Festival on the Niger River, in Mali
The wonderful city Ségou, having been the capital of the ancient kingdom Bambara, is spread out over the basin of prosperous valley where the symbol of this region grows, the tree balanzan. The hospitable settlement Ségou with its wide shadowy alleys, faded houses in colonial style and river trips seems to be sleepy and relaxed – except for one winter week when riversides tremble because of sound of Festival on the Niger.
Ségou and surrounding villages are proud of their traditional arts, and this holiday is the embodiment of unique of cultural regional heritage. It is something more than simply undersized copy of Desert Festival: every day in Ségou there is a meeting on social issue connected with Mali. This is a place where people hand down traditions, skills, and experience and exchange activities. At the great fair, you may see and buy creations of crafts from around here and products of local agricultural industry. The exhibitions of Malian and foreign artists are held, and all kinds of competitions encourage audience to participate in the festival.
During the whole week, performers have been flooding city and embankment Quai des Arts. Local, inexperienced musicians act at «the stage of discoveries», and at the big stage with backdrop of wonderful Niger you may observe the performances of famous Malian and foreign musicians. Story-telling is an important aspect of African culture, and one of the key festival events is «Evening under balanzan» where narrators, musicians, and jiggers bring local legends and myths to life and give an opportunity to spectators to look into the glorious past of Ségou.
