If you were alive in Taiwan in the eighties, you know this man: he was the Congolese actor who starred in the popular Vitali soft drink ad. Thirty years later, he is the first African crosstalk performer in Taiwan. Dark-skinned and bright-eyed, Yvon Pierre Loufoua has a laugh like a baritone bell. Though more than fifty years of age, he still seems like an overgrown boy. He speaks Chinese fluently, even with a hint of Taiwanese accent, as he begins the story of his life. 

“I Wanted to See the East”: From Congo to Taiwan

My name is Yvon Pierre Loufoua, I’m 52. More than 30 years ago, I was an exchange student in Beijing Language and Culture University. I was there as part of my country’s national outreach program; but speaking for myself, I just wanted a taste of different cultures. My country, the Republic of the Congo, used to be a French colony. We were steeped in Western culture and the unspoken vow in everyone’s mind was, “We’ve fallen behind and must catch up.”

I wanted to leave this orbit and absorb new Eastern values. 

I ended up in a university in Hangzhou but wanted out in a couple of years. I was unaccustomed to the social atmosphere of Mainland China. China at that time was much less open than it is now. There was a strong sense of xenophobia, there was an unbridgeable gap between people, and I had to be careful which restaurants I chose to patronize. Friends recommended I checked out Taiwan.

I found Taiwan to be a different world. People were friendlier and everything was more open and liberal. So, I transferred to National Taiwan University and studied agricultural economics. I was under a lot of stress in China and never even tried Chinese food. I felt much more relaxed in Taiwan, I began trying Chinese food, everything from stinky tofu to century eggs to all kinds of animal organs. 

Young Yvon Pierre Loufoua. (Source: Yvon Pierre Loufoua)

Learning Crosstalk and the Beauty of Chinese

One time, I was teaching English to children in a KFC. Mr. Wang Zhen-Quan (王振全), director of the Hanlin Storytelling Troupe (漢霖說唱團), was passing by and noticed me. He thought it very droll to hear an African speaking Chinese with a Beijing accent. He invited me to join their crosstalk troupe.

I thought their “storytelling troupe” was a religious choir and wanted to keep my distance, but Hanlin kindly sent me lots of crosstalk tapes and called now and then to ask if I listened to the tapes. I was doing part-time work in restaurants and getting only 60, 70 Taiwan dollars per hour. The job was hard; it was difficult to balance school and work. 

                       

One time, Hanlin performed at the Youth Cultural and Artistic Center (幼獅藝文中心) and brought me in to help with lighting. They paid me a thousand dollars—many times more than what I usually made. I decided to stay on as a temp. I went through the crosstalk tapes, which helped with my Chinese listening. I found learning to perform crosstalk really helped me learn Chinese, because you could feel the art of the language and gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese society. The funny thing is, I thought it was just a phase. I didn’t think it would be my life’s work, but here I am in my fifties, still doing crosstalk. 

Young Yvon Pierre Loufoua performing crosstalk. (Source: Yvon Pierre Loufoua)

“You never know what will happen in life. You can’t even guess what you’ll end up doing, where life will lead you.” At the moment, my work is mainly importing and exporting car parts and mechanical farm equipment. But if Hanlin asks me to perform, you know I’ll be there with my crosstalk routine. 

Hanlin Storytelling Troupe performing; Yvon Pierre Loufoua is on the far right. (Source: Yvon Pierre Loufoua)

“Taiwan Left Its Mark on My Heart”

I’ve left Taiwan many times, but I always came back. I discovered I could not quit Taiwan. I had an American friend who came to Taiwan to learn crosstalk. He also came and went, and he ended up working in Singapore. To him, Taiwan was a mess of buildings and chaotic traffic, like “a place to raise pigs.” Every time he saw me, he said, “Yvon, why are you still here? The world’s a big place, why stay in Taiwan?” I’d smile quietly. I’ve tried leaving, but I found I could not bear to leave Taiwan. 

I think back to when I first came here. I thought it would be a short stay, so I had only a thousand Hong Kong dollars with me. The first evening I was here, I ordered dumplings in a small diner. I started a conversation with a couple of high school students and asked about finding a job. The two young men took my question very seriously and fell over themselves looking for phone numbers, trying to get me a job in an uncle’s factory. We had just met, but they did not treat me like a stranger. They sincerely wanted to help me, I felt they “made my business their business.” It moved me deeply. 

Another time, I took the wrong train. It was past ten at night and when I got off, there were no buses to be found. In a distance, I saw police officers approaching. I was in a panic. In other countries, the police were not so friendly. They often demanded to see my papers and asked all sorts of questions. So, I determined to pretend I did not speak Chinese.

Instead, they politely told me I would not find a bus here and offered to give me a ride to some place where I could find a bus. I was racked with guilt. I was on my guard and never imagined they could be so friendly. These were my fondest memories of Taiwan. All the Taiwanese I met seemed to want to protect me, to make me feel at home. Every day, I am moved by some new experience. “Taiwan has left its mark on my heart.”

However, in my thirty plus years in Taiwan, I also found that Taiwan idolizes Western culture and follows Western fashion. The Taiwanese imitate Western cinema, food, and lifestyle. “You like to check your reflection in their mirror.”

I think it’s a bit of a shame, Taiwan should demonstrate the value of its own traditional culture rather than conform to someone else’s culture. The Taiwanese are often familiar with foreign culture but strangers to their own local culture. 

Have you read?
♦ Indigenous Culture, not Food, is Taiwan’s Top Tourist Attraction
♦ A Canadian-Born Realizing His Green Dream in Taiwan
♦ The Impasse of Taiwanese Tourism?

Seven Years’ Preparation for Cross Culture Romance

Despite the difference between Taiwanese and African family values, and my own rocky marriage experience, in the end I decided to marry and start a family in Taiwan. It was a long-term commitment. At this point of the interview, Mrs. Loufoua chimes in: cultural differences did lead to some friction in their relationship, and they spent seven years working things out before getting married. “African men can be a bit chauvinistic, but so can Taiwanese women, so there was bound to be some conflict in our relationship.”

As a student, Yvon had little money. He worked and studied at the same time. In his thirties, he became an actor and starred in the famous Vitali soft drink ad, and made guest appearances in TV programs such as “The World is Different” (世界大不同). “He has a certain comedic quality, his charisma shines through when he steps onto the stage.” Through hard work, he found his own way in life.

Yvon Pierre Loufoua on the day of this interview. (Source: Yu-Ting Liu)

To Mrs. Loufoua, her husband’s best quality is “positivity and optimism.” Sometimes elderly people assume Yvon does not speak Taiwanese and says right to his face, “Black people are black because they don’t shower.” In the face of such naked racism, Yvon never gets angry. “I get steaming mad because I think they are prejudiced towards him.” Other times, children holler when they see him: “A black man!” He just smiles and replies, “Hello!” Mrs. Loufoua is proud of his composure.

At the end of the interview, the Loufouas talk and smile between themselves as they head to a restaurant to have a meal. Only they know best the bitter and the sweet of their marriage. The conflict between different cultures and values can be sorted out. What they have left is something better and longer lasting, a simple joy to be shared together for all their lives.

The Hanlin Troupe performing in Taitung. Mr. Loufoua is on the left; Mrs. Loufoua is in the middle. (Source: Yvon Pierre Loufoua)

Translated by Jack C.
Edited by Sharon Tseng

---

Crossing features more than 200 (still increasing) Taiwanese new generation from over 110 cities around the globe. They have no fancy rhetoric and sophisticated knowledge, just genuine views and sincere narratives. They are simply our friends who happen to stay abroad, generously and naturally sharing their stories, experience and perspectives. See also Crossing Arab World.

Original content can be found at the website of Crossing: 「我試過離開，到頭來還是捨不得」從維大力廣告到相聲演員，他在台灣一待 30 年！

This article is reproduced under the permission of Crossing. It presents the opinion or perspective of the original author / organization, which does not represent the standpoint of CommonWealth magazine.