Virginia Friends of Mali

  dege!        ɲɛnajɛ!      fɛɛrɛ! Virginia Friends of Mali presents is annual Celebration of Mali Independence Day Please join us on Saturday, September 22nd for an afternoon and evening of learning, celebration and planning! Co-sponsored by the VCU Departments of World Studies and African American Studies this 2-part, multi-faceted program will offer bi-lingual - French : English - materials and presentations on the history, culture, music, social and political issues, and current events Part One: 1-4 pm in the VCU Commons Theatre Presentations on Malian history, culture and social issues in French and English by Dr. Patricia Cummins (World Studies) and Dr. Robin Poulton (VFOM and World Studies) for VFOM members and VCU faculty and students. Welcome by VCU College of Humanities Dean James Coleman. Part Two: 6-8 pm in the VCU Commons Virginia Salons A-D We are pleased to welcome a special presentation by the Malian Ambassador to the US, M. Almaamoun B. L. KEITA , on t

M. le Maire, Ousmane K. SIMAGA, arrived in Richmond the evening of 24 July, 2012 for a 7-day mission of urgency from his hometown of Segou MALI. The northern rebellion and March 22 coup d'etat have resulted in a burgeoning crisis in the north that is driving Malians of all ethnicities from their homes into neighboring countries and southwest into the cities along the main road toward Bamako, and beyond. Segou, a city of 135,000, has so far received more than 7,200 displaced men, women and children from northern cities,  Summary of Number of Displaced Persons in Segou  (22 March - 20 July), which is roughly equivalent to Richmond receiving 11,000 people.  Click here for Mali and Overview of Crisis . To ameliorate the situation which also pressures local residents' capacity to remain self-sufficient, the city of Segou is asking for immediate assistance: 1) Direct financial contributions through the Virginia Friends of Mali to support their 3 top needs: food, medical trea

Toumani Diabate, Bassekou Kouyate, Djelimady Tounkara on Crisis in Mali   - Interviewed by Banning Eyre of AfroPop Worldwide, three Malian griot/musicians give their take on the situation in Mali, 9 June 2012, between sessions at Celebrate Brooklyn in New York.

Briefing on Mali and the Sahara  Dr RE Poulton is Vice-President of Virginia Friends of Mali,  Professor of French West African Studies in the VCU School of World Studies, Senior Fellow of UNIDIR in Geneva, Managing Partner of EPES Mandala Consulting. He is the author of five books and many articles on Mali. Mali in political chaos There is anarchy in Bamako There is still hope! Conclusion: medium optimism Who are the northern ‘rebels’? Dr Robin Edward Poulton spoke about Mali, Timbuktu and oil wars in the Sahara on July 3rd, 2012 at the prestigious Royal Society for International Affairs in London  (known as "Chatham House" because it is housed in the London mansion of the Earl of Chatham, Prime Minister William Pitt (1708–1778) - a man who supported the position of the American colonies before their revolution against George III).  Click here to read the full presentation.

Saturday, March 3 from 3:30-5pm... Robin Edward Poulton (Macky TALL) and Virginia Vassar (Aissata Daou)  will speak in costume, with pictures and fun toys from Segou, Richmond's sister city in Mali where the real LION KING came from ! Bring the kids, visit the library, come and hear great music from Mali and find out about Virginia's African Heritage. Dr Poulton came back from Mali and Segou just last week Virginia spent a year in a Malian High School before working in Senegal, on the coast of what used to be the Mali Empire - founded by the original Lion King in 1235 and the subject of history teaching for all 6th grade, 4th grade and 3rd grade students in the Virginia school system. Learn while you have fun! See you there ! Richmond Public Library - Main Branch 101 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia   23219 www.richmondpubliclibrary.org

Virginia Friends of Mali is on     f  ACEBOOK :  http://www. facebook.com/pages/Virginia- Friends-of-Mali/ 229256047136299  - Visit, LIKE us, and post news or update your status with info that's good to share with VFOM. Our website is nearly done - for a sneak peek visit  www.vafriendsofmali.org/wp  - it's lovely. VFOM's first book,  Djita - A Malian girl from Virginia / Une fille malienne de la Virginie , is not only published, but has a new flier (attached) with good information for teachers, students, storytellers and friends. Check it out, share it and get your copy today. The introductory sale price is still available at Authorhouse - click the cover image link in the right hand menu of this page. At least 8 VFOM officials and friends will converge on the 2012 Festival On The Niger, 15-19 February, in Segou. What a great event this will be. VCU professor of psychology and chair of the Africana Studies department, Shawn Utsey will be conducting the first Sis