Bamako Dance Festival Held Despite Crisis

Despite Islamist occupation in northern Mali, from October 29 to November 4, Bamako hosted the 9th international dance festival called "Dense Bamako Dance." This year's theme is "dance to exist" and while many welcomed some light relief from the unrest plaguing the country, others claimed it is not the right time to hold the festival.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society

Topics

Africa

Places

France, Mali

Transcript

SCRIPT: No one likes being stuck in traffic, but in Mali's capital Bamako - for one week at least - normally frustrated drivers may be pleasantly surprised. As soon as the traffic light goes red, dancers perform a sequence by south African choreographer Nelisiwe Xaba, as part of the 9th international festival of dance in Bamako. But the festival falls at a difficult time: northern Mali has been occupied by Islamic extremists for seven months causing unrest in much of the country. SOUNDBITE 1 - Nelisiwe Xaba, South African Choreographer (English, 7 sec): "To see the crisis and to see that suddenly no one is here. It's devastating." Hundreds have flocked to see performances by African and European dancers, but while many welcome the festival, others believe it should not be taking place at all. SOUNDBITE 2 - Kettly Noël, Director of Bamako Dance Festival (French, 21 sec): "The festival has become very political since it's the only thing that's alive in the city. As for the 45 seconds in front of the red traffic lights, some people say now is not the time, and others say it is-I heard that myself." Radical Islamists have imposed strict Sharia law on the residents of northern of Mali, an area the size of France. Far south in Bamako, it's a situation many Malians cannot forget. SOUNDBITE 3- Abdoulaye Doumbia, Audience member (French, 9 sec): "It expresses the suffering, everything that man can feel, you can feel it through them." Residents in the south of the country are calling for military intervention in the north. But while army chiefs discuss their next move, other welcome the distraction of a little song and dance. ------------------------------------------------------- SHOTLIST: BAMAKO, 31 OCTOBER, 3-4 NOVEMBER 2012 (Source: AFPTV) - VAR dancers preparing to dance in front of the traffic lights (31 October 2012) SOUNDBITE 1 (3 November 2012) - VAR of dance festival (31 October 2012) SOUNDBITE 2 (3 November 2012) - VAR of dance festival (4 November 2012) - CU of audience members watching performance SOUNDBITE 3 (4 November 2012) - VAR of dance festival (1 November 2012)