Sports, Cultural Identities and Development in Space Francophone: France, Benin, Congo, Niger and Senegal

The universalization of modern sports has led, especially in black Africa, to the partial loss of traditional physical practices. They are an integral part of the social and cultural heritage; it is also an important part of the identity of the African peoples. Because of their educational, social and moral values, they undoubtedly constitute a refuge from the attacks of contemporary societies. Under these conditions, the adoption of modern sport as the only value for progress can be considered as a dead-end alternative, or even as the manifestation of a cultural hegemony, the consequences of which can be measured by scientific analysis. The problem which thus appears seeks to ensure that endogenous physical activities and modern sport complement each other and are harmoniously integrated into the development process of young African States.