MUSIC IN AFRICA
A factor of integration and development

It is not only in Europe even in occident that the Malian artists are well marked. They are also much adulated on the continent. It is the case of Oumou Sangaré and Salif Kéita in Senegal. Two Malian stars who have just put their talent and their notoriety at the service of the good causes like hunger relief in the world, AIDS and development of Africa.
The ambassadress of the United Nations for food and agriculture (FAO) had a real success during her last passage in Dakar, on November 27, 2004. She always has new ideas to captivate the attention of her public which is already conquered by her feeling and her talent, the star of Wassoulou literally electrified the hall of spectacle of the Theatre Daniel Sorano. "Crowd could not be retain any more because the music of Oumou is attractive, her choreography wonderful. It’s rare to see a foreign artist holding the attention of the Senegalese people from the beginning to the end of his spectacle…", said a colleague the day following the unforgettable show.
Those who had the privilege to see the concert of the diva were far from suspecting that another pleasant surprise awaited them as gift of end of the year: Salif Kéita! The nightingale who has just celebrated his great return to the fold by giving spectacles with superstars of the African music, was also the main guest of the festival "Africa Fête" (from November 29 to December 4, 2004). A legendary cultural event launched in France 26 years ago by Mamadou Konté and is now held in Dakar since four editions. The public of Africa Fête was entitled to two wonderful performances of the nightingale of the Mande. The first spectacle took place in the French Arts centre of Dakar and the second at the Stadium Iba Mar Diop of the Medina of Youssou Dour. During the last show, the “Domingo” of the African music shared the scene with celebrities like Baaba Maal, Coumba Gawlo Seck, Omar Pène, Alioune M’Baye Der…
Salif took advantage of his presence in the Senegalese capital to discuss with many interlocutors of the new mission that the Program of the United Nations for Development (UNDP) has just assigned to him: Spokesman of "Afrique 2015" of Mali for music and sport. This initiative aims to create the conditions allowing Africa to achieve the Goals of the development (OMD) for millennium. He thus joined the troop of stars engaged by the sides of the UNDP in its mission of development in Africa. The objective is to make the prestige of sport and music of the continent profitable to draw the attention of the decision makers, the civil society and the partners to the development on the urgent challenges to take up so that Africa can finally open out.
The mission of Salif Kéita and his equal is to mobilize energies and wills around eight great projects of development and especially to ensure the junction between sport and music in the domain of the celebration of 2005 as the international year of "sport and physical education". The nightingale already contributed to mobilize the artists around a major challenge which is mortgaging all the development opportunities of the continent: the HIV/AIDS! And this through the composition of an engaged song, " Nous sommes les Tam-tams (We are the Tom-toms)". An engagement of the stars like Manu Dibango, Boncana Maïga, Salif Kéita, Habib Koïté, Youssou Dour, Coumba Gawlo Seck, Ismaël Lô… to carry out from now on a sensitizing for a change of behaviour and for a best psychosocial management of the people infected and affected by the pandemia of the AIDS.
It is obvious that the music is a factor of development. But, this mission is more and more compromised by the piracy which is ruining the cultural undertakings and breaking artistic careers. In margin of the festival Africa Fête, the professionals of the sector found themselves in Dakar to reflect on ways and means to stop this phenomenon. In addition to the wish to see the authorities redoubling efforts to support and protect the creators, the organization of the Panafrican Day of fight against piracy was also recommended. The aim being to put the decision makers in front of their conscience and responsibility.
King Moseto

Idrissa Soumaoro
It is finally this evening that Idrissa Soumaoro and his group take off for Paris. The prize winner of prix RFI Musique du Monde will officially receive his Reward and will animate two emissions. The first for "France 2" and the second, with Claudy Siar of RFI.

Issa Bagayogo
The new album of Issa Bagayogo "Tassoumakan" so much awaited by the music lovers will be available on the market on next December 23. Tassoumakan, a new album to make the festivals of end of the year pleasant to you.