LEWISTON — The Franco-American Heritage Center will welcome French singing group Les Faits Divers to the United States for the first time in celebration of Semaine de la Francophonie (National French Week) March 17-25.

The group will perform in concert with fiddler Erica Brown in Augusta and entertain Lewiston-Auburn students and families during the weeklong and worldwide celebration of French heritage, culture, language and traditions.

Faits Divers was created in 1998 by 10 musicians and singers, all from a region in France called La Haute Savoie, near the Franco-Swiss Alps. Five singers, who met as members of their home village’s chorale, teamed up with two local multi-instrumentalists. Later on, two spouses joined the group to assist with props and stage management.

A common love of French songs drew the musicians and singers together along with a desire to express their cultural heritage freely and joyfully. Each member is granted latitude to incorporate imagination and fantasies into creative songs and sketches filled with humor, tenderness and romance.

International Week of Francophonie began in 1998 as a way for members of the Francophone diaspora to celebrate their common bond, the French language, as well as their unique differences.

The term francophonie was coined by French essayist Onesime Reclus circa 1880 to describe the geographic areas where French was spoken. Today, francophonie refers to the ensemble of people around the world who speak French, the official language in 33 countries on five continents.

Les Faits Divers’ schedule follows:

Tuesday, March 20: Concert with fiddler Erica Brown, 7 p.m. St. Augustine Church, 1 Kendall Street, Augusta; general admission, $3/children under 6, free; 623-3491.

Wednesday, March 21: Concert at Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston, 4 p.m., open to Auburn public, parochial and home-schooled students and families; free; 783-1585.

Thursday, March 22: Concert with L’Ecole Francaise, Franco Center, 10 a.m., open to Lewiston public, parochial and home-schooled students and families; free; 783-1585.