. Local musicians will reinterpret the iconic song with Ethiopian musical influences, blending the worlds of science and creativity.
Organized in collaboration with the French Center for Ethiopian Studies (CFEE), this event offers
a memorable celebration of Lucy’s legacy and
is open to students, researchers, and the
general public.
Night of Ideas: Celebrating the Discovery of Lucy Jan 25, 2025
