Skip to main content

Solar powered festival transport & solidarity from Lagos

So much of what we share from Mali is music.

From Lagos to Mali: Bantu goes on 5000km anti-war road trip

Feb 15, 2017 • by IfeOluwa Nihinlola

Bantu, the 13-piece Afro-funk band led by the host of Lagos' Afropolitan Vibes, Ade Bantu, embarked on a grueling road trip from Africa's Big Apple to Mali for Festival sur le Niger earlier this month.


The band undertook the 5 000km trip to be part of the festival's 13th edition and to make a statement against violence in war-torn Mali.

"Someone asked me why we would go through all this stress for a festival in some remote place,” Ade Bantu said.

“It’s simple, we were determined to show solidarity with our fellow brothers and sisters in Mali who have been battling with Islamist insurgency for years. This festival was important to help heal wounds and build bridges."
------------------------

And, apparently at this year's festival they used solar powered vehicles to transport musicians around the grounds... Go Segou! Go Fondation Festival Sur Le Niger! Go Doumbia et Daffe!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Bamana symbols on bogolan

Wonderful Music Feb. 11, 15 and 20!

Feb 11: Modlin @ Boatright: Fatoumata Diawara Feb 15: A Night of Mali Music Feb 20: From Africa To Appalachia: An Evening with Cheick Hamala Diabte, Sammy Shelor, Danny Knicely and Friends ---------------------- February 15: A Night of Mali Music Fatoumata Diawara                 Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba At the University of Richmond Camp Concert Hall / Booker Hall of Music on Saturday night, February 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm.  Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara has packed a lifetime of experience into her 33 years. Diawara’s career includes stints as a dancer, and a film and stage star before finding her true calling as an unparalleled singer and songwriter. Blending Wassalou traditions of Southern Mali with international influences, Diawara has performed and recorded with Oumou Sangaré, AfroCubism, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. (From Richmond's Sister City Segou)  Bassekou Kouyate is one...