… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …
An article from Le Reflet (translated by CPNN)
In order to better know the jazz music in Mauritania, the association “Les Echos du Sahel” has organized this year the jazz festival in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Crafts, the French Institute (IfM) , the Embassy of France, the Embassy of Spain and the Embassy of the United States, also with the support of other associations and economic institutions.
This festival is intended to be “a great meeting of intercultural exchanges between Mauritanian musicians and those of the sub-region, Europe and the United States. It is part of the promotion of jazz music as a vector of peace, freedom of expression and unity: It carries a message of tolerance and openness to others, for a perfect social cohesion . ”
The challenge is also to “create and develop time and space for exchange between cultures through discovery workshops, sharing experiences with professional musicians from Mauritania and abroad. To introduce Mauritian musicians and young people to the practice of jazz, to promote the culture of peace and tolerance in the subregion, in the countries of the Sahel and in the world through the jazz festival and to perpetuate the jazz festival in Mauritania” according to Babi Sarr, secretary general of the” Echos du Sahel “and initiator of the festival of jazz in Mauritania.
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(Click here for a French version of this article)
Question related to this article:
What place does music have in the peace movement?
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The program includes: Concerts by Mauritanian and foreign artists, educational workshops between foreign and Mauritanian musicians, an exhibition, lectures and debates, screenings of jazz films and a vibrant tribute to the late Saidou Bâ Banbaado, traditional guitarist, by his son Cheikhou Bâ and the musician Steve Shehan from France.
Among those invited to this cultural event: Kahil El’Zabar and David Murray (USA), Samy Thiébault (France), Steve Shehan (France), Jerez – Texas (Spain), Noura Seymaly (Mauritania), Walfadjiri Orchestra (Mauritania).
As a reminder, the launch of this edition is scheduled for September 18 at 8 pm at the Echos du Sahel. A press conference of the Nouakchott Jazz PLUS Festival 2017 will take place Tuesday, September 19 at 10 am at the Hotel Monotel.
The event will be marked in particular by a concert by Samy Thiebault, on September 19th at the IfM (1,000um / 500 um for the members) at 8 pm, on 21 September a concert at the Ifm at 8 pm with Noura Seymali, Dental Orchestra (Mauritania), Jerez Texas, David Murray and Kahil El’Zabar (USA) (free entry). A dinner concert is scheduled on Friday, September 22 at the Hotel Monotel at 8 pm entrance 10,000 um.
A restitution of the educational workshops with David Murray & Kahil El’Zabar and Mauritanian trainee musicians will be offered on Saturday 23rd September at 8pm at the Echos du Sahel (free admission), the public will also vibrate during this evening to the rhythm of the duo Steve Shehan and Cheikhou Ba to the Echoes of the Sahel.