Keeping Mali's Culture Alive

Founded in 2006, Instruments4africa (I4A) is a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve and fortify the traditional music and art forms of Mali with opportunities that nourish people through shared artistic expression.  We emphasize the cultural riches all Malians share and highlight their longstanding traditions of tolerance and cooperation.

These difficult realities inform I4Africa’s outreach.  Our programs make Mali’s prolific musical and cultural traditions tangible and valuable to young Malians, allowing them to see their culture and their own potential with new eyes. Using the arts as a bridge between generations, I4Africa creates real incentives for preserving the country’s cultural heritage. 

 For the past five years,  I4Africa has created opportunities for West African youth to reach their highest potential,  using three approaches:  (1) organizing Culture Celebrations, (2) teaching young people social media, photography, and blogging skills to document their culture, and (3) empowering underprivileged and at-risk youth through educational opportunities.

I4Africa sponsors cultural celebrations in rural, remote, or isolated areas where impoverished youth are vulnerable to radicalization.  The events reinforce the value of traditional cultural wealth. Each week-long celebration is an integrated series of activities centered around musical performances, giving youth a positive outlet for their time, energy, and ideas.

I4Africa selects youth representing all villages in a selected region, commune or cercle to be members of an organizing committee that handles every phase of preparations.  The committee receives I4A guidance to plan logistics, meet with local officials as well as traditional and religious leaders, to solicit sponsors and develop media campaigns. 

In this process, youth develop skills in teamwork, communication, conflict resolution,  money/budget management, public speaking, customer service, and event production. In successive festivals, youth groups gain job skills and confidence, and link with local sponsors so that the yearly culture celebrations become self-sustaining.

At each regional celebration and sometimes separately, I4Africa runs workshops to teach culture documentation skills that also prepare them for future employment.  Youth study social media, blogging and ethical journalism practices, as well as photography and video equipment and filmmaking. Some students receive theoretical instruction and then hands-on experience in music production. The skills of these young graduates are used to document the cultural performances and artist interviews at celebration performances.  

Activities during the Culture Celebration weeks feature experiences for all ages—elementary ages to elders—that build on themes of cultural expression, peaceful cooperation, and a shared cultural kinship. I4Africa sponsors children to study the traditional arts, in addition to formal education in core academic subjects. In one activity, children study the history of Mali’s kings and kingdoms and compete individually and across schools to express artistically what they have learned.  

Traditional pastimes like Pirogue racing, Malian Wrestling, Ritual Mask displays, and dancing, bring a nostalgic tear to the eye of the elders, intergenerational sharing, and generate excitement for everyone. 

 Musical performances are the most anticipated part of each Culture Celebration. Internationally recognized artists like Grammy-nominated Oumou Sangaré delight rural audiences who enjoy the opportunity to socialize and the free admission

Celebrations also feature an array of local artists performing in all genres, from ritual chants to hip hop. Tribal groups from across the regions present their traditional dances and melodies, highlighting diversity, and thereby creating awareness, appreciation, and respect.  

Throughout the stage performances, and training classes, influential youth thought leaders and admired artists from across the ethnic and religious spectrum deliver positive messages that affirm a unified Malian identity, reject extremism, and promote pride in the country’s cultural achievements. 

The I4Africa workshops, concerts, and contests draw large crowds that overflow stadiums, a wonderful change for patrons in regions where travel and social life is suppressed by isolation and extremist ideologies. Trade expos organized to accompany the event are a boon for local vendors and regional economies.

Never underestimate the power of a new idea to transform a community. I4Africa provides a platform that incentivizes cultural preservation and exchange. Youth in remote and isolated communities are energized gaining the knowledge, social experience, and logistical scaffolding they need to mine and preserve their cultural riches.  “The huge spiritual world that music produces in itself ends up overcoming material poverty.”