Rich with history and open to the world, Ségou (Mali), 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...

ART 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 making »

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 »

Detailed festival program :

Thursday February 1
10h00-17h00
Meru Ba Hall
Discussion Forum « Youth and Employment »

10h00-13h00 Departure in front of the Meru Ba Hall
The Parade of Tall Persons ; giant puppets of Burkina
The « samo » blowers of Bougoufié

11h00-12h00
Municipal Stadium « foire kènè »
Opening of the Agricultural and Crafts Fair

17h00-18h00
Quay of Arts : hall des Arts « Korè »
Opening of the Art Exhibition : « Bogolan, yesterday and today »

21h00-23h00
Hôtel Delta
Evening under the Balanzan (tales and legends): « on the footsteps of Caanaba », by Intervida, Eveninig Masks from Mahou

Friday February 2
10h00-12h00
Meru Ba Hall
Cinema : a film projection «Mali, crossroad of civilisations » of Guiye Blanc

10h00-13h00
Hôtel de l’Esplanade
Roundtable on investment opportunities in Segou

14h00-15h00
Quay of Arts - (strolling about)
Korédugaw, Donsow, Griots, Puppets of Mangoni (Sarro)
On the river
Puppets of Tiongoni

14h45-15h00
Strolling about in front of the Restaurant Soleil de Minuit
Koredugaw, Tall Persons, Dogon and Peul from Mopti
Opening Ceremony

14h40-14h55
Strolling about towards the Quay of Arts
Arrival of the King and the Cavalry - the Blowers of M’Ballan

15h00-17h00
Quay of Arts - Da Monzon platform
Néba Solo - Welcome speech by the Director of the Festival - Dounumkan/Maya Maya Group - Segou Mayor’s Speach -Boura & Mahou from Sikasso groups -Speech of the Minister of Crafts and Tourism

17h00-18h00
Quay of Arts
Visit of the Art exhibit and the exposition booths on the Quay
Puppets from Mangoni (Sarro)

17h00-19h00
Quay of Arts - Scène Biton
Discovery groups : Orchestra of Segou, Clé Tidiani, Tim Short

17h30-18h30
Quay of Arts - touareg Tent
Touareg group from Ségou (Tindé)

20h00-22h00
Hôtel Delta
Evening under the Balanzans : tales by Ousmane Diarra

21h00-00h00
Place of Independence
Hunters’ evening

20h00-02h00
Quay of Arts - Da Monzon Plateau
Giant Concerts : Vieux Farka, Abdoulaye Diabaté, Doussou Bagayogo, Tinariwen, Oumou Sangaré

Saturday February 3
09h00-10h00
NDomo Space
Manual pottery and bogolan workshops

10h00-13h00
Quay of Arts - Tent
Puppets from Pélengana, Boura
Quay of Arts - Biton Scene
Groups : Labouzou, Alima, Maya-Maya, Tambours sans frontières of Congo

11h00-12h00
Hôtel Esplanade
Conference of the Bogolan : « Bogolan, yesterday and today »

12h00-13h00
NDomo Space
Manual pottery and bogolan workshops

13h00-14h00
Quay of Arts - touareg Tent
Touareg of Segou (Tindé)

15h00-17h00
On the River
Pirogue competition
Tent
Puppets from Mangoni (Saro)

17h00-19h00
Place of Independence
Ségubaara

17h00-18h00
On the River
Puppets from Markala

16h00-18h00
Biton Plateau
Discovery groups : Métis Manding, Alacho de Gao, Décibel Orchestra of Ségou

18h00-19h00
Biton Plateau
Fashion show on the Bogolan

20h30-02h00
Quay of Arts - Da Monzon Plateau
Giant Concert: Lobi Traoré and Joep Pelt, Toumani Diabaté, Les Go de Kotéba, Habib Koité

Dimanche 4 février
09h00-10h00
NDomo Space
Manual pottery and bogolan workshops

10h00-13h00
Departure : entrance of the Festival
Visit of historical and cultural sites of the region : Kalabougou and Sékoro
Quay of Arts - Tent
Mahou Group, Pelengana
Quay of Arts - Biton plateau
Maskad, Maya-Maya

12h00-13h00
Espace NDomo
Manual pottery and bogolan workshops

13h00-14h00
Quay of Arts - Capiteau
Labouzou Group

14h00-15h00
On the River
Puppets from Markala
Quay of Arts - strolling about
Korèdugaw and Donsow
Closing ceremony

15h00-17h00
Scène Da Monzon
Speech of the Director of the Festival - Dounounkan group - Awards of the Festival - Alima group- Speech of the Minister of Culture

17h00-18h30
Place of Independence
Sandya (annual gathering of Griots from Segou)

19h00-23h00
Quay of Arts - Scène Da Monzon
Giant concert: Papa G Diarra, Bassékou Kouyaté, Neba Solo, Mah Kouyaté n° 2