By Souleymane Sana | Artistic Director
Greetings, Family and Friends of Kono Gnaga,
One of the things we have learned through Kono Gnaga’s work in Mali is that music and dance can do much more than preserve tradition, they can bring people together. This year, we are excited to build on that idea in a new way through a partnership with Farafina Kan, a Washington, DC/Maryland-based organization working to create opportunities for young people through the arts. Together, we are beginning to explore ways for youth in Mali and the United States to learn, perform, and connect across cultures.
For Kono Gnaga, this is a natural extension of the work we have been doing for more than a decade. We have seen how participating in traditional music and dance can give young people a sense of pride in who they are, create connections among families and communities, and provide young people, especially girls, with a place to be seen, heard, and valued.
Now we have an opportunity to build connections with youth in both Mali and the US. Through the partnership with Farafina Kan, young people will have opportunities to encounter one another through music, dance, storytelling, and cultural traditions. We hope they will discover both what they share and what makes their communities unique. Most importantly, we want young people to be active participants, not simply audiences, as they learn, create, perform, and share their own traditions.
Help Us Begin This Journey - We will celebrate the beginning of this partnership on October 24 in the Washington, DC/Maryland area with an evening of Malian and West African music, dance, and culture. Young people, families, artists, and community members will come together to celebrate the traditions that connect us and to help create new opportunities for youth.
We hope you’ll join us on October 24 and share the event with friends and family! Check out our wonderful lineup of performers and come celebrate the music, dance, and culture of Mali and West Africa with us.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped Kono Gnaga reach this point. What began as a commitment to keeping Mali’s traditional music and dance alive has grown into creating opportunities for young people to discover their voices, connect with others, and see the value of their own cultural heritage.
With Gratitude,
Solo, Zyck and the Kono Gnaga Board of Directors
Links:
By Souleymane Sana | Artistic Director
By Souleymane Sana | Project Leader
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