Cyrille CORNU

Free spirit, researcher, filmmaker, and naturalist, Cyrille Cornu has a deep passion for baobabs. As the author of numerous publications on the subject, he embarks on expeditions each year to study these giants in the heart of Madagascar’s most remote forests. Inspired by the island’s beauty, this tireless traveler released his first film in 2015, titled “Baobabs Between Land and Sea.” Surprised by the success of his debut in the audiovisual world, he has since dedicated himself to producing documentary films, as well as photographic and literary projects. He is currently working on a series, the first episode of which is “Mamody, the Last Baobab Hunter.” Two more episodes are in production.

Chinese Portrait

If I were a region, I’d be Menabe for its exceptional nature, baobabs, and Sakalava culture.  

If I were a village, I’d be Ampotaka, a remote village in the southwest of the island on the Mahafaly Plateau, for its warm and resourceful inhabitants, whose daily life I shared during several shoots.  

If I were a landscape, I’d be the tree crowns set against the azure sky, because as the poet Kahlil Gibran so beautifully wrote: “Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”  

If I were a plant, I’d be a Grandidier baobab because I believe it is one of the most stunning creations of the plant world.  

If I were an endemic animal, I’d be Brookesia nana, a recently discovered species of chameleon on the island of Nosy Hara, described in 2021. It is the smallest chameleon in the world.  

If I were a month of the year, I’d be April in the northern hemisphere, or October in the southern hemisphere, as these months mark the rebirth of life.  

If I were a mode of transport, I’d be a bicycle—a means of travel perfect for exploring, embracing the joy of wind in one’s hair.  

If I were an article of clothing or accessory, I’d be an old Malagasy hat, weathered by time, bearing witness to forgotten stories.  

If I were a natural element, I’d be the celestial vault, whose stars remind us of our humble existence.  

If I were a travel accessory, I’d be a hammock, inviting you to a nap suspended between two trees, where time stretches and worries sway far, far away!  

If I were food, I’d be a delicious vegetarian dish. Let’s not forget that intensive farming depletes soils, erodes biodiversity, and significantly contributes to climate change. To save the planet, let’s eat well.  

If I were a sound, I’d be the vibration of a gong, calling for meditation and inner peace.  

If I were a language, I’d be Nluu, an endangered tongue. Once spoken in South Africa, it is now spoken by only one person, Katrina Esau. In Africa, about 300 languages are at risk of disappearing.  

If I were a sport, I’d be hiking, an activity that nourishes the body and mind while offering endless opportunities for self-discovery and exploring the world around us.  

If I were a quality, I’d be hypersensitivity, as it heightens emotional perception, creativity, and the ability to perceive the world’s tiniest details.  

If I were a flaw, I’d also be hypersensitivity, as intense reactions to stimuli can make emotional management very challenging.  

If I were a Malagasy personality, I’d be Eusèbe Jaojoby, the king of salegy. His enchanting voice and generosity, combined with his sunny rhythms, always transport me to the Madagascar I love.