The II. Sindeola Festival 2015 For peace in Casamance Contents

Transcription

1 The II. Sindeola Festival 2015 For peace in Casamance Contents Conclusion... 2 Preparations for the Festival... 3 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Festival organizers Further Information

2 Conclusion The second edition of the Sindeola Peace Festival 2015 was an incredible success! This year, artists from USA, France, Guinea Bissau, Gambia and from all parts of the Senegal travelled to Ziguinchor. Famous African artists like Lamine Balde of the group Super Mama Djombo from Guinea Bissau, Touré Kunda from Senegal and as a member of the festival from day 1: Daddy Bostin from Gambia played pro bono. Some of the artists even travelled with their own money to the festival because our budget was very small this year. During the 8 festival days, more than participants came to Mango Couro. People from all parts of the Casamance came to the festival. Many of them walked or ride the bicycle for days just to be a part of the peace festival. The participants prayed for peace, walked to the prefecture of Ziguinchor during the peace march and of course had a good time enjoying the cultural shows! More than 10 schools attended the festival and were welcomed by Abdou Elinkine personally. He told them about Abbé Diamacoune Senghor, his life and the Casamance conflict. In this year, a group of students from Dakar called Kekendo travelled to Ziguinchor to demonstrate for peace on the Sindeola Festival. They were received at the first festival day by many enthusiastic viewers. The most significant event in this festival was the participation of representatives of all factions of the MFDC. Salif Sadio s sisters Saly und Aida Sadio participated, Abbé Diamacounes nephew Janot, Lansanna Goudiaby as representative of the MFDC in France and several representatives of Atout Badiate came together in Mango Couro to discuss the future of the Casamance and the peace. Also representatives of the government once again participated the festival. Everyone was excited and moved to tears by the festival and the ever-present sense of unity and peace. Aly Bayo with the sisters of Salif Sadio One participant from France even found God: Before the festival, I no longer believed in God. But when I see everyone here stand up for peace, I believe that God must be there! You can almost taste peace in the Casamance. It is in the air and is tangible like never before. The Sindeola Peace Project has already moved a lot, especially in the minds of people. We have to unify us to realize the peace in Casamance and in the world! On 19/03/2015 we plan an information event about the Sindeola Peace Festival in the Club Voltaire in Tübingen (Germany). For this year's Africa Festival in Tübingen from 23 rd to 26 th July 2015, we plan to invite members of the fragmented groups of the MFDC from Senegal and Europe / US to Germany to organize a global peace congress in Germany. 2

3 Preparations for the Festival There was plenty to do and to organize for the second Sindeola Festival in Like last year, many representatives of the government (the governor, the mayor and his cabinet, military, customs and police, as well as representatives of the tourism and culture in Ziguinchor) were personally invited to the festival. Unfortunately, very few representatives of the government came to the festival this year. More than 10 schools accepted the invitation and were received by Abdou Elinkine Diatta personally in Mango Couro. They gained an insight into the Casamance conflict, the life of Abbé Diamacoune Senghor and the Sindeola Peace Project. All children and teachers were touched and very impressed of the peace project. Especially the help of german children, who demonstrated for peace in the Casamance at the Africa Festival in Tübingen 2014 (information on surprised them pleasantly we visited schools in Ziguinchor and the neighboring villages. This was a premiere as we wanted to invite the children and their teachers to the festival. If we want to achieve a long lasting peace in the region, it is important to involve the children in the efforts for peace. The knowledge about the Casamance conflict and the hope for it to be ended very soon is very important for the children. It is a requirement to prevent the flare-up of the conflict in the future. During the 2 weeks of preparation, a stage with music and light system and a tribune for VIP s had to be lent and assembled. Additionally, a fence had to be built around the festival area in Mango Couro. The music system was lent in Gambia and the transport to Ziguinchor took more than one day. Luckily we were able to finish all preparations in time and with the small budget of only 6000, which was mainly invested by us privately. For the festival next year, the Bayo Sora association urgently needs its own equipment (stage, music system, light system, fences, etc.). The lending of the equipment is too expensive in long term view. The quality of the lent equipment is particularly bad, that s also a reason for own equipment of Bayo Sora in Senegal. We want to invite musicians like Tiken Jah Fakoly, who wanted to come to the previous festival. But for such artists, we urgently need very good equipment. 3

4 Monday, The first day of the festival is traditionally the day to welcome special guests. This year we welcomed a group of students from Dakar, who have rented a bus to come to Ziguinchor to demonstrate for peace. The group is called "Kekendo" (strong good man). They adore the work of Abbé Diamacoune Senghor and the peace movement of the Sindeola Peace Project In the evening, Daddy Bostin, a nationally known artist from Gambia and his band arrived in Ziguinchor. They were enthusiastically welcomed by many people and their special fan club in Ziguinchor. Daddy Bostin is an integral part of the peace festival. He adds his own ideas and has brought many traditional masks from Gambia to contribute the mask dance. He is a really great artist and we d love to welcome him to every edition of the Sindeola Festival. Throughout the night, members of all religions prayed together in interfaith prayers. They prayed in commemoration of the death of Abbé Diamacoune Senghor. Christians, Muslims, and representatives of traditional religions prayed for peace in Casamance and the world. 4

5 Tuesday, Tuesday was the day of the funeral of Abbé Diamacoune Senghor in the consecrated ground of the cemetery of Brin. A memorial service is celebrated every year on his grave. This year we rented two buses and drove together with supporters of Abbé Diamacoune to his grave to pray there. A great moment of honor for the former leader of the MFDC, who has tried to bring back peace to the Casamance. To our delight, we were able to welcome the sisters of Salif Sadio, Saly and Aida Sadio in Mango Couro. Salif Sadio is an important MFDC leader of a splinter group and he is really hard to contact. For a long time, there have been no talks between his followers and the followers of other MFDC groups. Therefore, it was our great desire to integrate him into the festival. That his sisters participate in the Sindeola Festival and are willing to discuss with Abdou Elinkine Diatta and representatives of Atout Badiate, is unbelievable. And it is an incredibly important step towards the unification of the MFDC and towards peace. There was held an Inter-MFDC conference on Tuesday. Saly Sadio repeatedly emphasized how thrilled and touched she was with the idea and the organization of the Sindeola Peace Festival. She also mentioned how glad she was to be at the festival and that her brother Salif Sadio would also be excited about the festival. Salif Sadio is also ready to face peace. That was one of the most important messages of Saly. The day ended with a cultural evening and performances of various traditional artists. 5

6 Wednesday, On the third day of the festival we warmly welcomed the representative of the MFDC in France, Lansanna Goudiaby in Mango Couro. He was so deeply moved by the amount of people who are actively working for peace, that he shed tears of excitement. This morning, there was also a long MFDC internal conversation about peace, in which some members of the Groupe de Contact attended. Each of the visiting MFDC members participated in the food supply. Cattles, chickens, baskets full of fish and bags of rice were brought to Mango Couro and distributed. Thus, it was ensured that the MFDC members who stayed at Mango Couro were supplied with food. In the early afternoon, the impetus for the charity football match was given. Like last year, two women's teams played against each other. The main match was between members of the MFDC and a regional youth team. Unfortunately this year none of the government officials actively participated in the football match. The day ended with cultural performances, rap and reggae concerts. Many artists came from different regions of the Casamance, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau. The group from Ziguinchor "Hip Hop Dially Kunda" enthused the audience that night. 6

7 Thursday, The peace march from Mango Couro to Prefecture in Ziguinchor on Thursday was a big event! Hundreds of people joined in the demonstration for peace. The MFDC, Bayo Sora and the members of the student movement Kekendo joined the march but also many residents of Ziguinchor and festival participants. The masks, which Daddy Bostin brought from Gambia, also walked in the march of people for peace. In front of the prefecture, the memorandum for peace was read. The representative of the Prefect received the memorandum and declared the government's willingness to make peace. He, too, was impressed by the amount of people who have marched the long dusty road to set an example for peace. In the evening there were again great concerts and cultural performances such as the Orchestre Casa Groupe, DJ Bosco and Tony Essamaye. The atmosphere was bombastic! 7

8 Friday, On Friday, the solemn reception for Lamine Balde from the group Super Mama Djombo and Touré Kunda was held. The artists of Touré Kunda are from the Casamance and they are one of the internationally best-known musicians from Senegal. Super Mama Djombo is one of the most famous African bands. Every child in Africa knows their song "Pamparida". It is a great honor for us that this internationally known musicians have decided to play on the Sindeola Peace Festival. They impressed the crowd in an indescribable way and ensured that no one will soon forget the peace festival! The reception of the artists was a very emotional issue for everyone. Lots of hugs were exchanged. An awesome experience for all! Whether young or old, the Sindeola Festival has excited all ages. We as organization team were very touched of the fact that so many older people have found their way to Mango Couro. Old and young were demonstrating for peace together. 8

9 In the evening Daddy Bostin with his band and Lamine Balde from Super Mama Djombo excited the audience. Also many local artists moved the festival participants to dance and sing and feel the peace in the air. The atmosphere was amazing when the festival hymn was played and Aly Bayo, Abdou Elinkine Diatta, Lamine Balde, Daddy Bostin and Azize Mbaye called their thoughts about peace in different languages into the microphone. Everyone waved white cloth and kept their cell phones and cameras high - an absolutely wonderful moment. Saturday, Touré Kunda is probably the most famous export of the Casamance. They played on Saturday and moved the masses. There were so many people on the festival area that many of them had to stand far behind the barrier. They could only listen not see the famous musicians of Touré Kunda. Very talented local artists, such as the group of Abdou Elinkine Diatta "Les Frères du Sud", MC Moumeu and many others excited the crowd. MC Moumeu is deaf from birth but he passionately loves rapping. In honor of Bayo Sora founder Aly Bayo, a play was performed by the drama group Yewul nadjna ("get up, the sun has already risen!"). The play was dedicated to him and to peace. At the festival, the members of Bayo Sora were selling homemade food and drinks for the association. 9

10 Sunday, On Sunday the traditional mask dance was performed as a cultural highlight. The Koumpo, the most famous figure of the Casamance really moved the audience with his dance! The Koumpo is a rotating, wild dancing traditional mask. Before the dance, the Koumpo is sprayed with water so that its palm frond fringes fall better. A spectacle that must be seen! The mayor of Ziguinchor, Abdoulaye Balde, also attended the mask dance on the Sindeola Festival. The huge bear mask which Daddy Bostin brought from the Gambia was terrible and beautiful at the same time. All kids ran away squealing when they saw it. The red woman mask was worn by a man. He danced so offensive, that the older mammy s in the audience laughed out loud! Monday, On Monday, the festival was officially completed with inter-religious prayers. Christians, Muslims and followers of traditional indigenous religions prayed for peace. Even a believer, who is both Muslim and member of a traditional religion, was amongst the participants. With the Sindeola Festival we want to make a mark for a better understanding between cultures and religions. The Casamance with its peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Christians and traditional religions is an important example for the world. Especially in times of extremism and terrorism, it is a sign of hope when all religions pray together for peace. 10

11 Festival organizers Aly Bayo Organizer of the Sindeola Festival and founder/president of Bayo Sora Abdou Elinkine Diatta Porte Parole (Speaker) of the MFDC, gave the idea for the Sindeola Festival Azize Mbaye Representative of the Committée senegalais des droits de l homme; general secretary of the ONDH (Org. nationale des droits de l homme); président de la commission chargé de la crise casamancaise 11

12 Further Information You find more information on our website: Contact: Aly Bayo: Maximiliane Bayo: Donations: CNDA-Afrikakitv ev IBAN: DE BIC: SOLADES1TUB Usage: Casamance Peace Festival La paix pour tout le monde, tout le monde pour la paix 12