Rich with history and open to the world, Ségou, a region of culture, becomes the scene of a multidisciplinary festival where art and people meet each other during four days. After the very successful festivals of 2005 and 2006, the Festival on the Niger opens Segous’ doors once again and offers you a unique spectacle on the river and its banks, from February 1st till 4, 2007.

FORUM « Young people and Employment »
Economists, sociologists, lawyers, and other guests invite you to come to exchange ideas around the topic “Young people and Employment”. The objective of the millennium is to reduce poverty by half, by 2015. The general concept is that work is the best means to freedom from poverty and that the world-wide employment crisis is one of the greatest threats for our safety today. During the Forum, which will take place on Thursday February 1, 2007, we intend to discuss the causes and consequences of the lack of decent employment, and possible solutions, emphasizing the Malian context.

TRADITIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS « Ségou receives Sikasso »
Traditional troops will reveal to you the great cultural richness of our ancestral rites; this is a unique opportunity to discover these ceremonies which tend to be forgotten and which the festival gives a new space for expression. This year the invited region is Sikasso. Music, dances, masks and puppets, tales and legends of Mali, hunter shows, boat races...

EART EXHIBITIONS « Ségou, Bogolan capital »
The theme of the Art exhibitions will be “Bogolan, in the past and in the present”. There will be three exhibitions, and in addition, there will be a bogolan fashion show performed by the Soroblé center :
  An exhibition from the groups Benkadi and Sinignesigi from Ségou on the traditional bogolan: « 20 years of experience in bogolan creation »
  A group from the West African Visual Artists, together with the Kasobané Gallery will present the topic of modern Bogolan
  An exhibition from the NDomo center: « 15 years of experience in creating, training and including young people in bogolan makin g»

CRAFT AND AGRICULTURAL FAIR where the imagination and creativity of the countries craftsmen and farmers will meet.

CONCERTS ON THE RIVER « from the Mandingo kora to the Bambara ngoni »
  Habib Koité
  Doussou Bagayogo
  Toumani Diabaté*
  Bassékou Kouyaté
  Oumou Sangaré*
  Heather Maxwell
  Les GO de Koteba
  Mah Kouyate n°2
  Tinariwen*
  Papa G Diarra

* will be confirmed by the end of September at the latest