Kono Gnaga Newsletter Preserving Traditional Music and Dance of Mali and Creating Opportunities for Local Artists November 2019 |
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Hello friends, family & Kono Gnaga supporters, As 2019 comes to a close we are reviewing our accomplishments and making plans for 2020. Highlights include our school partnerships, literacy project, cultural preservation and research, and the dance and music center. Please read on for a brief summary of the work we have been able to do with your continued support! School Partnerships Central to our mission of passing on traditions to the next generation is our work with the schools in Bamako. We have continued our work with our original partner school L’Ecole Adam de Dicko, and this year added a second public school, Ecole Faladie Socoro. |
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During the 2018-2019 academic year dance classes were integrated on a weekly basis at the schools with local artists teaching traditional movements and rhythms to the students. Although challenged by a teacher's strike that closed most of the schools for a significant part of the year, we were able to work with the students even as school was not in session. The work culminated in June with a celebration that brought both schools together and had the students performing for a large audience filled with families, other students, and community members. It was a huge effort that celebrated the students' accomplishments as well as fostered pride in their communities. We plan to continue working with the schools in the coming 2019-2020 year integrating dance programs during the second semester of with an even larger multi-community celebration planned for the close of the school year. See our website for videos of the students' performances! |
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Literacy Project Solo Sana partnered with Terae Soumah, an accomplished artist and educator and Drissa Konate, a Malian portrait and mural artist, to create a children’s book that tells a story about the traditional dance Dansa. Terae and Idrissa gathered information from Solo and worked for over a year creating a series of 10 paintings to serve as illustrations for the book. Both artists painted on the same canvas to realize the image together. The information on the origins of Dansa were then woven together into a children's story. The goal of the project is to promote literacy while documenting, sharing, and celebrating the beauty and importance of Malian traditions. Two events were held during the year in Bamako to exhibit the art work and present a draft of the book, the first at the Maison de Partenariat, an organization and center managed by the sister city of Angers, France and the second at Sleeping Camel, at a local hotel and restaurant in Mali. A third event will be held in December with the paintings installed for a month long exhibit. Research is being done to find a way to publish the book in multiple languages – French, local languages, as well as distribute into local schools to support literacy for Malian children using culturally relevant stories. |
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Last year Solo Sana created Sira Koro, a local dance and music ensemble with a mission to respect and honor traditional music and dance while at the same time bringing a new perspective to the art form. Sira Koro means “Old Road” in the Bambara language, The company is working to train a new generation of artists and increase performance and work opportunities for them. Over the past year they have performed at a number of important community events. Consistent affordable rehearsal space continues to be a challenge, and this will be a priority for 2020 along with identifying opportunites for future performances. |
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Professional Development opportunities for the artists is another important part of Kono Gnaga's work. We were fortunate this year to have Julie Bata, dance professor from Houston Community College in Texas, visit Mali and work with Solo to lead a pedagogy workshop where the artists shared their ideas and techniques on best practices in teaching all levels and types of students. Solo has continued to build the group of artists working with Kono Gnaga. He recently assembled a group of comedians for an event raising money to help schools in Dogon country. The comedy featured a well known comedian “Paracetamol” and featured current topics including the traditional relationship between the Dogon and Peule, gender roles, and the trash problem in Bamako. It was a hilarious spectacle for a great event bringing light to important issues facing Mali and other African countries today. |
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Research and Documentation |
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Since 2015 Solo has led and carried out four research trips: - Beledougou to study the dance, music and history of the Kote Dance of the Bamana people.
- Kayes region to study Dansa
- Gnanabougoula to study dances of the Wassolou Region
- Second trip to Beledougou to deepen the information on the Kote dance.
These trips have been instrumental in helping the Kono Gnaga artists increase their understanding of the roots of the music and dance and to ensure that the information they are passing on to students is accurate. In particular the dances Solo and the artists chose to study are ones that have social importance in the community. In 2020 Solo plans to carry out a fourth research trip with a group of artists to further their knowledge. |
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Kono Gnaga Dance and Music Center |
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The land has been located to build the Kono Gnaga music and dance center. Plans have been drawn up and we are currently researching the best way to use local and natural materials for construction to resist the extreme heat as well as help to reduce our carbon footprint. Local architects and builders with expertise in using traditional banco (mud bricks) have reviewed the plans and provided recommendations. The center will be built with a large open dance studio with a proper sprung floor. Ultimately lodging will be added so that visitors from near and far can come for longer studies. The studio will be used for visiting students and artists, Sira Koro and other company rehearsals, and Kono Gnaga community programming. It will also be available for use by other arts and community organizations. Kono Gnaga community programming at the center will support continued learning in the traditional arts and bring in local artists to work together to share information, movement, and rhythms. We want to create programs working with youth particularly those coming from vulnerable populations, to foster an interest in the arts through programs promoting self-confidence, pride in community traditions, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. An outreach program will be put in place to work with kids living in the streets. The center will provide programming in drumming, dancing, and the history of the different cultures and ethnic groups in Mali. We will provide workshops for local artists on traditional information as well as in professional development that will encourage traditional arts as a profession. Our goal is to promote better understanding among the population of their cultural heritage and have an increased appreciation of cultural diversity. We know this will ultimately contribute to transforming the current political environment. In 2020 we aim to find financing for the green construction. |
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AFIELD Fellowship Solo Sana has been lucky to be a recipient of the 2019 Afield Fellowship. AFIELD is a network of artists, activists and cultural entrepreneurs who instigate sustainable social initiatives across the world. Each year they support 7 inspiring individuals engaged in social and artistic experimentation. Fellows are initially recognized by their peers for their artistic and cultural practice and have decided to start a citizen-based project to share knowledge and prompt new perspectives. Leveraging and amplifying creative voices and solutions, AFIELD brings arts and culture at the foreground of both local grassroots activism and international philanthropy thinking. Solo is very honored to receive this fellowship and is working with his mentor, Lia Rodrigues, Companhia de Danças of Brazil, to further develop Kono Gnaga. |
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Upcoming Work: Our work in 2020 will continue with the following activities: - Dance and Music program in both the Faladie School and the Ecole de Adam Dicko for the 2019-2020 school year. Possible expansion to a third school (budget depending)
- End of the Year Intra-community celebration
- 2020 Research Trip for the Kono Gnaga artists
- Securing publishing for the children's book
- Continued promotion and rehearsals for Sira Koro
- Construction timeline and initial funds for the Kono Gnaga Dance and Music Center
- Securing funding for the Girls' Empowerment Programming
We want you all to know that this work could not have been done without your help – we greatly appreciate every dollar/CFA! We seek your continued support so that we can move forward with our plans for the 2020 year. Please be sure to contact us should you have any questions or would like any further information. As always we welcome visitors to Mali! We sincerely thank you, Solo Sana Zyck Baggett Jamaica White Kono Gnaga Board of Directors |
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The Kono Gnaga Association in Mali remains a locally managed organization that is supported by the US foundation, Kono Gnaga Inc. The local Association is a 100% Malian run organization with management assistance provided by development specialists. The US organization is a 501c3, fully independent federally tax exempt organization. The US foundation continues to maintain its presence with donations coming in from time to time. Plans over the next year are to grow the US Foundation and provide a number of fundraising opportunities through partners. All Donations are greatly appreciated!! |
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Check out the Kono Gnaga Website or follow us on facebook for continued updates! konognaga.org |
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Kono GnagaKono Gnaga in Bambara translates to Bird's Nest. When birds build their nests they take the time to carefully construct the nest, little by little, piece by piece. They build the nest for a safe place to lay their eggs and raise their young until the baby birds become strong enough to fly off on their own. |
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Check out Solo's webite for up to date information on his travels, classes and other work | | |
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